The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-26
BECKER, KING OF FORGERS.
AN AMERICAN jim THE PENMAN,
soon TO DE FREE AGAIN.
He VIII walk Ost of san quentin Prison
In California Next Month--A Criminal
for Forty Years--E3ig Checks He Has
FOrEcd-WaIL lie Reform Now

SAN FRANCISCO, july 70. --Charles Becker -,
known to detectives the world over as the
king of forgers and to criminals as "the
, Dutc hman.' will walk out Of San Quentin
State prison on Aug. 10, after serving a
, seve n-year sentences for the forgery Of a
1872 900 check on the Crocker-W oolwcrth
. National Bank of San, Francisco which was
! cashed AT the Nevada Bank. His term was
reduced to four and half years by his
! good conduct,
Beoher has been a model prisoner and
has never betrayed the wild beast that is
| under his calm exterior except at times
when he has talked of James Cregan, his pal
who squealed. He has amused himself
while in prison by drawing designs for en-
tertainment programmes, and other orna-
mental work which shows plainly that his
hand has lost none Of it's cunning.
To look al Becker one would neverimagine
that he was a criminal. He has q we'll
shaped head, a full intellectual forehead,
German features and hands that any
woman might envy for the long supple
fingers and the artistic nails.
The prison pallor on his face only adds
to its intellectual aspect. His eye Is mild
until excitement lights 1t up. Then II Is
! the eye of a criminal, fierce. full Of red
lights, capable Of any savage deed.
All one need do Is to mention Cregan
Then in a moment you get glimpse of the
real man who has dominated some of the
fiercest and most desperate criminals In
this country, whose reputation for nerve
and skill places him among the masters Of
criminal craft.
There was report few months ago
that the American Bankers Association
would pension Becker literally when he
came out of San Quentin, but James r.
Branch, secretary of the association. denied
this, as he said the association depended
upon its detectives to protect its men,
bers and not upon substituting crimiralb
Despite this denial several detectives here
declare that Becker can command hand
some salary If he will agree not to forge
any more bank paper. When man is
so expert that he can turn out bank bills
better than the originals or can raise a
check so that only the bank expert with
powerful glasses can detect the fraud, he
Is worth bribing to restrain his skill.
The crime for which Becker has just paid
by four and half years in San Quentin,
was the raising of check from Sl2 to s22 900.
Frank s. Seaver, alias A. H. Dean was the
crook who planned the Job.
He came out here from New York in
December, 1905 and with him were Becker,
James Cregan of New York and Joe
McCuster.
Dean had about 81 500 He opened an
office in this city, deposited most Of his
money in the Nevada Bank, drew small
checks, made new deposits and in skilful
way became known to the bank officers.
Then he went to Woodland, near the
State capital and bought sl2 draft from the
B nix Of Woodland, drown on the Crocker-
Woolworth B,nk of Sen Francisco. This
draft he brought to Sen Francisco and II
Yves turned over by Cregan TO Becker, who
in five days filtered the date and raised
the amount from 81" TO 500 900.
On Dec. II Dean deposited this draft at
the Nevada Bank to his credit, and on the
following dey drew check against it for
So 900 end received the entire amount in
cash. There ives no suspicion excited by
such a transaction, as Dean Was supposed
TO he a. mining man and many such men
peid their hands in coin and drew much
larger sums to meet the monthly payroll.
The forgery was only discovered at the
end of the month, when the Crocker-Wool-
worth Bank sent its monthly account to
the Woodland bank. By that time the
spoil had been divided among the four
men and they mad scattered,
Dean end McCusker were soon caught in
Minneapolis and Becker and CregGn were ar
rested in San Francisco. The letter wore
released, as no charge could be made gRinst
them. They were preparing TO go to Guate-
mela when Dean, who had made a vain
appeal 10 Becker end Cregan for more
money 20 hire a lawyer, confessed 10 C.ap-
tain of Detectives Lees Of this city
Thereupou Becker and Creg'n We're
brorgh, here t'r for trial. Mcicurker was vas
acquitted az nothing could be proved
agiinst him. Dean turned States evil
dence, and Becker and Cregsn on the first
triSl were convicted OF forgery and SEN
fenced to life terms.
On the second triel the jury disagreed,
and on the third C~gan -"squeeled' end
WIS allowed 10 go free. Becker saw that
the gPme vas ny and pleaded guilty, with
the stipulation that he was NOT to get more
than seven years imprisonment. The
Court kept fPith with him.
Throughout his last rial he maint aimed
the same calm as in previous trials, except
on one occasion, when newspaper artist
attempted to get q skei oh OF him in court.
He became wild with rage when he saw
the artist drawing outlines of his head,
and Ticking up a large inkstand threat
ened TO hurl il at the offender unless he
81 olEed his work He was quieted by his
counsel, who feared the effect on the Jury
CT this savage outburst Of rage on the part
of his client
Becker is proud of his skila draughts-
man, but it was only an accident that made
him forger He was born in Germany
and came to New York with his parents
when he was 10 That was in 1857
He developed 40 much skill at school
with zen and pencil that he was ar prem
ticed to nm engraver. Fe soon developed
great skill, but he criminal bias was in him,
for he was in love with girl and he forged
check to buy her an engagement ring,
His father was able TO square this and
because of his youth he escaped prison.
! But his sweeth heart deserted him, his sister,
whom he loved. died end he consorted
| with gang of desperate criminals. His
first exploit was in 1872. when with Joe
Elliott he succeeded in robbiDg the Third
| National Bank of Baltimore of $4,000
Becker fled to France where he met the
very girl for whom he forged a check to
buy a ring. She had married rich
F, ieweler. but Becker induced her TO elope
with him and toget her they went TO Turkey,
! where Becker and several others, including
Joe Chapman of London spread forged
par err in many cities and cleaned up large
| sum.
They were caught and placed in prisons
but all escaped except Chapman who was
basely deserted by his pals They had the
| nerve, however, TO return TO London and
seek the hospitality Of Chapmans wife
| They told her a fairy story about her hus-
band being put ia dungeon and a few days
! later she was found murdered in her rooms
and all her fine jewelry gone.
Becker returned 10 Now York in 1879 and