The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-19
Sketches OF the Great Stool Pigeon Gang
Of New York.
oNE-EYED THOMPSON.

oNE-EYED THOMPSON.
One-eyed Thompson, from his youth, was gifted
with more than an ordinary mind, or, at least, his
brain was not balanced in manner suitable to pass
smoothly through this world without conflicting
materially with the rights and privileges of others
All who have read his letters on the event Of his
suicide, can readily form some opinion to the
character and mind possessed by Thompson, should
he apply his abilities to evil instead of good deeds.
Thompson was about 80 years of age, born in this
city, residing nearly all this time either in it in
its vicinity--eonsequently was well aware Of the
habits and customs Of city affairs. lie was fond of
reading; and in his conversation he was romantic
and visionary to degree-always dealing in mys-
terry, mysterious movements, continually schemng
to astound the public mind, whereby he could feed
his visionary ideas, by involving the reputation Of
some fair-famed character in connection with the
preparation Of crime. This was Thompson's
forte. He aspired to be the Vidocq Of New York;
and to attain that notoriey it became necessary to
build up a Trtna tacc case of crime, in order to
discover it to the public. In these last matters,
Thompson was not Alone but assisted by several
accomplices The latter part of Thompson's career,
say during the last few years. he confined prn-
cipally to association with Thomas Warner, the
lawyer, out Of which association evidently grew the
Drury torpedo mystery, and the astounding forgery
on Mr.. Foster, in which James Arlington Bennett
villainously implicated All these exploits were
evidently the works of Thompson's genius, under
matured, deep-aid plans, in which the master mind
of Thompson was clearly discernible to those who
in any way were conversant with the character Of
Thompson's propensties.
For the purpose Of involving Arlington Bennett, it
was necessary to become acquainted with the man,
and then devise such plans thereafter best suited
the project. Accordingly, Thompson hireda small
cottage from Arlington Bennett, down on Long
Island, to reside in, and here their acqu lintance
began. Thompson soon read the mind and dis
covered the credulity Of Mr. Bennett, thereby
applying his subjects of convcrsat IN most likely
TO efec. the object sought to accomplish. Mr..
Bennett, who is man of learning and en-
tensive reading, becomes admirer of Thompson,
invites him to his house, not knowing anything of
his previous characters and neighborly feeling and
intercourse took place, apparently, between them.
In the course Of these interviews during space Of
two or three months, Thompson related his whole
life to Bennet. embellshing il, he went along to
suit the circumstances of the case, mixed up
with facts and fiction, until Mr.. Bennett be-
came completely astoundcd at the revelations
him. 1. was during these friendly visits that
Thompson stole from among Mr. Bennct's pa
pers letter from Mr.. Foster to him, over which
signature the writing was extracted by a chemic Il
process and the substance of a promissory note to
a large amount inserted in its place-au by Thomp-
This note, on completion, was put into crcu-
lation, and cndeavor made trace IL to the pos
session of Mr.. Benne,. The whole scheme failed,
nl NJ p lana ~ tai v
While Thompson was thus sojourning the pre-
inisss Of Mr.. Bennett, near New Utrecht, Long
Island very noted characters were entertanedby
Thompson, called darlington a!aS Bristol Bill, the
burgler. and Christian Meadows, the Boston engra-
yer and counterfeiter. Here was trio, guided by
Thompson'- intellect, and the mechanic al skill of
darlington and Meadows, enough to accomplish al
most any degree Of crime known to our laws.
1t Is well underst ood that the large quantity Of
ones altered TO tens OF the Eagle Bank, Bristol,
Rhode Island, was executed at this cottage. Mar
garei p'Connor, the mistress Of Darlington,
despatched t. Boston to circulate the said bills, and
in 50 doing, she arrested tried, and convicted.
subsequently, she was liberated from prison on ball.
by Warner and Thompson, with understanding
she must Terure herself by swearing TO such matters
were dictated by Warner, when called as witness
against tho Dmrys. At the first trial, VI ,rgarct
Otonnor not to he found, having left the city
with darlington aud Meadows, who took up their
abode in Vermont. Pending these trials. Thomp-
arrested in Brooklyn charge of being
principal in the torpedo affair, and was committed
in default II bail, to the Kings county Jail During
this period Thompson communicated to tie Boston
authorities the whereabouts of Bristol Bill. NIca
dows, and Margaret O'Connor, who we're all duly
arrested in Vermont, were convicted Of counter
fciting. and now in the state prison.
AZ 10 he torpedo affair, :he fact Is that
Thompson conducted the whole IN alter himself
The box was made by a man named Mount,
with the combust.b es, aud young puiry con-
Seycd it To- the house for Thompson, with
out the knowledge Of its contents. II is gene
rally believed that the torpedo wa intended for
Mrs. Warner. as Warner, the night the box was
delivered, wa in Philadelphia. Several months
then elapsed be- sccn the explosion Of the ";orpc-
do" and the arrest Of the Drurys, and in the
mean time the famous stool pigeon manouvre
suggested by George Wilkes 10 Thompson, took
place, called the "fat council in which were en-
gagged, together. Onc-Eyed Thompson, Eli Dar-
lington, alias Bristol Eli. William Jenkins, Cras-
sous, and others. In this " rat council Thomp-
son and Bristol Bill acted a. "stool pigeons"
and an attempt was made to obtain from the Drurys
some indications Of comics ion of guilt. These al
legged were said to have been made, and
UPON II n powerful attempt wa- concocted by the
sociate gang To- prejudice the public mind by false
publications Trough newspapers and otherwise
But ultimately the whole fabric unwoven. the
bose attempt became apparent to the public eve
and thus resulted in the utter defca Of the prose.
cutions These last bold and desperate schemes IL
copspira y to convc: innocent persons failing to
su 'ccca, appeared like dcath-shock to Thompsons
Thompson been able 10 obtain confidence through
the public prosecutor.
Those last accusations made against Arlington
Pennet aud he Drurys, were conceived with m ~
ter spirit; ard had they proved successful no donbt
Thompson and lis allies would have still continued
their wicked anu henous crimes agains, the m bile
lcace. But, as Il turned out, Thompson. finding he
Vas losing caste in public opinion, Instead of favor
associated hiinself, last resort. with man called
farnham-a former associate-and entered into the
manufacture Of counterfeit money, and passing the
samc. tarnhnT was arrested in the act of passing
tie spurious money. This lei to the arrest OF
Thompson, and. finally, to his last act on earth
the destruction If lis existence by suicide. Farm
ham himsclfis now IN the Safe Prison.
We shall continue, tlom time 10 time, sketches Of
the various criminal stcul pigeon operations with
which Thompson has been tcctvd for the last
ten or fifteen years; sOmc Of which will b. found