Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-28
A Magni6cen1 swindIer.

ittioNu nun ups anu HIN OH on MS snOul-
ders amid perfect hailstorm of bullets-both
thencelorth entitled to the greatest honor and
respect from the whole regiment
A Magnificent swindIer.
Henry Davidson, the son of retired army
agent, received an excellent education and after
having graduated at Kings college, in London
obtained situation as assistant bookkeeper in
the firm OF S. W. Silver & Co., of Cornhill. in
that city. After the lapse of two years the Sc
nior bookkeeper, George H. Pix, died, and Da-
wilson became the principal boOkkeeper of the
firm.
The cash receipts of the house averaged $500
a day. The books were kept by single entry
He was assistant cashier as well as bookkeeper
When the customers called in to pay their ac-
counts, in the absence Of the cashier Davidson
received the money. Instead of entering il in
the cash book, he often credited the customer in
the ledger with the amount and put the money
in his pocket. His distractions averaged ESQ
day, and at the end of eight years he had stolen
El20,00O. The amount he had carefully invested
in conSols from time TO time, so that in 1869,
with the interest that had accumulated thereon,
he was worth ESQ, 600. He decided to remain
with the firm for twelve months without alb
stracting any amount whatever in order that
he might cover up his tracks If it became neces-
Sary.
Fortune favored him. and no suspicion rested
on his honesty. He lived in Il very quiet man
ner, and no ostentatOns extravaganza was de-
tected iii his habits In the spring of 1870 he
resigned his situation, and entered into partner
ship with friend of his, named Gordon, who
had previously been an attorney in the civ but
then retired from the practice Of the law. They
established themselves in Lombard street, as
general merchants, shipping goods on a gigan-
tic scale TO all parts of the world. Their specu-
lahons of iron were enormous, and in one
month, owing to great decline in the Value of
pig iron, they lost 100000.
In the London money marketE warrants pass
as readily as greenbacks with us. Davidson
got blank warrants printed, and filing them up
with 10000 tons of iron, which they were sup
posed to represent, and which were, according
to the warrants lying on the London wharves,
he proceeded to Messrs. Barrett HOare & Co.,
the bankers of Butcher lane, and obtained .E20,-
900 on them. The 100000 was duly paid into
the hands of Davidson s Gordon, and was
speedily followed up in meeting their accep-
tances as they fell due. From Smith, PAYNE &
Smithy; Barclay Bevon, Triton & Co., Roger
Cunliffe, and the London discount company
Davidson obtained over 81 100000 on forged
warrants Roger Cunliife, rather shrewder than
some OF the London bankers, having noticed an
extraordinary amount of Davidson & Gordon's
acceptances offered for discount, began to eX-
anime his securities. He sent clerk to the
various wharyes where the iron represented on
the warrants was supposed to be lying. The
clerk reported that there was no iron living at
any of the wharves. In fact, the warrants were
ayers whose names were attached to the war
rants, and, although the signatures were not
genuine, they were exceedingly well initiated.
Robert Cunlitfe, who is a Quaker, being a
creditor for over 100000 on forged warrants
did not deem it advisable TO act in a hasty man.
ner. lie called the clerk into his private office,
and enjoined on him the most absolute secrecy
as to what he knew of the affair, and made him
present of ESQ Mr.. Cunliffe addressed a note
to Mr.. Davidson, requesting him to call at his
office at eight O'Clock in the evening" a very UNI
usual hour for a London broker, as he wished
private interview with him on matters of the
highest importance. On receipt OF the note
Davidson was well aware that some discoveries
had been made, but he put bold front on it,
Davidson knew that Roger Cunlffe was likely
to look at the matter in business point of view
1t would not answer Cunlitfe's interest to prose
cute Davidson and lose 100000 At eight
O'Clock in the evening, on the Sth of May, 1871
Davidson was admitted in the private office of
Cunitfe, in Lombard street. He told Davidson
that he held him responsible for all the trans
actions that Davidson & Gordon had with his
firm, for he regarded Mr. Gordon as Il mere fig-
ure head. He went on to tell him that he had
robbed him Of 100000, and that he could send
him into penal servitude for life, but he did not
propose to do this, provided that he acted under
his transactions, and liquidated the debt he
owed him. The prospect of being sent into
penal servitude for life was not very agreeable
to Davidson, and he listened attentiYey to Gun
lltfe's proposal.
twas arranged that Cunliffe should advance
100000 more, to make up the forged warrants
that the other bankers held; that CunlifTe should
be referee for Davidson's firm; that he would
give such reference as would assure unlimited
credit; that they should purchase in London
Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham, G1,.
100000, and conSign the same to New York
Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, taking advances
OF two-thirds of theinyoice price; thatithe s200-
600 which the firm would owe Roger Cunclifie las
soon as he had advanced him the further sum of
100000 (Which he had advanced on the ensu-
inc day. should he repaid out of the advances
which Davdson's firm would obtain from the
merchants taking charge of the consgnments
Davidson Gordon acted on these instructions,
purchasing goods to an enormous amount and
taking advances from various London merchants
to the extent of G7500O0 They paid Roger
Cunlitfe 100000 leaving him a creditor to the
extent of G1S0,000. In January of this wear
they suspended payment with liability of
eS00, 900.
That very day Mr.. Gordon threw himself into
the Regents CANAL and his body was not recoy-
cred until two weeks aiterward. But Henry
Davidson was not SO easily frightened. With
100000 in his pocket he went to Hayre and
embarked on board the Vile de Paris for New
York. He stayed at the Grand Central hotel
for about a month, when he thought himself
Swallowed by detective. He had become ac-
qualnted with lady of extreme beauty, by the
name OF thompson, and he was in the habit OF
taking long walks with her. The man he
thought was detective shadowing him was
lover of the widow. He got alarmed and took
passage on the Hermann for Bremen From
Bremen he went TO Dieppe, where unfortunately
for himself, he was met by Roger Cunliffe's son.
He had Davidson arrested as an absconding
bankrupt, and he was placed on the cars for
Rouen, his left arm being handcuffed to the
gendarme. About six miles from Dieppe, as he
was passing through a tunnel, he drew Colts
revolver from his breast pocket, and placing it
to his forehead fired three shots. His body was
taken to London and buried at Highgate Gene
terV