The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-04-11
PRINCE OF FORCERS
IN CUSTODY
Over $l,OOO,OOO Melted as
Result of Opera
tiOnS.
A special from Tacoma says:

Albert E. Bell arrested in Tacoma,
Washington Is one of the most noted
forgers and mail pouch thieves with
which the authorities have ever had
to deal. AS a result of his operations
he has, 1t Is estimated, secured nearly
900. He was arrested in Denver
on October by the secret service Of
ficefs at st. Anthony's hospital. where
he had undergone an operation. On
October 16 he was taken to Philadel-
phia to stand trial for a robbery In
which 100000 was taken. He left Dem
yer in charge of Deputy United States
,Marshals Baker and Davis. On Octo-
ber 10 the party arrived at Philadel-
phia. AS Bells guards went into the
toilet room Bell picked up his valise
and left the car unnoticed by anyone,
and disappeared in the crowd.
Bell had many aliases, among them
being J. H. Hamilton, A. E. Ham
mond. j. A. Miller. F. II. Crosby and
George Murray. When arrested at
st. Anthonys hospital his wife gave
the name of Sharpe and she staid at
his bedside and was also taken into
custody. Bell was charged by the pos
tai authorities with robbing the mails,
and also by the American Bankers
association with having raised and
cashed checks and drafts secured from
stolen mail pouches. The specific
charge upon which the arrest was
originally made was the stealing of a
mail pouch containing 100000 worth
af tot 10. lsf,
the night of September s.
Bell later admitted having arrived in
this country from Grove. England,
last summer and enjoyed himself at
Asbury Park, New Jersey. posing as
a wealthy fruit speculator. and
through the Sharpe woman obtained
entrance to the best OF society, max
ing the acquaintance OF brokers, bank
ers and wealthy business men of many
cities and numerous large interests
Soon after making the financial ac-
quaintance Bell began TO deposit diff
ferent sums with his banker friends
and on September 10 deposited several
checks payable to his order, drawn on
different Philadelphia firms. Two days
later he closed his accounts and with
drew the amounts due him. These
checks were the doctored contents OF
the mail sacks.
Bell was also accused of having
been implicated in the theft OF
pouch at Springfield Junction In April
of last year, and shortly afterward A.
+. Hammond, believed to have been
Bell, opened an account with the Lin
coin Trust company In st. Louis and
not long afterward drew out S2500 on
the account
According to the criminal records.
Bell once served a five years sentence
in the Auburn, N. Y. states prison
for stealing a mail pouch from the
New York Central depot in Buffalo
and tamperng with the negotiable pa
per enclosed.
Just before leaving Denver Bell
made what purported to be a COM
plete confession of his operations. He
admitted having gone into one of Chi
cago's largest and most influential
banks and after a half hours talk
with the cashier, persuaded him to
gev practically carte blanche letter
OF credit without the deposit of even
a single penny.
AT the time of Bells arrest local
detectives had this to say of his rec
ord:
1T was I'm 1894 that Bell was ar
rested In New York while endeavoring
to cash a stolen draft for 1920, and he
went to the Elmira reformatory on
April 10. He was released seven
months later, but on April IS. 1899
was again arrested In New York
while trying to cash $425 draft This
was one of the drafts taken from the
pouch stolen at Buffalo. Bell admit
ted when he stole the pouch he was
disguised as a railroad employe.s Bell
also served three years in the Missouri
penitentiary at Jefferson City for the
theft of mail pouch at Kansas City.