Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-11-17
LANDED In JAIL
New York Police Arrest Four Mo-
torious Crooks.
A Fifth Member of This Gang OF Ale
legged Bank SwindIers il Caught
I'm Plttsburg-AllSR Said TO Havo
Long Criminal Records


ers in whom the police of almost every
large American city and many of the
leading business houses, banks and
trust companies have q deep interest.
They were rounded up after being
watched for several months and were
yesterday held by a police magistrate
on the nominal charge of being sus-
picious persons. The police of New
York say most of them have been con-
victed here and elsewhere of swindling
that has netted them many thousands
OF dollars. The prisoners are Alonzo
j. Whitman, 80 years old, of Dansville,
n. y, the alleged head of the gang.
Frank Edmunds, 40 years old, clerk.
of New York. John Thompson, alias
William Hartley, 81 years old, clerk,
residence unknown. Robert j. Knox,
AZ years old, lawyer of New York.
There is under arrest at Pittsburg
fifth member of the gang, Charles ID.
Stewart, about 60 or 20 years old. Ac-
cording to the statement given out by
Capt. McCluskey, chief of detectives,
Hartley, under the name of DR.. George
W. Johnson, entered into negotiations
with the real estate firm of John f.
James & Son. in Brooklyn, for the pur-
chase of $4,000 house. "Dr. john
son" said he would pay $1,000 down
and would carry the remaining $4,000
OH n first mortgage. In negotiating
with the Central Trust Co of Brook
| lyn, regarding the interest on the
mortgage "Dr. johnson" managed to
secure $3.50 on a fraudulent check
from the company. This was one of
many similar cases Capt. McClushey
says Hartley will have to answer for.
Several months ago a man claiming
to be w. L. Howe, cashier of the Ma
tional Bank of Lawrence, n. Y, or
dered 10000 drafts of certain design
from firm of photographers in this
city aud paid for them. They were
sent to him "care of Mrs. Whiteman,
Dansville, N. Y" A few days later a
North river ferryboat deckhand found
one of the books of drafts in the river
and the book was sent to detective
bureau. Soon reports of bogus drafts
began to pour in from all over the
country. They were all made on these
forms and drawn on the National
Bank of Lawrence, n. Y. Investiga-
ton traced them to Whiteman, who
lived with his mother in Dansville, n.
| L. 1HeGc, II Is dlleScu llC
ed the plans and his tools all over the
country carried them out.
Another alleged swindling operation
recounted by Capt. McCluskey, oc-
Cured on October 3 last. The First
National Bank of Woonsocket, r. l.,
paid $4,000 on u $4,000 worthless draft
drawn by the National Bank of Law
renee, Kan, on the First National
Bank of New York City. This deal,
the police state, was operated by
Charles f.. Stewart, alias Charles
Ward, aided by Edmunds, Thompson
and Knox and directed by Whiteman.
After this money was secured the
gang except Whiteman went to Pitts
burg, where the next victim, the
1'radesmen's National bank, was to be
worked The scheme there. according
to the police, was to deposit $1,000 in
cash to open an account and give the
gang n standing. This was done. A
bogus draft for $4,000 was to follow,
and then an effort made to draw $2,-
600. Stewart was to do the work.
The bank officials were notified by the
police and plans We're made for the
arrest of the entire gang when they
came on Monday to draw the $4,000.
The plans miscarried and Stewart
alone was caught. The other three
, escaped to New York. Pittsburg's
: police wired McCluslley and the men
; were caught soon after landing here.
I Whiteman is wanted in Chicago,
where he was tried a year ago for
grand larceny and sentenced to serve
!, 2H years, he having jumped his bail
when he learned that the Illinois court
of appeals had affirmed his sentence.
! Edmunds and Knox will be sent to
: Woonsocket in all probability TO stand
I trial with Stewart for the theft OF $S,-
600. Edmunds' picture is in the rogue's
gallery and he has served terms in
:, both Elmira reformatory and Sing
, Sing. Charles =. Stewart has mis- pic
: ture in the rogues gallery in this city.
q He served five years in Sing Sing for
= forgery about 1877 and later 1S months
for obtaining money under false pre-
lenses. In 1850 he stabbed n woman
in Cincinnati and served four years
T. for it in the Ohio peniteutiary. lie
served term in Rochester for robbery
and last of all three months in Sing
Sing for the theft of thousands of dol
Il lars worth of bonds from the Waldorf
n Astoria, the property of John c. Cal
n houn.
e Alonzo j. Whiteman is No. 5,2s4 in
II the rogue's gallery. He has been ar
rested n score of times. lie has trav-
a. eled the world over. He inherited
= S5O0O0O from his father in 1888. He
Il led his class in the Columbia law
Y school and after being admitted to the
q bar he went to Duluth. He made 6
3 great deal of money there and was {
: delegate to the national democratic
. convention. When he was defeated
for congress he began TO lose none,
and his downfall was rapid.
n big Raise in Broom Prices.
l. Chicago. Nov. 15.-The price o
< brooms has been advanced more thar
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