New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-15
Forrester's Career.

%'Nb
The name of William Forester having
been again brought before the public ia
connection with the Nathan murder, it NAV
be that the following facts will answer the
query as to who William Forester alias
Billy Forrest, alias Billy and Frank Camp
bell, alias Frank Livingston, alias Frank
Harding, alias Frank Howard, alias VIII
liam Brown, alias - johnson, really is
This man is native of New Orleans, and
first made his debut before the public in
the character of an escaped convict from
the Joliet, illinois. Penitentiary, to which
institution he had been sentenced to thir-
teen years imprisonment. Forester came
East, and one of his earliest adventures
was robbery near Boston, Massachusetts.
in November, 1863. For this he was ar
rested, but escaped. and ON November 26,
1869, was again 'collared" by Detective
DearbOn, of Boston, who concluded to
bring him to New York and turn him over
to Pinkerton, who still retains the requisi-
ton for his return to Illinois.
Dearborn telegraphed to Superintendent
Davies, of Pinkerton's New York Agency,
the arrival of the evening train, prepared
to receive Forester. Preparations were
accordingly made for the reception of the
man; but in about two hours second dis
patch was received from Dearborn stating
that Forester had made his escape at New
maven ny Jumping from Un6 GTalR after 1t
had started. Dearborn fired at him. but
without effect, and Forester was once more
out of the clutches of the law. He was
next heard of at Wilkesbarre Pennsylva-
MIA, where, on February T. 1871 in COM
pany with Jim Elliott, alias Cock eye Ell,
lott twho first appeared before the public
as a six-foot prize tighter), Walter Davis,
least, George Ellis, alias Pretty George, he
directed his attention to the bank of F. V.
but before they had commenced
operations on the safe, in which about $780,
900 awaited them, they were surprised, and
beat a retreat. For this affair FORESTER
was again arrested by Pinlertons men at
but escaped at Philadelphia
while Ell route to Wilkesbarre. He then
turned up in the Crescent City, where, on
June IL, 1870, he was arrested by Chief of
Police Badger who, cognizant OF the fact
Dt his being an escaped convict from Hi
1ols and knowing that he was wanted for
The Wilkesbarre robbery, telegraphed to
Plnkerton's agency in Chicago aud New
Crk the fact of FOrrester's arrest, and
stating that he would be held until the pao
)ers could be forwarded for his return
North. Mr.. W. A. PinkertOn at once left
or New Orleans from Chicago, and an
agent was dispatched from New York to
harrisburg to procure a requisition from
Governor Geary upon the Governor of
for Forester. F0rrestar had
My been about ten days in New Orleans
yhcn he was arrested, and public attention
vas at first directed to him by his riotous
onduct and fast living. He was gambling
leavily, and it is said had lost about $l0,0 GOO
At the time of his arrest he was driving
buggy out of livery stable, and upon
he horse being stopped by the officers he
ook in the situation at a glance, threw
Jack somersault out of the rear Of the
uggy, struck on his feet and started to
TN away He was, however, seized by the
Ulcers, and, after showing a pretty good
ght, surrendered to superior force. On
eng taken to the station house, he acs
his identity, but intimated
hat he would prefer to "shuftle off the NOR
ii COLI to yenturing to Illinois. He also
to convince the chief that $4,000
his money was better than $4,000 of Pin
erton's, and intimated that if the chief
'ouLd allow him to go he 1.-THE chief would
ave forty centuries" and "nO Questions
sked, etc. That official, however was in
xorable, and Forrester's bail was fixed aP
1900. which he at once produced, and was
pleased by the magistrate. He was, how
YER, at once rearrested and taken to tho
arish Prison.
On the way thither he jumped from the
ab and ran two blocks before he was recap.
lred by the chief. He was soon after
rought' up on writ of habeas corpus and
scharged, and again rearrested for the
arglary in Pennsylvania. On the folIoWo
g day a second writ OF habeas corpus was
'anted, and FORESTER was brought before
e district court, and, no parties appearing
Sainst him, he was discharged The
eeper of the prison had promised to notifya
e chief of police should any further w1its
granted, but failed to keep his wordo
pom being discharged the last time, Forres-
+ at once made himself scarce, and whefB
e agents from Pennsylvania and Illinois
rived on the day following they were very
uch chagrined by the announcement THAI
Orfester had been released on a habeas
rpus, and that his present whereabouts
as profound mystery to the officials OF
e Crescent City. The city was thoroughly
cured by the. police, but without result,
I'd the places that formerly knew For
ster knew him no more. His wife, who is
id TO belong to a very respectable family,
as living with him in New Orleans at the
me of his arrest The suspicion that Fore
ster was the murderer of Mr.. Nathan was
st created in the minds Of the New Yorls
lice about the first of September, 1870
id it is said that the first intimatiDn Of this
me from notorious man in this city who
that time was supposed to be endeayoring
atone for his nisdeeds By giving away
ieyes t. the police
SANDER suit,