The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-16
biography OF Bristol Bill and Christian
MendOWs.

birth and has served term OF years in the Msssa
chusetts state Prison for a crime committed in tn
State; but before going prison he little
OF copPerPlste engraving and while in prison he was
placed az the same business and there became quite
expert bank note engraver; which on his
from prison, made him very formidable and danger
Gus manufacturer ct eoanterfet bank plates as well as
an utterer OF the bank bills, themselves, to large de-
nomination.
After his release from prison, understand he was
engaged by an engraver In Boston, with whom he
worked for some time, until opportunity offered
rob his employer which he did taking with him lot
of very valuable dies.
In Boston Meadows became acquainted with Bll
Warburton alias Darlington, more commonly kno wn
Bristol Bill This man, Darlington, is an English
and understand has been in this country be-
tween eight and nine years; he Is genteel looking
of good address, about forty years Of age and of
very determined and resolute of countenance.
The first time Bill suspected in this city of crime
in connection with Jack Sullivan about seven
years ago in the burglary Of MT Scott's lace store
situated in Broadway, from which many thousand
dollars Of property stolen The chief Of police,
Mr. Matsel who was then police magistrate sue
eeeded in capturing Sullivan and one OF his accom-
plices, but Bristol Bill escaped by leaving the city
Sullivan was sentenced to Sing Sing State Prison for
Subsequently, ON one Of the visits OF Henry Clay to
this city, Bill his return, arrested by officer
Bowyer taken before the chief Of police and
mitted to prison charges of several burgaries but
looking into the the district attorney dscov
cred that the statute of limitation had expired in those
cases and Bill was again unavodably let loose on the
Bill soon aft err with others made desperate attempt
the Seventh Ward Bank by cutting through the
wall from the adjoining store, thus nearly obtaining
access to the money vault Here, 1t seems they must
have been disturbed and frightened of by the chief of
police and Of his officers, who about in that
vicinity on that night as their work which
nearly accomplished evidently abandoned in great
hear Of Currier Trott's jewelry store in Boston
being robbed. Bill was undoubtedly, ono OF the rob-
bers although the evidence against him was not enough
derson, alias Black Bill, and another rogue
rested in Boston, the charge of burglary and will
be reconected, were tried and acquitted.
Bristol Bill returned TO this city and the chiefs
officers succeeded in catching Charley Wheeler who,
at that time called the Old Man Of the Cross''
Bristol Bill and Joe Murray All three arrested
charge of burglariousy entering the store OF Mr..
Marry, No. ! Pine street. stealing from the iron
safe about $1t0 in money This money was traced to
the possession Of Wheeler, who tried convicted,
and fentenced to the State Prison. the other two de-
manded separate trials, and were acquitted.
few months more passed on, when And Mes-
dows Bristol Bill In this city busily engaged to-
and at the time intimately associated with One
Eyed Thompson, visiting and locating themselves oc
easionaly AZ thompson 'hen hS AZ
altered by Bristol Bill and Meadows, although II Is
well understood that Meadows was the artist and
executor Of all these eounterfes, his associates aiding
and abetting and when ready would dispose OF the
spurious commodity to the best sdvanage) These bills
were from and from tens TO Ave hundreds
and some three thousand dollars of this kind Of money
altered, the Broadway Bank Of this city,
vsyed to Boston by Bristol Bill and then sold TO a
man by the name Of Foster, for little over $1,000,
which good money was appropriated by Bristol Bill
blythe aid and assistance Of othe. parties for the re-
lief Of Margaret 0Connor his mistress, from prison.
