The San Francisco call., 1904-02-22
Police Capture Carl Anderson,
Man of Many Aliases and
One of the Boldest Opera
tors in the United States
FORGED PROPERTY DEEDS
INVOLVING THOUSANDS
although Using Simple Meth
DDS, He COnsummated Many
Big Deals and Pocketed Large
Sums by Sacrificing Realty
Special Dispatch to The Can.

Los ANGELES, Feb. 21.-As the cul-
mination Of detective work which has
been IN progress since last September
and which has been participated in by
officers OF half q dozen cities through
OUT the country, Carl Anderson, alias
y. S. Spring. alias J. II. johnson, alias
half a dozen other names, one Of the
most extensive land swindlers who has
ever operated with California realty as
his stock in trade was arrested short
ly before midnight and made cOnfes-
sion OF his guilt The arrest is cOnsid-
cred one Of the most important that
mas been effected here in years. Il is
not local case. but the man is said
20 have been operating in many cities
and the magnitude OF his operations
have been such that he has been deal
ing in property worth hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars. Time and again
did the officers in various places think
they had him. but he slipped through
their fingers. leaving some dupe TO take
the consequences.
According 10 his own confession,
Anderson has been the head Of a syndi-
cate Of sVindlers who, throughout the
Middle West. have been advertising
California property in exchange for
property in that section. Their plan of
operation vas simple. They would eX-
anime the title 10 California property.
find il clear, secure forged deeds and
forged acknowledgements and really
file them for record here Then. with
the abstract of title clear. they would
negotiate in various cities for other
property once the deal was consum-
mated they would dispose Of the, newly
acquired property at a sacrifice, pocket
the proceeds and move 10 some lOther
city 10 repeat the operation.
The deal for which Anderson was ar
rested was the transfer by means Of
forged deeds Of property owned in this
part of the State by Mrs. Mary Girls
void. whose son was killed by robbers
in the attempt 10 hold up a Santa
Monica electric car here two years ago.
Anderson traded her property TO ". r.
HOman. a wealthy citizen Of Omaha.
securing 5000 cash and a mortgage for
nearly as much more. He sold the mort
gage and moved 10 Kansas City, where
ne dealt in property in many Of the
smaller towns throughout Kansas. Ne
braska. Iowa and Missouri. using
forged deeds To Mrs. Griswold's prop
erty. Then he went 10 Chicago and re
peated the operations.
He returned here about ten days ago
and under the name Of .. s. Spring
has been living at Long Beach. His
manner Of securing the forgeries was
10 induce a female member OF his gang
20. represent herself as Mrs. Griswold
before a vell-knOwn notary public here
and secure the latter's attestation TO
the signature. Papers found among his
effects show that he was interested in
the transfer of 25.000 acres Of land near
beaumont Tex. and he holds hYe notes
for 5000 each signed by ". P.NBOwles
u Beaumont
Anderson viii be prosecuted here for
forgery and II the officers fail TO con-
vict he viii be cent 70 one Of the half
a dozen cities in which he is badly
wanted.