The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-19

ANDREW CARTER.
Arrested on Charge OF Forging Checks.
Andrew Carter, who posed here as the
Western representative of John Carter &
Co., Boston paper company. was arrested
yesterday noon by Detectives Bray and
Holtz who locked him up at the police
station on a charge of forgery.
Last night the same detectives arrested
Carter's accomplice and room mate, Ed
ward A. Benton, and slated him on the
same charge.
Benton came here with Carter about a
week ago and since that time the two men
have been carrying on extensive forgeries
in the city and they are evidently expe-
rienced and dangerous criminals.
Carter. on coming to this city. secured
desk room in the office of o. Mueller, a
merchandise broker, in Room 1910 Steven
son building, where he apparently attended
to large amount of correspondence for
his employers. Several days after he had
been in the Office with Mueller, he asked
Mueller to indorse draft for $500, drawn
on John Carter & Co., of Boston, saying
he desired to deposit II in the Columbia
National Bank and open account with
that institution. Mueller Endorsed the draft
and Carter deposited the paper and in
formed the bank that he would do quite a
banking business.
The next day he drew out 800 and issued
check to Edward A. Benton for $50. The
same afternoon he appeared at the bank
with a check drawn for $3.50 on A. German
& Sons account with the Marion Savings
Bank, of Detroit, Mich.
CHECK NOT GOOD.
The check was regularly Endorsed. but
the bank became suspicious and tele-
graphed to Detroit to find out whether or
not the check was good. Within an hour
a reply was received stating that there was
no such firm as A. German & Son in De-
troit.
The bank officials then notified the de-
tectives and demanded Carter's arrest.
Holtz and Bray were assigned to the case,
and they informed that Carter was
stopping at the Denison Hotel. AT the hotel
a man by thesname of Carter was registered
in Room 131 and the detectives made their
way to the room expecting to arrest the
forger- Instead they into a gang OF
shoplifters and thieves and arrested two
women and one man after an exciting chase
along narrow window ledge and stub
born fight with the man. Carter, ii was
discovered was not at the Denison Hotel
and the detectives lay in wait for him
elsewhere. Yesterday afternoon Carter
| boldly walked into the Columbia Bank and
attempted to cash a check for $40 drawn
on the account of F. r. Stubbins with the
Manufacturers Nationar Bank of Balti-
| more, Md. The cashier recognized Carter
| and at once notified the police department.
Detectives Holtz and Bray then went to
| the bank and placed him under arrest On
| his person was found check for s235 which
| he had drawn on his account in the bank
| and il was evidently his intention to cash
| the check for $40 and then draw out s23;
! from his personal account and leave the city
richer through his transactions here by
about $500.
AT the police station he admitted that
all the drafts and checks were forgeries
| and he had $3.50 on his person, which he
/ turned over to Superintendent Kruger. Yes
| terday afternoon the Columbia National
hands for the protection of Mueller who
| Endorsed the first draft of Carter which
enabled him to secure a bank standing In
this city. Otherwise Mueller Mould have
been the loser.
Carter is considered a clever criminal AND
is doubtless wanted by police in other cit.
| les, where he has succeeded in duping the
| people, as his work here did not have the
| earmarks of being that of an amateur Hi.
| Bertillon photograph and measurement.
| were yesterday forwarded to the Bureau OF
| Criminal Identification at Washington. d
| c., and in that way the detectives hope
/ to locate his other operations. He will be
| given hearing before Judge Whallon thi.
| morning, and in the meantime will be nelt
| at the police station under a bond of S. 600
] ARREST OF BENTON.
| The check which Carter issued for $50 &c
| Edward A. Benton led to an Investigation
| as to who Benton was, and last night al
s o'clock he was placed under arrest alons
| with his ow-conspirator Carter Ren.
| ton came to Indianapolis with Carter and
represented himself as being the Indiana
| agent for the Phoenix Iron Works of Hart
ford. Conn. He had cards printed and car.
| ried books and papers which seemed to bear
out his claims. Following the plan of Car.
| ter, he went TO the office OF the Wilmington
| Woven Wire Fence Company OH MarylanC
| street, opposite the Grand Hotel, and rented
| office room there. Through an introduc
| opened an account with the Indiana Ma
/ tional Bank, and deposited 20 his account
| about 800 in worthless checks and drafts
He drew out several hundred dollars anC
| cashed the check for $50 given him by Car
ter at the Indiana National Bank and OIL
| his person were found several checks which
| he evidently intended to cash within tn,
next day
The detectives caught him as he wen
| into his room at 702 North Alabama stree
| last night and placed him under arrest. H
| admitted that he was implicated with Car
| ter and said that he was unable to tell TIL
| exact amount of his forgeries In his room
were found rubber stamps, stencils and al
| the tools necessary TO make a complet
| forgers outfit, in addition to a machine 70
| cutting certified checks. At the police sta
| tion he said he supposed there was no us
! in trying to lie out of his trouble and, lik
Carter, he made complete confession. Hi
| Bertillon photograph will be taken to-da,
and sent to Washington for Identification
| |