Who was then under conviction for passing counter
felt money. The amount Of bail required was $loOo
the money posted up, and Margaret O'Connor was
universal genius called One Eyed thompson, assisted
By for fSs Of puy on the
The torpedo explosion In Warmers house created
considerable noise the community, at that time and
$1,000 offered fer the conviction of the maker aud
a. "a DIV iSed for
guilty parties to Justice aud with view to eject that
object, associated bimself with Bristol Bill One
Eyed Thompson, and others. Here asso-
citation formed Of remarkable ideas and eXtraor-
binary genius huddled together acting under the di
rections of George wilkes, Who IL seems the
charge dairs OF the eoie Of stool pigeons" or decoy
ducks, organized for the purpose Of cntrspping old
Samuel Drury into some nominal or pretended confess
stems In this instance Bristol Bill was induced to d.
himself from his legitimate business Of bank rob-
berries burglares, and other high crimes to act tho
ducemepts held out to him by Wilkes. Of ultimately
obtaining the liberation Of his mistress, Margaret
O'Connor In this astounding, Mysterious stool
pigeon" affair George wilkes, OF the Police Ga-efe, hit
upon plan Of interesting Darlington and sent One
Eyed Thompson 10 Boston the bearer Of his Vows
Those views we're deiberatsd upon by Bristol Bill; and
after the lapse Of few days Bill and his counsel
TO this city agreed to Wilkes wishes In brief
gnret O'Connor, the wife mistress Bristol bill was
Urder conviction for passing counterfeit money there
Wilkes showed Bill and his counsel that III she could
be instrumental In convcting the villain who Furnish
her with the notes the authorities would doubtless
remit her penalty. Actuated by this hope, the only
that would have operated TO his conversion Bill
put himself In the harness OF justice and went to work
with all the ardor OF an old man In love Finding
the matter thicken too fast wilkes called In the at
sittance Of ofhcer A. NJ Smith and also avaed him
self Of ex.ofcer to aid in collateral matters of
I'm port ance. II being evident wilkes would soon
require formal suthority:to aid him and not be-
ing able TO consult with the county District Attorney
10 n1,ny 70 n b shs As'OI1y
Governor, and explained the whole matter to him and
told him the reason ftr desiring the substitution Of
the Attorney General that the secrets Of the County
strict Attorney once often cessbe to that
portion Of the police which had failed in developing
that envy might Illustrate him. and his secret fall
within the knowledge ef the wealthy enemy The Go
vernon acceded TO his views and made the substitution
In the meantime Thompson returned from Boston
and showed himself TO Dfury also exhibiting some
medslliops, Borrowed from kawdon, Wright Hatch
manouvrDgS going the robbery Of the safe Of
the Union hart Company at Princetown Mass, turn
Cd up ana after = noments ooseivsnon' wilkes
introduction OF Bristol Bill into the case Thomp-
son vas sent to s ,ss pruTy and an sss.s'%sns
Thompson. In this Wilkes found II necessary to
get Drury into house and TO prepare for It's ac-
compliment, wilkes, on Monday the 12th Novem-
Der lss9 had secured for Bristol Bill ut No ~
fulton street, Brooklys; and on the same evening
nhes wrote item Tor the Morning Star about the
ofcers being in search Of Bill for large amount OF
property-tbst would excuse Bin from not coming out,
and at tho same time decoy Drury TO him. wilkes
then selected two intelligent ofhcers, VIM. o. jenkins
and ominick Crsssous, and told them that Mr. A. NJ
O Smith would take them to q place In Brooklyn on
the next day, to assist Smith and wilkes In making
arrests. That to accomplish these arrests Jen
aims and Crassous must be secreted In closet sdjon
ing bedroom, and be apparently fastened up by
pas In loose holes for their reseption that they
would through small holes bvred through the door
three Of the greatest criminals In the United States
that those criminals would doubtless great
crimes recently committed; they must carefully hear
all that raid the correctness Of their Informs
ton would depend wilkes Co . authority for future
action The conversation might be long. but their at
tention must not flag the most important subject
Of ell might come the last The officers, jenkins and
Crs
that their could not be heard In the closet and
hold hefs In their hands In they wanted
TO cough To stine the sounds Finally, the
oc,rs were informed by wilkes that st the end Of AN
hour, or theresbouts, fourth man would enter the
room, Who would be followed by A. NJ. O. Smith aud
whes that then the arrest would commence, and II
resistance made, the obstruction to the closet
door would be removed and let them In with their
clubs to wilkes and smith assistance The object Of
to sharpen their sight and hearing that the scvfy
Of tnoee organs VAS to depend the warrant Of wilkes