New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-15
ACCUSED OF MANY CRIMES.
CAPTAIN MCLUSKY THINKS HE HAS
MADE IMPORTANT CAPTURES.

FIVE MEN ALLEGED TO HAVE vICTIMIzED
BANKS AND HOTELS WITH BAD
CHECKs-ONE AN Ex-sTATE
SENATOR
There were arraigned before Magistrate Mayo
In the Centre-st court yesterday morning
four prisoners about whom the police of almost
every large American city many of the leading
business houses, banks and trust companies
will read with great interest. They are
to be tried here and elsewhere for various kinds
of swindling games that have netted them. it
Is alleged many thousands Of dollars.
The alleged head Of the gang is Alonzo ].
Whiteman. thirty nine years old. of Dams
vile, n. Y He is graduate of Column
ba University. a former State Senator
in Minnesota; once a candidate for Congress
and once well to do His mother lives in Dams.
vile. N. Y. The other prisoners Frank Ed
munds. forty years old. clerk. unmarried. OF
No. $50 Columbus-ave.: John Thompson. alias
William Hartley. alias p. Lawton. alias Dr.
George W. Johnston, thirty-one years old, clerk.
address refused and Robert j. Knox. forty-two
years old. a lawyer, Of No 13S West Thirty
third-st
There is under arrest at Pittsburg a fifth
member of the same gang. Charles +. Stewart.
alias Charles Ward. seventy-two years Old
who was arrested there Monday. All the men
have served several terms In prison except Knox
and Whteman Nothing is known Of Knox
except that he was found with the others.
Whiteman has been under arrest in several
places. and tried for various crimes. but always
managed 10 get acquitted. except once.
The police of several of the larger cities Cap
tain McClusky and Pinkertons Detective
Agency have been watching the gang for sew
eral months but IT was only on Monday that
the arrests made
Stewart. it is alleged attempted to swindle
a Pttsburg bank and was caught at it. Ed
munds. Thompson and Knox came to this city.
where they were Joined by Whiteman.
ARRESTED ON MONDAY.
They were arrested on Monday night by
Detectives Hay, Holland and Frazer. Knox and
Whiteman were found in Thirty-third-st., be-
tween Sixth and Seventh aves.; Edmunds
and Thompson in Thirty-ffth-st between
Broadway and Seventh-ave. They were
taken 10 Police Headquarters and closely guard
ed Captain McClusky at first declined to say
anything about them. They were hurried to the
Centre-st court and remanded yesterday morn
ing as suspicious persons Late yesterday ar
ternoon Captain McClusky gave out statement
concerning their alleged crimes
According to this story by Captain McClusky.
Hartley under the name of DR. George w.
Johnson. called on the real estate firm Of John
f. James & Son, in Brooklyn. and said he
wanted to buy house. Mr.. James the head Of
the firm. spent two days showing houses to his
prospective customer, and finally one worth
$4,000 was selected. "Dr. Johnson" gave a
check for $500 to bind the transaction 1t was
drawn on the Hoboken Loan and Savings In
stitution 1t was worthless. The gangs chief
and most successful scheme seemed to be the
negotiation OF worthless checks and drafts.
"Dr. Johnson" said he would pay $1,000 down
on the house and would carry the remaining
50 900 in first mortgage. He said he would not
like to pay more than 4 per cent Mr.. James
expressed a doubt of his ability to get it for less
than ~ per cent. but asked his customer to go
with him to the officials Of the Central Trust
Company in Brooklyn to see what they would
do. Mr.. James introduced "Dr. Johnson" and
this introduction assured his standing with the
officials That introduction subsequently cost
the Trust Company several hundred dollars.
The Trust Company declined to make the
loan at per cent, and "Dr. Johnson agreed to
their rate He said he would like to open
count with the Trust Company, inasmuch as he
intended to live in Brooklyn. The officials said
they would be delighted to do what they could
for him Mr. James had introduced him. and
that was sufficient.
Or Johnson" deposited a draft for $1,000
drawn on the Hoboken Loan and Savings Insti-
tuition. The deposit was made on Friday. Know
ing the Clearing House would be closed on Sun
day and his draft unable to get through. he
called the Trust Company on the following
day Saturday, and presenting his check for
$3.50 secured the money. No questions were
asked as he seemed responsible. He disap-
peared with the money. Both his draft and the
check given TO Mr.. James returned as no
good.
Captain McClusky says this is one of many
similar cases Mr.. Hartley will have to answer
for.
The case was reported to the Bankers Asso-
ciation and that body sent report to Mr.. Pink
erton who asked Captain McClusky's assistance.
Pinkerton got a clew in May, 1898 that led him
to believe that Thompson. alias Hartley, was
only one Of a large gang. and that Whiteman
was the leader.
ORDERED DRAFTS AUTOGRAPHED.
On the 18th Of that month a man who said he
was w L. Howe. cashier of the National Bank
OF Lawrence n. Y. called on Meyerick & Wes-
singer. uthographers. No 176 Futon-st He
said his firm wanted to change the form OF It's
drafts. He ordered ten thousand drafts OF a GER
tain design, had them made into books and paid
for them in cash $63 30. He ordered them sent
to himself. care of Mrs. Whiteman, Dansvilie'
n. Y"
4 few DAYS later North River ferryboat
deckhand found one of the books Of drafts IN
the river. For some reason he sent 1t to Pinker-
ton. Pinkerton. through Meyerick & Wesslnger
traced 1t to Whiteman, and then for the hrst
time learned Of the extent Of the swindling.
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. The gang has been under sur
veiIlance ever since Whiteman kept either III
Neu York or lived with his mother at her home,
r,.....i1,o ~ Y There IL Is alleged be for