The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-07
CHICAGO.

CHICAGO, April 5.-The Tribune in the
morning will contain an interesting &C
count Of George and Austin Bidwell, re-
Gently arrested for heavy forgeries on the
Bank OF England. They lived at Grand
Rapids, Michigan. Their first crime was
committed in 1850 or 1860. They leased
store on one of the most prominent
wholesale streets, and laid in on cred
1t, the largest stock Of goods, chiefly
teas and spices. They also solicited con.
signments TO DO disposed OF at the custo.
mary per centagc. Not cent was ad.
vanced on anything purchased. Their
creditors were requested to meet at their
place Of business for payment on Ger.
tuin afternoon. All came at the hour and
we're paid with checks on various banks Of
city, the aggregate amount OF which was
100000. That night the goods were
whisked out OF Cincinnati, and when the
checks were presented at the counters Of
the banks on the following day, 1t was
discovered that Bidwell had not cent on
deposit at any Of the financial institutions
In Cincinnati. One Of the victims, more
energetic than the Others, traced his goods
eastward and found a portion valued at
Sl3 900 in the hands ol New York law
yer. George Bidwell next appeared at
Grand Rapids with third brother in the
role OF Baptist preacher, for which his
clerical appearance well fitted him: sto.
Ptes OF his misdeeds had preceded him,
but he was wont 10 speak Of them as
ISLANDERS and TO berate his traducers with
l,aI n
vice in the Lords vineyard" George E.,
In company with some brother, opened a
grocery store at Grand Rapids, purchas.
Ing their goods In New York. They
failed soon afterwards, sWindling their
creditors out Of their entire dues. In 1884
they appeared in Chicago. Here they
swindled candy man out OF 1000 and
then jumped the city. About the same
time Austin Bidwell was obliged 10 leave
New Orleans for committing frauds, and
he and George united their fortunes In
Wheeling, W. Va. Hero they met with
O temporary misfortune. They purchased
q stock Of goods, and for attempting TO
make payment with bogus deeds on prop.
erty never theirs, and drafts with fictitious
names, they were arrested, tried and
sentenced to Imprisonment in the county
Jail for one year. Two months atter-
wards, they escaped and came to ChiCa-
90. After looking around clrCumspecty
lor while, they visited Quincy and OBJ
tanned from a firm there, large stocks of
goods, chiefly tobaccoS, upon q fraudulent
representation oI high standing in Chi
CsgO. They were traced to Chicago, aud
recovered in the freight depot Of the Chi.
cago, Burlington Il Quincy Railroad, and
Austin Bidwell was arrested by the pri-
vate police agency; then the rascal was
subjected to process OF squeezing"
The detectives held him In custody
without warrant. Austin was boarded
in luxurious style at the Briggs House and
taken every day by officers to see his
wife, who lived on 18th street, near the
Lake House. Having at last communi-
Gated with lawyer, he was told he had
legal right to escape by any means he
could command. Weapons were iurn.
ished him, and one evening when hc
reached his homo on 18th street, he drew
pistol, turned on the detective who &C.
cOmpaniGd him, and told him he had no
further use for him, and ordered him to |
leave on peril Of his life. The officer
having no legal right to detain his pris'
oner, hastily departed. Austin en-:
tered the house, where he found
his brother waiting for him. BE bade
farewell TO his wife, and both left for
New York Immediately. This was in
1867. George went TO Boston, leaving
Austin in New York. By prearrange'
ment, under assumed names, George
drow q draft on New York and Austin
drew one on Boston. George was arrest.
ed, tried, convicted and sent to Charles.
town to penitentiary for five years. Aus.
tin was sent 10 Sing Sing for three years.
The trial and conviction were in 1860.
Justice followed speedily and equally
unon the crime, for the brothers were
sentenced within ten days OF each other.
George was pardoned by the Governor
of Massachusetts soon after his in.
generation. Austin served out his full
time. George came West soon after his
release, and was in destitute circum.
stances. When in pressing need Of money
he would make his talents as swindler
available, under any one OF his halt dozen
abuses, and by preaching. The last men.
toned occupation seems to have been o
never failing resource. Up 10 his final
departure from America, his labors were
in Michigan, Indiana and New
Orleans.
Twenty oranges Of the patron of hus-
bandry Of Iowa, in convention declared
that as all parties had betrayed their in
tereSts, they should now look out for
themselves. They resolved to vote for
D. W. Adams, ol Allmakee county, for
Governor, and James WilkenSon, OF
Tama county, for Lieutenant Governor.
There was very severe storm, accom-
panied by a remarkably heavy lightning
here, tonight. Tho thermometer ranged
from 80 10 SO during the day.