The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-28
secretary Of the Alaskan
Trade Commute Ar
rested in Chicago.
IN Old Land Deal in Sonona
Caused the Surprise and
Trouble.
amman Left Here a Short Time Aqo
TO Establish Agencies in the
East for the Committee.
Special Dispatch to The Can.

CHICAGO, Dec. 27.-D. NJ. Carman
u San Francisco. a member of the
Alaska Trade Committee. was ar
rested at the Great Northern Hotel
this evening on the charge of securing
money under false pretenses. The war
rant was served by Detectives Weber
and Sullivan, who found Carman in a
room occupied by the committee in the
Great Northern Building and in which
an exhibit of Klondike outfits has been
placed. Carman appeared surprised
when informed by the detectives that
he was under arrest, but he accompa-
MED them willingly and soon obtained
his release on bonds.
William Binns of 1851 Indiana avenue
is the complainant in the case, and al
leges that some time ago he was
: induced by Carman to invest money in
q California land syndicate, which
eventually resulted in loss to him.
The Alaska Trade Committee ar
rived in Chicago Sunday last in the
g private car San Felipe" over the
. northwestern. The parry is composed
OF fourteen, and it is said was sent
from San Francisco under the auspices
OF the Chamber of Commerce, Board of
Trade and Merchants Association of
that city to tour the country. The OBJ
Ject OF its trip is said TO be to induce
those intending to start for the Klon-
dixie country to make the trip by way
of San Francisco. The party is COM
posed OF Governor Sheakley and wife
OF Alaska, Walter Sheakley, D. NJ Car
man and son, Philip; T. c. Wills and
wife, E. ]. Taylor and wife, Charles
NJ. jenkins, H. Hare, W. c. Holbrook
and Harry Gray.
Binns said this evening that in No
vember, 1898, he was induced by Car
man to purchase twenty-five acres of
fruit land in KenwoOd, Sonoma
County. The price which Binns agreed
to pay for the land was $1,000, and he
alleges that he holds Carman's re-
ceipt for six payments amounting to
Sl166 g.. Binns alleges that when he
purchased the land he was given the
option OF visiting the place for the pur-
pose OF inspection, and, in case he was
not suited, says that Carman told him
he could exchange the property for
some more suitable, or in case he did
not desire TO do so the money would be
refunded.
Binns and his wife went TO California
some time ago, and after visiting the
property decided that it was not so de-
slrable as represented and asked for
an exchange. Carman, it is alleged
said that an exchange could be made
and LETT KenWOOd for San Francisco
sary papers.
This. Bfnns alleges. was the last he
saw Of Carman for some time. Later
Carman was found in San Francisco,
but Binns alleges that he could get no
satisfaction. Carman, it is alleged.
made many promises, which he failed
TO keep. and finally Binns and his wife
returned to Chicago. In January,
1896 BinnS alleges, he learned that the
land he had purchased was not the
property of the Kenwood Land Com
pany, but belonged to Mrs. Mary
GraneIla, an elderly woman, living in
SonOma County. The land company. it
is alleged, had contracted for the pur-
chase of the land, but the deal was
never closed. On January Is, 1896.
Blnns alleges that Mrs. Granella fore
closed on the KenWOOd Land Com
pany- Since then, Binn says, he has
many times tried to see Carman, but
failed until to-day.
Carman would have nothing to say
for publication, preferTing, as he
put it. to make his defense in court, the
opportunity for which will be given
tomorrow morning.
D. AI. Carman, whose arrest in Chi
cago is reported by the dispatches
from that city last night, is down in
the directory Of San Francisco as man
ager of the State Development Com
mittee, an organization with head
quarters in the Mills building. When
the initial meetings of the Alaskan
Trade Committee were held in that
building Mr.. Carman attended and per-
formed the duties of secretary. He
made himself SO useful and was so en-
terprising in general way that he
was put in command of the clerical
and working force of the organization.
He went East in the private car with
Governor Sheakley to establish an
agency of the committee in Chicago.
He planned before he left San Fran
cisco to go to Washington from Chi
.cago and continue his work at the cap
ital.
H. II. Sherwood, president of the
Alaskan Trade Committee, was seen
at his residence last evening. The dis
patch to The Call announcing the ar
rest of Mr.. Carman was the first in
formation he had of the trouble He
said: Mr.. Carman is secretary of the
organization, and went East for the
purpose of establishing an agency in
Chicago. If it is true that he has been
arrested for obtaining money the
transaction must have been a personal
one, for he had no authority to eoAect
money on behalf of the committee or &c
make any contracts involving the dis
bursement Of funds. To-day l received
a letter from him. in which he spoke
of the reception the car received in its
Journey east and the cordial manner in
which he was received by the Off
cial representatives in the various
States. His arrest is certainly a great
surprise to me"