The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-28
WHITMAN AGAIN
B'LAMES SLEU1Hs
Former Minnesotan, Accompanied
by Mysterious Woman, Held
as Forger.

scribed BY. former Chief Of Police
Byrnes Of New York as Zone Of the
most resourceful confidence men in the
United States,' once wealthy, is held
at the -Four Courts on information from
the Buffalo police that he lis wanted
there to answer the charge Of forgery
Whitema5n was arrested Sunday night
" Vset, ~" B. prentice w. With him was
a young woman who gave her name to
the police as Maria Dewitt of New
York No charge was preferred
against Miss Dewitt, and when released
she returned to the Jefferson hotel.
A representative Of an eastern maya
zine, now stopping at the Jefferson no.
tel, attended Hamilton college, Clinton.
uate. He e said: -
Whiteman was bright and energetic,
but INSCRIPTIONS, said he, and that he
should be caught SO many times In the
meshes of the law Is not great surprise
to his old acquaintances. ~
At college he belonged to the Delta
Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and to this fact
he owed his immunity from prosecution
on one occasion. -. -
Appeal to Fraternity. i, = :
Whiteman forged a check for $4,000
and when his victim proceeded to 1nst1-
tute criminal proceedings Whiteman re-
called that they were both members of
the college fraternity.
II know you will give me new trial.
said Whiteman to the man whom he had
swindled, "and thus afford me an oppor-
| tunity to mend my ways go.
whiteman's victim not only yielded to
| this plea, but supplemented his magnl-
nimity by handing Whiteman a check for
500 to get on his feet again.
| Whiteman's nerve was of the monu-
mental Sort Not even his long record OF
| questionable transactions ever embar-
| raised him.
| At the college reunion I'M Clinton this
year Whiteman was on hand, meeting
the old boys with that same air OF cheer
mess which characterized him during his
college career.
Among those whom he addressed was
Elihu Root, former secretary of war
Whiteman grasped Mr.. Roots hand in an
ELUSIVE manner and said he was mighty
glad to see him again
asked who he was
"Why, I am Whiteman-Alonzo J
Whiteman,' was the answer /" -. y
Mr.. Root smiled and said: ooh, yes,
remember you, Whiteman."
It is remarked by the police as at
least a coincidence that James Dewitt
West Point graduate, formerly chum
from army officers around Chicago on
worthless checks and is now serving
term of eleven years in the state prison
at Jackson, Mich.
The young woman giving her name as
Maria Dewitt will not admit that she
knows this Dewitt or is related to him
In any way.
~: Woman Mystery. g
/ e. In fact, "Miss DEWITT is much 81
IA mystery to the police. The girl is 9
1tall, willowy. brunette. She wears 9
china. silk waist and velvet skirt ant
that she. will tell Of herself is that he1
name is Maria DeWitt;s that, her father
! is dead and that it would break he1
mother s heart to know that she is be
ing detained. %.
She wears a gold watch suspended
from a neckchain and it bears the mi
tials ''F. L. CO. She was asked Mon
clutchad the watch, concealing the mi
tials, and broke into tears.
.Whiteman is AZ years old, Of medium
build and dresses neatly. He has an in
tellectual face and his general appear
, snce is -tEat Of a polished scholar. :,
He declared to the police that ne. i
the victim of a detective agency, whic]
he says has been bounding him TO
, years.
>"Some days before I left Buffalo, ;
he said, ~ read in the papers an iten
to the effect that man: had been ar
rested there for cashing a bogus draf
which he said I had given him.
+ :"The man s story is untrue, as I hav
not given anybody draft in the las
year, -
When search of Whiteman's room
at the Jefferson hotel was made, blanl
checks Of banks thruout the countr
were found.