The San Francisco call., 1899-03-26
OF THE
BECKER GANG
NOW DIVIDED
James Creegan Sent
to Folsom.
DEAN GIVEN HIS FREEDOM
THE "DUTCHMAN" IS NOW IN
SAN QUENTIN.
McClosker Was Acquitted and Has
Departed-End of the Famous
Nevada Bank Forgery
Case.

| James Creegan, the famous middle
man" of the Becker gang, has been taken
to Folsom Prison, where he will serve
term of two years, the sentence being i'm
posed upon him yesterday by Judge
Dunno for his completely in the big for
gerry in which the Nevada Bank lost just
So, 900.
Creegan appeared before Judge Dunno
at the opening of court yesterday morn
ing and pleaded guilty to the charge
against him. A few minutes later the
court pronounced sentence and Creegan
marched back to Jail between his guards.
AS the prison doors swung open to receive
him out from his cell walked A. H. Dean
into the free world. The iron door swung
to again, the bolt was slipped and Cree
gan prepared for his "trip across the
bay"
Not so with Dean. He turned and
looked at the prison that had SO long
held him. bid his friends good-by and,
penniless, started toward the heart of the
city to find a temporary shelter until ne
can arrange to depart for his home in
New York.
Such is the end of the prosecution of the
cleverest brace" of bank operators in
the world to-day. Becker, the penman,
known as the "Dutchman," in whose
many forgeries but one flaw can be found
and that is his handiwOrk is more per-
{ L.
ducts from the steel engraver's hand, is
now doing seven years in the peniten-
tiary. CTeegan has been sentenced, as
stated, Dean has been freed and McClos-
ker, an alleged accomplice, has been
tried acquitted and discharged from Gus
tody. The ends of justice have been sub
rests easy, for Becker, the prince of for
gers, has been taken from his lawleSs
task and now weaVes the gunny oesloe
others of his ilk.
Of hn nrJrt
yesterday was of short duration. Judge
Dunno had disposed of few minor cases
and then called that of James Creegan,
forgery. Creegan rose from ms seat pc
side Captain Seymour and, addressing the
court. said that he pleaded guilty to the
charge against him, waived time ana
asked that sentence be imposed.
At this juncture District Attorney Muir
ply walked to the bar and made a plea
for the prisoner The District Attorney
first gave brief history OF the crime Ior
which the prisoner was about to suffer
sentence; how Dean had drawn draft
for $12 in a Woodland bank upon the
Crocker- Woolworth Bank of this city,
how Becker had raised 1t to $4,000, passed
IL successfully through the Nevada Bank
with the assistance of Creegan and Dean,
and how the banking world had stamped
ed when the forgery was discovered IN the
clearing house. He then told of the arrest
of the principals; how Dean had turned
States evidence; about the trial of Becker
and Creegan, their conviction and SEN
tence to life Imprisonment.
Judgment against the prisoners by the Su-
preme Court for lack Of evidence corroDo-
rating that given by Dean against his
pals" and concluded by asking the court
to deal leniently with the prisoner, as he
had upon the opening of the last trial,
agreed to turn States evidence with Dean
thereby furnishing the prosecution with
the necessary corroborative evidence ana
assuring the conviction of Becker, the
man, as District Attorney Murphy said.
who had for years shaken the very
fo1nda tiOr1 of the banking world.
At the conclusion of District Attorney
Murphys address the court asked II
such leniency would be agreeable TO Spe-
cial counsel for the prosecution and the
Bankers Association. Upon the state
ment that the request OF the DlStrct AT
torney for leniency for the prisoner was
made with the approval of the Bankers
Association and special counsel the court
then passed sentence and Creegan was
taken away to start upon his trip TO the
convfct's horror, Folsom Prison.
Dean was overjoyed when notified that
his long term of confinement in the City
Prison was at an end, and felt like
new man as he breathed the pure air
tIt has come upon me so utterly unex-
nected," he said as he stood outside the
prison that l can hardly realize that
am a free man yet. Captain Seymour
look forward to being discharged to-day,
but I have had many disappolntmentS
that [ did not place much reliance in the
II have been over three years in the
prison and | must say that 1 have moth
ing but feelings of kindness for the 9TH
been treated and 1 hope that L will be
kindly remembered by them.
'I have no definite plans for the future.
I like San Francisco and think that it is
the place for man to live in with a
moderate income, but 1 want to get back
to New York just as soon as arrange
ments can be made for my transporta-
tion I don't suppose that [ will ever be
a good man, but 1 will never be so 'cuss-
ed? bad as I have been.
Dean has made many friends during his
incarceration in the prison and he was
warmly congratulated by many of them
who met him on Market street after his
release He was always courteous and
affable to visitors, and being a connois-
seur on tea he was always ready to In
yite them to partake of his brew. He
helped in a good many ways also to make
the work of the prison officials lighter
and they say they will miss him.
He and Joseph McClosker were brought
from Minnesota on March 12 1896, by Cap
tain Seymour, and since then Dean has
been confined in the prison.