The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-12-15
CROOKS IN THE TOLLS
FIVE NOTORIOUS SWlNDLERS
ARE IN "HCC."
Eheir Leader Formerly Mayor OF
Duluth - Also a Member of the
Minnesota State Senate and Promi-
ncnt Politician.

There are at police headquarters in
New York city quartet of prisoner
II whom the police of almost every
arge American city and many of the
eading business houses, banks and
rust companies have deep interest.
lhey were rounded up after being
watched for several months, and were
:ormally held by a police magistrate
IN the nominal charge of being sus-
)lclous persons. The police of New
York say that most of them have been
convicted of swindling that has netted
mem many thousands of dollars The
prisoners arc: Alonzo J. Whiteman,
50 years old, of Dansville. n. Y, the
alleged head of the gang. He is a
graduate of Columbia Law School,
former State Senator OF Minnesota and
former Mayor of Duluth. Frank Ed
munds, 40 years Of age, clerk, of New
YORK. John Thompson, alias William
Hartley, alias p. Lawton, alias Dr..
George w. Johnson, 81 years of age,
clerk; residence unknown. Robert j.
hnoA, AZ years of age, lawyer, of New
YORK. There is under arrest at Pitts
nuFg hfth member Of the gang, Chas
ID. Stewart. alias Charles Ward. about
oo years OF age. According to the state
mcnt given out by Capt. McCluskey,
hartley, under the name Of Dr.. George
W. Johnson, entered into negotiations
win the real estate firm of John F..
James & Son in Brooklyn. for the pur-
chase of $4,000 house. DIR. John
son said he would pay $4,000 down
and would carry the remaining $4,000
IN first mortgage In negotiating
with the Central Trust Company of
BROOKLYN regarding the interest on the
mortgage, Or. Johnson managed to
secure from the company $3.50 on a
fraudulent check. having deposited
with them draft for So 900 drawn
on the Hoboken Lean and Savings In
stltutlon. This is one of many SINH
lar cases which Capt McClusliey saws
Hartley will have to answer for.
Several months ago a man, claiming
to be w. l.. Howe cashier of the Ma
tlonal Bank Of Lawrence. N. Y, Or
dered 10000 drafts of a certain design
from a firm of photographers in New
York city. He paid for them in cash.
lney were sent to him care of Mrs
Whiteman. Evansville, n. W A few
days later North River ferryboat
deck hand found one OF the books Of
GRATIS IN the river and the book was
sent to detective bureau Soon after
ward reports of bogus drafts began to
pour in from all over the country. All
were made on these forms and drawn
on the National Bank Of Lawrence. n
Y. Investigation by the police traced
them back to Whitemau. who lived
with his mother in Evansville. n y.
There. it is alleged. he formulated the
plans and his tools al! over the coun-
try carried them out. Another alleged
sWindling operation, recounted bv Can't.
McCluskey. occurred on October Cd
last. The First National Bank Of
Woonsocket, R. l.. paid $4,000 Oh a
$lo,0oO worthless draft drawn by the
Lawrence National Bank of Lawrence
Kan, on the First National Bank OF
New York city This deaf. the nolicc
declare, was operated by Charles E.
Stewart, alias Charles Ward. aided bv
Edmunds, Thompson and Knox, and
directed from Evansville by Whiteman.
After this money was secured, the
gang, except Whitcman. went to Pitts
burg. where the next victim. the
Tradesmen's National Bank was to be
worked. The scheme there, according
to the police, was to deposit 81 900 in
cash, in order to open an account and
give the gang a standing This was
done. A bogus draft for 81 900 was to
follow, and then an effort made to
draw $4,000. Stewart, alias Ward was
to do the work. He is gray and VEN
cradle In appearance. The bank Of
f1cl&ls were notified by the police, and
plans were made for the arrest OF The
entire gang when they appeared on
Monday to draw the $1,000. The plans
mlscarried. and Stewart alone was
caught. The other three escaped to
New York. Pittsburg's police wired
Capt McCluskey, and the men were
caught soon after landing there
Whlteman, who was arrested at the
Hotel st. Mare, on Fifth avenue, where
he had registered as &c w. Caldwell,
Philadelphia He had been sending
invitations to himself by telephone and
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