The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-15
NOTED CROOKS ARRESTED.
INCLUDE MEN KNOWN TO POLICE
or MANY CITIES.
Minnesota Politician and wealthy
Lawyer, Nsw = Confidence Man,
~ the a1s of . smooth Gang.

NEW YORK Nov. A.-There is at po-
lice headquarters here a auartette OF
prisoners In whom the police Of almost
every large American city and many OF
the leading business houses, banks and
trust companies have deep interest.
they we're rounded UP after being watch
ed Tor several months. and were formally
held by polio. magistrate today on the
nominal charg OF being suspicious per-
Sons. The polMe OF New York say that
most OF them haze been convicted here
and elsewhere OF swindling that has net
ted them mana thousands of dollars
The prisoners are Aionzo j. Whl,eman.
20 years old. OF Danviile. N. Y. the al
legged head of the gang. He Is a graduate
OF Columbia law school Frank Edmunds,
~ years OF afS. clerk OF New York;
John Thompso. alias William Hartley.
alias p. Lawton. alias DIR. George W.
Johnson, 81 years of age. clerk, residence
unknown, Robert j. Knox. ~ years of
age. lawyer. of New York
There is under arrest at Pittsburg
fifth member OF the gang, Charles u.
Stewart. alias Charles Ward. about 90 or
10 years Of age He was arrested there
yesterday.
According to the statement given out
tonight by Capt. Mcciuskey. chief of de-
tectives. members OF this gang have re-
Gently obtained several thousand dollars
through manipulation OF bogus drafts and
other evidences Of credit.
Their genera. plan was to enter into
alleged business, transactions, sometimes
for the PURCHASE OF real estate, and after
depositing bogus drafts ror large amounts
with the banks or with the business men
with whom they sought to deal, to draw
upon the alleged credits before the bogus
nature OF their drafts could be ascer-
tanned.
Whiteman. who came from Danviile To
this city on Saturday last. was arrested
nj the Hotel ST. Mare on Fifth avenue.
where he had registered as -. w. Cald-
well. Philadelphia" He had been sending
invitations to himself by telephone and
telegraph TO occupy a box at the horse
show and 10 dine at various prominent
clubs.
Chief of Detectives McCiusksy says
Whifeman is wanted I'm Chicago. and the
police records In this city show that he
had swindled several hotels In this city,
Chicago. BOSTON and Atlantic City.
Thompson Is also accused OF being ho-
tel swtndlsr Edmunds' picture is In the
rogues' gallery. and he has Sery ed terms
in both Elniira raformatory and Sing Sing.
Charles f. Stewart served term of
i've years In sing Sing for forgery about
ISIS. and later eighteen months for OBJ
tanning money under false pretsnses. In
INsl he stabbed n woman II CINCINNATI ana
served four years for ii In the Columbus
penitentiary. He served term In Ko~
chester for robbery ard, last Of ali. three
years and three months IN Sing Sing for
the theft OF thousands %. dollars worth
OF bonds and other papers from the Wall
iorf-Astovia, the property of John G, Cab
houn.
Whttemwa's Spectacular Career.
Alonxo J. WhI:eman has been arrested
"A score Of times He has travelled the
world ever lie inherited SSe9 e1 from his
father In ISss after leaving college. He LED
his class In the Columbia law school. and
after getting his diploma and before be-
ing admitted ia the bar he went To Duluth
He made a great deal or money there dur
ing the boom times. When he WAS defeat
ed for congress ha began 10 lose money.
and his downfall Was very fast. He ioss
his fortune in this Chicago Board af Trade
within year, He then turned Ia ths
race track. lie made money as book
maker met a bad streak Of luck and wesch-
ed and was ruled OF the track fer passing
had checks
lie was sentenced 20 serve nine months
for forgery III san Francisco Ia l>s3. ap-
nsalea got reversal and sas released.
subsequently he was arrested Tor sNtnaiing
ths, Columbia bark of this city cat Of $40,
pa got out Of IL. and has successfully
eyas,ed prison walls ever since. though
arrested several slmes en- various charges.