The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-08-29
TREPRIECE OFF0RGERS
Charles Becker, Just Released
From Long imprisonment.
ABEMARKABLE CRIMINAL CAREER

unGE - American Aat5tA-eAh -+shH-
citation WIN Ect Pension Him, IS
RumoreI.
Charles Becker known to detectives
the world over as the king Of forgers
and to criminals is 'the Dutehmane
walked out Of san Quentin tCal) state
prison the other day, says san Fran
cisco letter to the Detroit News-rrib-
une, after serving a seven year SEN
tence for tie forgery Of $4,000
check on the Croker Woolworth Ma
tionai bank Of San Francisco, which
was cashed at the Nevada bunk His
term was reduced to four and a half
years BY his good conduct
Becker has been model prisoner
and has never betrayed the wild beast
that IS under his calm exterior except
al times when lie has talked Of James
Cregan, his pal, who squealed lie
has amused himself while ia prison by
drawing designs for entertainment pro-
grammes and other ornamental work.
which shows plainly that bis hand has
lost none Of its cunning.
There was d report a few mouths ago
that the American Bankers assocla
ton would pension Becker literally
when ne came out Of San Quentin,
| but James r. Branch, secretary Of the
\ association. denied this, as lie said the
association depended upon its detee-
tlves 10 protect its members and not
upon substituting criminals.
The crime for which Becker has Just
paid by four and a half years in San
Quentin was the raising Of check
from $40 70 $4,000 Frank S. Seayer.
alias a. IL Dean, was the crook who
planned the job.
lie came out here from Chicago in
| December, 1895, and with him were
Becker, James Cregan of New York
| and Joe MeCusker.
Dean had about $500 He opened
an Office ID this city. deposited most OF
his money in the Nevada bank drew
small checks. made new deposits ana
in sklllful way became known to the
bank officers.
Then lie went to Woodland, near the
state capital and bought a twelve dol
] lar draft from the Bank Of Woodland
drawn on tile Croker Woolworth bank
of san Francisco, and It was turned
over rs Cregan TO Becker, who il five
days altered the date aud raised the
amount from 81 to $4,000
I ~. 49,. 49,, Ias,1eff,1 4Ftfs lisa ~
at the Nevada bank 10 his credit ana
On the following day drew cheek
against it for S22.0o0 and received the
entire amount in cash.
The forgery was only discovered at
the end.of the month, when the Crock
er-Woolworth bank sent It's monthly
account to the Woodland bank. by
that time the spoil had been divided
among the four men. and they had
scattered
Dean and McCusker were sooD
caught III Minneapolis, and Becker and
/ Creean were arrested in San Francisco.
I The latter were released as no charge
could be made against them They
were preparing to 20 @ Guatemala.
when Dean, who had made vain aD-
peal % Becker and Cregan for more
money 70 hire a lawyer, confessed "a
Captain Of Detectives Lees Of this city.
Therennon Becker and Cregan We're
arrested III Newark ". j.. and were
taken to San Francisco for trial Nc
Cusker was acquitted, as nothing could
Be proved AGAINST linn Dean turned
states evidence, and Becker and Cr-
gan on the first trial were convicted Of
forgery and sentenced to life terms
ON the second trial the Jury disa-
greed. and on the third Cregan "squeal-
ed and was allowed to 80 free Beck
er saw that the game was Up and
| pleaded guilty, with the stipulation
That he was not to get more than seven
years imprisonment The court kept
faith with him.
Becker Is proud Of his skill as O
craftsman but It was only an accident
that made linn Il forger. Tic was born
| in Germany and came to New York
with his parents when he was ten,
| That was Ia 1857
He developed SO much skill at school
with pen ana pencil chat he was mp
prenticed to an eugraver. He soon de-
veloped great skill. but the criminal
was iii him. for he was IN love with 4
girl. and he forged d check 70 buy her
| an engagement ring.
His father was able 70 square this,
and because Of lis youth he escaped
| prison But his sweetheart deserted
him. his sister, whom lie loved died.
and he consorted with q gang of DIES
perate criminals, His first exploit was
| iii 1872, when with Joe Elliott be sue
ceeded in robbing the Third National
bank Of Baltimore Of S150.000
1 Becker fed 20 France, where he met
the very girl for whom he forged q
| check % buy d ring she had married
q rich jeweler. but Becker induced her
TO elope with him, and together they
went to Turkey, where Becker and
several others, including Joe Chapman
! Of London, spread forged paper in
many cities and cleaned up d large
sum-
They were caught and placed Ia pris
on, but an escaped except Chapman,
who was basely deserted BY bis pals.
Becker returned to New York IN 1876