The Washington times., 1901-09-02
fLEEcEp THE BooKMAKERs.
An Alleged SwindIer Under Arrest
In Rosfon.

| BOSTON, Sept 1.ZAicnzo ]. whiteman
who. the police say. is the cleverest de-
| frauder of banks in America. is under ar
| rest here after the police of the world
| have made a search for him on two con-
| tinents in the hope of catching him in
| some act for which they could land him in
| prison.
| This time he was caught passing a sup
| posed worthless check for 5000 on the
banking house of Armstrong. Schirmer *
Co. On the strength of this check which
| he deposited, he secured 5000 in cash. The
detectives arrested him as he was leaving
| the bank
| He is not stranger to money nor to
Wall Street He has been known to clear
100000 in a week in the street Once he
was worth million. That was in 1856.
He lived in Minnesota at that time, and
turned his attention to politics, finally Sc
curing his election to the Senate of that
State.
He was candidate for Congress after
that, but could not win. His money be-
gan to run from him at that time As ex-
ecutor of his fathers estate he is said to
have forged paper for s6Oeoo His family
made up the amount and he was not pros
ecuted
His former friends were his next VIC
Tins, according to police records, and then
he turned his attention to the racetracks
He has been called ''welcher' by the
sports. but that did not affect him.
There are police records in Nashville to
show that he swindled Frank Shaw,
bookmaker. out OF $l,G0O in 1891. Shaw
got wire that sl,0J0 had been deposited
to his credit, and right following was one
from Whiteman saying She should Ilay
that amount on certain horse. The
horse lost, but there was no money in
bank.
Whiteman worked the same game two
weeks ago on Eddie Burke and Sol LIGHT
enstein. This time he operated under the
name of John Kerr and the deposits were
supposed to be made in the New Am
sterdam Bank of New York. He wired
them to play $500 on a certain horse and
il won. By that transaction 1860 was
placed to his credit.
He appeared on the track several days
later and talked Mr.. Lichtenstein into
giving him order for his original $500.
He told the bookmaker that he expect
ed a friend along shortly. and while they
went to look for him they grew so friend
ly that the bookmaker waived identifica-
tion and paid him $500 the amount Of the
bet and his winnings.
Mr.. Burke heard that Lichtenstein had
settled. and he. too, came forward with
his check for Si20 cash, plus the $500 that
had never existed.
Nothing further was heard of Kerr un-
til August "a, when they got another tele-
gram that $500 had been deposited TO their
credit in the New Amsterdam Bank, OF
New York.
Right after that came an order from
Kerr to play the amount on Frank Far
rells Blues in the fourth race, and If
that won to place the whole amount on
Herbert in the sixth race. The picking
of the winners was so accurate that they
decided to ask the New Amsterdam Bank
as to whether the kilograms were gen.
uine. Word came back that John Kerr
was not known TO the bank.
They took William Ptnkerton into their
confidence. He said:
There is only one man in America who
knows how to work that game. and his
name is Whiteman You let il go through
and see if Whiteman is not back of John
Kerr"
Soon after man came to claim the
money. He said his name was Greenwan
and that he was acting for Kerr.
He was arrested. Whiteman evidently
became scared and jumped to Boston. His
next play was with Armstrong. Schrmer
& Co, which caused his arrest