Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-12

arraigned before the bar OF justice-his
people up to this time knew nothing. His
first public offense toward the close OF
1850 was that of swindling bookmakers Of
eastern race tracks out of large sums OF
money.
The impetus whitman gained from his
first crime, backed by the momentum of
his secret political plunderings. gave him
a start on the downward course he was
never able to overcome. In 1892 in his
home town, Dansviile. N. Y. he raised an
IS draft to $50 and swindled a friend.
More of that Record.
And more of his continuous vaudeville Of
crime is recited in this statement by w. A.
Pinkerton:
In 1904 because Of the arrest OF one of
his associates for swindles with him In
Chicago, he fed to Europe, and in Septem-
Der of that year circulated worthless paper
United States in 1896, and on information
Furnished by us was arrested in New York
City FOR the San Francisco authorities, and
on August 80 of that year was convicted
and sentenced to nine years in the San
Quentin (Cal.) penitentiary. but on legal
| released November IS, 1896, and the case
dropped by the California authorities.
February g. 1897 he was arrested in New
York City for swindiinE a member Of sS5 on
bogus check, but the alihi witnesses pro-
duced by him, on account of their I'M
picked the jury that they acquitted him.
June H. 1898, he was arrested in st. Louis,
Mo, for swindling a hotel in Boston,
Mass; pending trial was released on bail,
| which he forfeited. -t ..
July, of the same year, he was convicted
\ in Chicago, Ill, for obtaining money under
false pretense and sentenced to one year
/ In the house of correction, but pending an
appeal was released on bail.
In May, 1899, he was arrested in New
York for swindling a hotel, but forfeited
his bail, and In November Of the same year,
Y, Pittsburg Pa, and Woonsocket, r. L.,
we caused his arrest, with Robert Knox
and others, all of whom were convicted
except Whitman. AS evidence to convict
Whitman for his participation in these
| forgeries was not obtainable he was sur
rendered to the Illinois authorities, whers
| a decision had been rendered against him,
| and he served his sentence.
In New York City in July. 1901 he was
to two years and six months in Sing Sing
prison, which he appealed, and was re-
leased on bail. August 80 of the same year
| he was rearrested in Boston, Mass, for
the crime of 1885, pleaded guilty to that
forgery indictment, but, through the inter-
vention of his mother, SO years Of age, and
| on his promise to reform, he was paroled
| on suspended sentence. 49,. 7......
In 1902 the appellate division OF the state
| of New York reversed the July IL, 1901
conviction against him, and the district at
| torney, unable to obtain further evidence,
mol pressed the case. From then until his
| arrest in 1904 he lived in his native town,
| Dansville, N. Y, where he had many
| friends still having confidence in him and
to whom he pretended that he had reformed
| and intended becoming a minister of the
gospel, but while thus deceiving his friends
| he operated more extensively than before,
/ resulting in his final conviction and SEN
| tenoe at Buffalo as stated herein.
II Was the Senator, All Right.
| One night, either in the latter part of
1900 or the early part of 1901, a reporter
sauntered into the Ryan hotel in st. Paul
He got a tip from a man who knew Whit
man that he or the fellow that looks like
| him" upstairs. He had registered I'M
der a different name. The reporter went
to the room designated, knocked and was
admitted by an extremely cordial invita-
| ton. He greeted the occupant of the room
as Mr.. whitman
"Glad to see you, old man. but guess
you're mistaken in my name" replied
whitman.
identity, not once losing his even temper
and nice urbanity.
well, 1 guess they'll be getting me
again. he laughingly said. referring to the
police They were, sure enough, quite glad
to meet 'the senator"
1t was on this occasion that Whitman
related the story of his lavish bribery in
his congressional campaign and other such
depredations. He did so, too, with as much
serenity as II he might have been discuss
ing the escapades of another man. He said
he had staked his whole soul on winning
that election and II he had known how near
he was coming to victory he could have
dug up another SIS 900, though his pile was
then getting low.