New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-27
Whitenan Gays he IS innocent OF the charge.
~ rEIEGRAPH To rHE TRIBuNE.l

iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Buffalo Sept. 26-Much secrecy is manifested by
the Buffalo authorities concerning the arrest In
ST Louis Of Aionzo J. Whiteman. The secrecy re-
lates to the charges on which Whteman was ar
rested It is believed the secrecy is prompted
by the desire 10 convict others who are suspected
OF being members Of the gang of forgers who
preyed upon banks. most Of which are big institu-
tons IN New-York.
District Attorney Coatesworth admitted this
afternoon that Whiteman arrested bench
warrant charging forgery and grand larceny. 1t
also was learned that the former was the raising
Of a draft deposited with the Fidelity Trust Com
pany OF this city. from S5l 10 So 600 and the grand
larceny consisted of checking against this draft
10 the amount of $3.50. This draft drawn on
the Hudson River National Bank, of Hudson. y. Y.
Edward n. Wickwire and Joseph Bootman. al
legged members OF the gang of forgers, are now
awaiting trial here for alleged completely IN the
Fidelity Trust Company case This Job
cuted early In July, and private detective agency
employed by the National Bankers Association
Immediately suspected Whteman, whose hoY~e is
IN Dansvie. N Y, of completely. They sought
for Whiteman until they found him in ST. Louis in
the company Of a named Mary Dewitt,
whom Whteman described a young and innocent
girl, unfamiliar with his history.
Alonzo J. Whitemau has been arrested many
times in fifteen years and accused of many crimes.
from forgery to raeetrack WEIGHING" He also has
q career as a politician
lie was born IN DanSKlile y. \. IN 1901. the son
of Reuben Whiteman, one of the leading men OF
the town. president of the Whiteman Pulp and
Paper Company. president OF the Merchants and
Farmers National Bank and owner Of large timber
tracts in the West. When Reuben Whiteman died
IN 1858 he left an estate valued $4,000 BY the
terms Of his viii his children. AlOnzo J. and Clara
J.. 10 receive $4,000 each. the rest OF the
estate so to the widow When she died the
estate was to be divided finally between the two
children.
Alonzo J. Whiteman received his education in
Hamilton College where he had the reputation Of
being the best poker player in the institution. He
graduated from the Columbia Law School. be-
gan the practice of law in Duluth. and was after
ward elected a member of the Minnesota legislat-
he was at one time Mayor Of Duluth. chair
man of the Democratic State Central Committee
and delegate 70 the Democratic National Conven-
tion in 1855 Al time he believed to be
worth about 100000.
In 1895 Whitenan was arrested in San Francisco
for forgery. convicted and sentenced 10 nine
years Imprisonment, but. securing new trial,
released a technicality. In 1897 he
arrested in New-York City for defrauding the
Columbia Bank, at which time he was acquitted
on account Of the alihi produced by him. In June,
1885. he was arrested in St Louis. transferred 10
Chicago sentenced to one years Imprisonment and
fine Of $1,000 from which he appealed, and was
released on bail. The decision o. the lower court
was confirmed. and Whiteman failed TO appear.
He was again arrested in New-Tork. November
ls 1899 with Robert J. Knox. William Hartley and
Charles z. Stewart all OF whom were sent 10
prison. and WhiteTnan returned TO Chicago
10 out his uneXpired term
On February o. 1901, he was arrested in New
York City for swindling the Hotel Navarro, and
was sentenced to two years and six months in
Sing Sing Prison April Il, 1901. but obtained a
certificate Of reasonable doubt and May 8,
1902, a new trial was granted. On May % OF the
year he was discharged on the request OF the
District Attorney. While awaiting this decision he
arrested at Boston, August 30. 1901, for
swindes. He was tried and convicted. but
count OF his having made restitution and his
mother pleading Tor his release, he was. Octo-
Der Is, 1901, discharged. On November s. 1903. he
was arrested al Chicago for swindling the Audi
forum Hotel out of 500. but, having restitu-
ton. he discharged.
Whitenan has always stayed the most fash
ionable hotels and in many instances has paid his
bills with worthless checks. When arrested at
ST. Louis he living at the Hotel Jefferson
under the name Of George R. Prentice. At the
time Of his arrest Sunday evening, when he
was about to visit the fair he had in his pockets
an undated check on the Amsterdam Bank OF
NeW-hork, drawn in his favor. for 5000 num-
Der OF other checks, check perfoTators daters rub
Der stamps and other forgery paraphernalia- Ar
rangements are now IN progress by the Pinkertons,
for the American Bankers Association, to trans
fer Whiteman from St Louis TO Buffalo for trial
there.