The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-20
SERIOUS CHARGE
 AGAINST SHANNON Alleged Member of Band of Notorious Criminals WIRE TAPPING IS ALLEGED Foroeres of Large Amounts Charged. How Check for $500 On Bir-
 mnahar- Bank
 Figured.
WIRE TAPPING IS ALLEGED

Charged with being member Of that notorious band of crooks which operated SD extensively in New Orleans and other Louisiana cities, Joseph Shannon, a man Of splendid appearance and good educa- tion, was confined in the city jail yester- day morning.
 f the suspicion of the detectives, backed up by evidence stronger than cir- cLmstantial, is correct, then the prisoner in Birmingham Is the last member Of the band of New Orleans forgers wire-tap- pers and crooks of big calibre. The man was arrested on request of Chief Whit aker of New orleans, whose official state- ments to the local police paved the way for them. The man was spotted at once, and only several days elapsed before De- tectives Bodeker and Hamilton, assisted by officers Cole and Ray arrested the man giving his name as shannon. When arrested the prisoner refused to answer questions, and an Age-Herald represen- tative asking for an interview, was re- fused.
 Talented Crooks.
 The band of which Shannon is alleged to have been member consisted of number of the most talented crooks with whom the New Orleans officials have come in touch. The amount of their all legged forgeries and swindles by other means is estimated at $5OM0, and as Shannon Is believed to be the last mem- Der of the band his arrest was of es- pecial interest.
 Several preliminary telegrams were sent to local officials, and a subsequent letter from Chief Whitaker narrated at length the means by which Shannon's arrest might be effected. Furnished with this data, the detectives landed their man yes terday. The New Orleans officials were notified immediately and an officer Is expected in the city this morning. Four O.. five other members of the band CT crooks of which the Birmingham pris- oner is alleged to have been member are In confinement in New Orleans Tfsy are charged with wire-tappb's scnemes by which they learned sln advance the result of foreign rae'lg events and thus beat the boolyma hers.
 $500 Deposited.
 In .ne arrest of Shannon, a check Tor $50 drawn on the Birmingham Trust and Savings bank, materially figures. Some time ago, d man giving his name as P. I. Calton, deposited with the Birmingham bank $500. The check presented by Shan non was signed by P. l., Cation. Vice President smith, however, having inside information from the detectives, refused to honor the check, and gave the man to understand that to obtain the money, he would have to institute suit. Later the officers learning that he had presented the check, arrested Shannon. Cation, tine man who deposited the money, is un- der arrest in New Orleans, and the amount to his credit in the Birmingham bank will probably revert to the party from whom 1t is alleged to have been obtained by forgery.
 The detectives. asked why Calton de- posted the money in Birmingham, gave it as their opinion that when he made the deposit, he was setting a trap in which the bank would be made to suffer. The detectives state that it is a part of the game for one crook to deposit d sum of money, and then give check to a pal After the cheek is cashed, the depositor appearing later, demands his money, claims a forgery. and sues the bank for reimbursement. It seems, however, that before the scheme could be worked in Birmingham, Calton was captured. 1t was probably the intention of Shannon to get the money, in case the detectives are on the right trail. and with it to make his way to other sections.
 The Description Answered.
 The man exactly answers the descrip- ton furnished by New Orleans officials and inasmuch as he endeavored to cash the check, which was the detectives cue for action, local officials say they are certain that they have the proper in- dividual. He goes, it is said, under sev- eral aliases, Sam Jones being one, and J. D. Merritt, another.
 When placed in front of a photo grapher's camera yesterday. Shannon made great effort to escape the ordeal and succeeded in distorting his face to a certain extent.
 The detectives have been congratulated on their capture.