The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-13

tempt to secure subscriptions for maya
zlne articles. OF a1roit-address and arm
ed with his forged letters of introduction,
ne was able to impose upon the cleverest
business men, and relied largely upon
their reluctance to tell the story to get
him out of danger. In Denver he is said
to have presented himself as represent
ing the New York Herald Publishing
Association, Syndicate of Fifty Repre-
sentative Newspapers, Temple H. Ham
fton, treasurer and the Men of the
Time" from "Everybody's,'' S. H. Pea
body, secretary. -- In Kansas City he
passed as James T Ridgeway, treasurer
of the Ridgeway Publishing company.
1t was under the last title that he OBJ
tanned the check from r. A. Long.
Some of His Victims.
Among the past victims of the man
are said to be Melville E. Stone, man.
ager of the Associated Press; General
Russell A Alger, and Jesse Seligman,
the New York banker He is said TO
have served time in Sing Sing and the
Minnesota and Ohio state penitentiaries
for forgery. After the arrest in Denver
he confessed his identity to Chief of Po-
lice Delaney and freely admitted that he
was the notorious swfndler and forger. In
the Kansas City prison yesterday. how
ever, he repudiated his interviews in
the Denver papers and declared that he
was not guilty of the forgeries named.
He admitted getting the money from
Mr.. Long, but claimed that he had made
a bona f1de contract and that he had
signed his own name to the check given
him in payment. Asked why he had
given his name as Smith both here and
at Denver, he said he was drunk.
An interesting light was thrown
upon his method of working by a
memorandum list found among his
possessions, containing names of lead
ing capitalists Of Denver and remarks
upon the best means of getting at
hAT ov110 1Qs
ness men were selected and these
were labeled with a running fire OF
comment that indicated his thorough
familiarity with the personal charac-
teristtcs of each-
While in Kansas City Smith stopped
at the Savoy hotel under.the name of
Benton Smith. In. Denver he regis
tered at the Albany hotel as Orville
Smith. While instfis city he was ac-
companfed by woman he says was
his wife, who has disappeared since
the news of his arrest in Denver.
PinkertOns Know Him Well.
our agency is well acquainted
with this man, whom we consider one
or the cleverest criminals in the Unit
ed States" said John A. Gustafson,
P1nkerton office, and our records are
full of accounts of his misdeeds. He
began his operations as an expert
Wr1te-up man. as we term the swim
uAOlS VINO use Mss peculiar method or
operation, in New York IN 1902. From
there he went to Philadelphia in 1903,
and pulled off one deal that netted
him $4,000. From there he went to
cleveland. o., where he was caught
forged check, and was Civ
en- eight months; in the county work
house. In the fall. of 1903 he was
caught trying to work General Russell
A. Alger on the write1up game in De-
troit, Mich. After he got out of pris-
on in Michigan he pulled off another
little affair in New York, which got
hin sentence in Sing Sing. He was
liberated from there a few months
ago, to turn up here in Kansas City at
his old game"
The Pinkerton description of the
man ta1lfes closely with that of the
prisoner now in the city JAIL He is
described as man 35 years old, five
-eet seven inches tall, weight IT'S
pounds. stout. medium chestnut hair,
1azel eyes, of medium fair complex
on, rather intelligentolooIx ing, a fluent
-aikeF. and mantpH good address
Information will be filed against
him ateonce before the criminal court
IN a charge of forgery. He declares
ne will fight the case through. He
claims to believe he has done nothing
lere of which he ican be legally con-
7icted. -I4r ga =, 49,