The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-11-13 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY FORGERY AND

ROBBERY.

A warrant has been granted by the Birmingham
magistrates for the apprehension of Arthur Forster,
aged 33, clerk in the employ of Mr. Councillor Bradley,
solicitor, Colmore-row, Birmingham for obtaining the
sum of several thousands of pounds by a series of
daring forgeries of the name of his employer. From
the facts which have been allowed to transpire it
appears that for some time past Mr. Bradley has
been engaged in getting money out of Chancery for
three clients all Birmingham people. A week or so
ago Mr. Bradley's efforts were successful, and
his London agents took possession of the
money, which amounted altogether to about .£7OOO.
Forster was entrusted with most of the correspond-
ence, and he seems to have conceived a plan for
getting hold of the whole of the money. In the
first place, he intercepted his employer's letters from
the London agents—one of them contained the three
cheques. He forged a letter from his employer to
the London agents, returning the cheques, and in-
structing the agents to bank them. ihe letter further
stated that one of his clients, who had some heavy
bills to meet in London, would come up and receive
the cheques for the amount himself. Mr. Bradley,
the letter stated, would furnish the gentleman with a
letter to establish his identity. He then forged letters
in Mr. Bradley's name to the clients, telling them
that there had been some little delay, and that the
cheques would be forwarded on to them in the course
of the week. Then he forged the letter of identity,
also purporting to be signed by Mr. Bradley,
and armed with this document, he was in readi-
ness to obtain the money. On Monday in last
week the lette: of identity was presented at the agents
in London, the cheques for about £7OOO were
obtained, and money to the amount of £52.00 was
drawn out. The fact that the whole amount was
not realised shows the superlative cunning with
which the plans were laid. Forster, or whoever
it was that presented the letter, remarked to the
agents that he had come up to pay some bills, and
said he did not think he should want the whole of the
money. He mentioned the amount he wanted, a
little over £5OOO. This statement seems to have
gone far in establishing his bon A fides. Accordingly,
when he went to the bank he drew out the amount
of money he had mentioned. On Monday, the day
on which the money was cashed in London, Forster
did not put in an appearance at Mr. Bradley's office.
He represented to his employer that he was ill. As
he did not return to his duties on the Tuesday Mr.
Bradley grew a little suspicious, but he had no
reason to suspect anything particular, and as to the
money he did not take any steps till Friday last.
As the £7OOO did not arrive then, he wrote a sharp
letter asking for an explanation of the delay. Then
the forgery was discovered, and further com-
munications soon made it plain. The police went to
Forster'e lodgings in the Aston-road on Saturday
night, but the bird had flown. Exactly a week ago
be gave out to his landlady that he was going to
Liverpool in quest of another situation. He left
home next morning early, and returned at night
with a new portmanteau, which was very heavy, and
which no doubt contained the £5OOO. At breakfast
next morning he seemed much excited. It is thought
he carried the portmanteau as far as Gosta-green,
where he hailed a cab and proceeded to the railway-
station. About midday his landlady received a letter
which was in the following terms:"l find it impos-
sible to come home in time to catch my train. Will
you kindly send my portmanteau and box up to Snow-
hill Station to be left in the cloak-room until called
for. I shall probably be in town on Saturday night."
The old portmanteau, in accordance with this letter,
was taken up to Snow-bill Station by a fellow lodger
lind left there. Forster had written no name or address
upon it, but the man who took it up wrote upon it,
"Mr. Forster, Birmingham. To be left till called
for." Immediately on the discovery of the crime
detectives were despatched to London, Liverpool, and
all likely ports, but it is supposed that he has got clear
off. Forster is about 33 years of age, dark complexion,
and slender build.