The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-11-22
BANK swlNDLERs ARRESTED.
Would Deposit $1,000 10 Secure Standing ani
Then Attempt 10 Draw $1,000
on Bogus Drafts.

There are at police headquarters In
New York City four prisoners In
whom the police of almost every large
American city and many of the lead
ing business houses. banks and trust
companies have n deep interest. They
were rounded up after being watched
Tor several months, and were formaliy
held by police magistrate Wednes-
day on the nominal charge of being
suspicious persons. They are:
Alonzo j. Whiteman. 80 years old,
OF Danville, N. y, the alleged head OF
the gang, n graduate OF Columbia law
school; Frank Edmunds. 40 years old.
clerk. of New York; John Thompson,
alias William Hartley, alias +. Law.
ton, alias DIR. George w. Johnson, 5l
years old, clerk, residence unknown;
Robert j. Knox, AZ years old, lawyer,
Of New York.
There is under arrest at Pittsburg
fifth man, Charles u. Stewart. alias
Charles Ward about 60 years old.
According to the statement given
out by Captain McCluskey, chief OF
detectives. Hartley, under the name OF
DR.. George w. johnson, negotiated
with the real estate firm OF John f.
James Son, In Brooklyn, for the
purchase Of $4,000 house. "Dr. John
SON said he would pay $1,000 down
and carry the remaining $1,000 on q
first mortgage. In negotiating with
the Central Trust Company Of Brook
lyn. regarding the interest on the
mortgage "Dr johnson" secured. II is
alleged, $3.50 on a fraudulent check
from the company. he having deposited
a draft for $4,000 drawn on the Ho-
boken Loan and Savings Institution.
Several months ago 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 photographers in New York and
paid for them i'm cash. They were sent
to him care of Mrs. Whiteman, DAN
Vile. N. Y" A few days later North
Of the book of drafts In the river. and
river ferryboat deckhand found one
the book was sent TO a detective bu-
reau. Soon reports of bogus drafts
began to pour i'm from all over the
| country. They were all made on these
forms, and drawn on the National
Bank OF Lawrence, N. Y. Investiga-
ton by the police traced them back
to Whiteman, who lived with his
mother In Dansville, n. Y. There, 1t Is
| alleged. he formulated the plans. and
his tools all over the country carried
them out.
Another alleged swindling operation.
| recounted by Captain McCluskey, took
place on October last. The First
National bank of Woonsocket- r. l.,
paid $4,000 on $40. 900 worthless draft
urdWn Dy tne Lawrence NutiOntf pdIh
| of Lawrence, Kan, on the First Ma
tional bank of New York City. This
deal. the police state was operated by
| Charles Stewart, alias Charles Ward.
| aided by Edmunds. Thompson and
Knox. and directed from Dansville, by
Whteman. After this money was Sc
| cured, the men, except Whiteman,
| went to Pittsburg, where the next Vic
tim the Tradesmens 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 men
standing. This was done. bogus
| draft for 1900 was to follow, and then
an effort be made to draw $4,000. Stew
art alias Ward. was to do the work.
| He Is gray and venerable. The bank
officials were notified by the police
and plans were made for the arrest
! OF the entire gang when they came on
| Monday to draw the $1,000. The plans
| miscarried. and Stewart alone was
caught. The other three escaped to
/ New York. Pittsburg's police wired
! Captain McClusky, and the men were
caught soon after landing.