The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-15
Whlteman, The Alleged Leader, Graduate
Of The Columbia Law School.
ONCE STATE SENATOR IN MINNESOTA
Also Said 10 HaV1 Been Millionaire al One T.
He Is Eaned in Chicago Police Sac.
msni fbout the Prisoners.

New York. Nov. 15.-There is at po-
lice headquarters here a quartet of al
legged swindlers. The four were round-
ed up after being watched for several
months. and are said 20 have been con-
victed. here and elsewhere, Of all kinds
of swindling.
The prisoners are Alonzo J. White
man of Dansville. n. Y, the alleged
head of the gang), a graduate OF Co.
lumbia Law school. former state sena-
tor for Minnesota. a former candidate
for congress and once millionaire;
John Edmunds. a clerk of this city, j.
Thompson. alias William Hartley, alias
L. LaWtOn. alias DR.. George w. John
son, a clerk. residence unknown; Rob-
ert j. Knox, lawyer. of this city.
There is under arrest at Plttsburg
fifth member Of the gang. Charles T..
Stewart alias Charles Ward. about 90
or 20 years Old. He was apprehended
yesterday.
According to Capt. McCluskey. Hart
ley. Under the name OF DR.. Johnson,
erfered into negotiations with John +.
James q son. in Brooklyn. for the pur-
chase of a $4,000 house. q wing that he
would pay $4,000 down and carry the
remaining $4,000 on first mortgage
In negotiating with the Central Trust
company Of Brooklyn regarding the in
terest on the mortgage, DR.. Johnson
secured $500 on fraudulent check from
the company. he having deposited a
draft for $4,000 drawn on the Hoboken
Loan and Savings institution.
Several months ago a man claiming
TO be'W. l.. IOwe. cashier of the Ma
tlonal bank OF Lawrence. n. Y, order
ed 10. 600 drafts of a certain design from
,f her In, chs ,affx a
paid for them in cash They were sent
to him. care of Mrs. Whiteman, Dams
willie. n. Y"
A few days later a ferry deck hand
found one of the books OF drafts in the
river, and it was serr 10 a detective
bureau. Soon reports of bogus
drafts began to pour IN from all over
these forms and drawn on the Ma
tional Bank OF Lawrence, -, Y. The
police traced them back TO Whiteman,
who lives with his mother in Dams
vile.
on oct. last the First National
Bank OF Woonsocket, II. l., paid 49, 600
on a worthless draft drawn by the
renee. Kan. on the FIRST National
Bank Of this CITY. This deal, the po-
lice state, was operated by Stewart
aided by Edmunds, Thompson and
Knox and directed from Dansville by
After this money was secured the
gang, except Whiteman, Went to Pitts
burg where the next vict m. in the
shape of the Tradesmens National
Bank was To be worked. The scheme
there, according To the police, was to
deposit 81 600 in cash. and to open an
account. and give the gang a standing.
This was done. A bogus draft for
a. 900 was to follow. and then an eff |
'ort made to draw $4,000. Stewart was
20 do the work.
The bank officials were notified by \
he police and plans were made for !
he arrest Of the gang when they came /
IN Monday to draw the s., 900. The /
plans miscarried. AMI Stewart alone I
vas caught. The others escaped to /
his city, but the Pittsburg police /
wired Capt McCluskey. and the fell |
ows were caught soon after landing /
lere.
" nteman. who came here from
)ansville last Saturday, was arrested
It the Hotel St. Marc on Fifth ave-
lue, where he had registered as c. w.
of Philadelphia Chief Me-
'luskey says the fellow is wanted in
,hicago.