The New York herald., 1873-09-08
PENAL SERVITUDE FOR LIFE.
The Four American FOrgers Who Trifed
with the Bank of England.
The Last Day at the Central
Criminal Court.
Begging for Mercy Without Effect and the
Hard Features OF "Exact Justice"
HONOR AMONG THIEVES.


The London journals OF August q, devote i'm
nense space to the final proceedings against the
Bank OF England forgers who have been undergoing
trial before Mr.. Justice Archibald at the Central
Criminal court. The herald in full report by
cable, has already given the substance of these
proceedings and has recorded the sentence to penal
servitude for life passed by the Court on the four
American criminals. The case, however, merits
further notice. because Of the extraordinary In
terest 1t has excited on both sides OF the Atlantic
The London papers have almost. without exception,
long editorial articles recapituating the career Of
ingenuity and audacity led by these men.
From the London Daily News, August 27l
THE LAST DAY OF THE TRIAL
After the evidence was closed, Mr. GifYard pro-
ceeded to sum up the case for the prosecution, and
he said ne probably should not have occupied the
time OF the jury In so doing but for some witnesses
that had been introduced into the case with regard
TO whom he thought o few observations might be
made. He then explained that the charge against
the prisoners was that they had all combined to-
gether to commit this gigantic fraud, and it was
clear that in such fraud different parts must be
taken by the different parties; but II they were all
assisting IN carrying out one common object, they
portion Of the defence, it amounted to Complaint
that the Bank Of England had not taken proper pre-
ana M Iaq not e mage @ proper S put
event, and the actual state of things at the time
was very important to be considered. He then
reminded them that such portentous scheme OF
forgery had probably never before been projected
in any country and that in the first instance good
bills drawn upon the first houses in the kingdom,
and amounting to $4,000, were presented, and
duly paid and this in itself was calculated to
examined, and they were sent for discount under
such circumstances as not to excite the least
some minuteness to the various facts that had
bee been PRO proved IN, IN evidence, and sal said he did
not the any int w9s be made
the fact fact that Austin Bdwelp @ p''SSas'' was not t
IN this country when great number Of his cheeks
point OF TACT, although he was out Of the country,
he submitted tnat 1t was clear that he was the
principal mover in the matter, and that he left be-
hind him checks signed in blank, in order that his
partners In the crime might have an opportunity
OF withdrawing the proceeds OF the forgeries from
the Continental Bank The learned counsel then
briefly called the attention OF the Jury to all the
other material facts in the case, and concluded by
expressing an opinion that upon the evidence the
jury had before them, only one reasonable concu-
sion could be arrived at, which was that the whole
Oi the prisoners were guilty OF the gigantic scheme
OF fraud and forgery that was imputed to them by
the prosecution.
THE COUNSEL ABANDON THEIR CLIENTS
Mr.. Metcalie then said that he felt that it would
be perfectly useless, after the evidence that had
OF the prisoner Macdonneil That prisoner. how.
ever, was desirous Of addressing himself few OBJ
servations 10 the Court.
Mr. Besey said he proposed that similar course
should be adopted with regard to the prisoner
MAcDONNELL ADDRESSED THE JURY
and he said that what he had to state was so sup
ported by the evidence that 1t would be well
worthy OF consideration. SO far as he was con-
cerned, personally. he admitted that this evidence
was conclusive but he was anxious to rescue one
OF hts fellow prisoners from being convicted OF an
offence OF which he was innocent He was aware
that ne was cutting the ground from under his
own feet, but he was desirous to screen one OF his
Mr.. Justice Archibald said he could only permit
1im to address the jury on his own behalf He
could not permit him to address the jury on behalf
OF another prisoner.
Mr.. Macdonnell then SAID the prosecution seemed
lxn hacr RI In AnIf fhnf fhnvh AaIIn
TO this country for the express purpose OF carrying
out this fraud. He asserted that they had no such
intention. Mr.. Green told them that the opening
OF the account a complete accident. They had
been travelling about and intended to 90 to San
At Vienna. but We're prevented by MS mis- Becoming
very Ill, and he subsequently purchased in Amster-
dam bill upon London, and he had another bill
from Vienna drawn upon London and he had
means Of seeing how business OF this KIND done,
and noticed that it was very different to the
person abroad to state that he had made great
discovery. In America when bill was intended
TO be discounted it always sent TO the accepter
TO be initialled. Here he found 1t was different,
and the result was that he was standing before
them that day. He IN the first place telegraphed
u George Bidwell, and told him 10 purchase the
foreign bills that had been spoken Of and this was
the real commencement OF the fraud: He then
met with the accident on the railway, was advised
to 20 abroad, and he left England in January, and
He then went on to say that the evidence OF Mr..
Chabot, that the endorsements on some Of the
mot correct, and no one, he SAID, knew
this better than he did, Tor he wrote
sert that austin BidweIi. at % the time he went
away from England, knew nothing OF the Intended
fraud aud he reminded the jury that when he lett
Il clear from the evidence that all the arrange
ments were in confusion. He declared that it was
solely owing to the facility with which the first lot
Oi bills was discounted that they were encouraged
TO continue their proceedings. He urged upon the
jury to consider that 1t was of no interest 10 him
to make this statement, and he was only desirOus
innocent "A
that had been committed by others, and he asked
them to remember that none OF the forged bills
were presented until after Austin Bidwell had left
England. He then commented upon the other
facts OF the case, and. while admitting his own
guilt asserted that he was desirous to make all
the reparation in his power, and he hoped IL would
have the eject he had IN view OF inducing them to
he was Placed.
The prisooer sat down, but rose up directly and
said he hac also something TO say on behalf OF
THE PRISONER fJYEs
Mr. Justice Archibald SAID he could not permit him
TO do that-he was defended by counsel.
George Bidwell next addressed the jury. He
Also SAID he admitted ms share In the guilty trans
action, and he would have pleaded guilty and
Thrown himself on the mercy Oh the Court II he had
not been aware that II would be necessary for the
prosecution to have proved all the facts, and would
not have had thus opportunity OF addressing q lew
observations to tAe Court lie was then about to
make some observations with regary to Noyes, but
the learned Judge told him he could moi permit
him to do so aud lie sat down. merely observing
that al he could do was 70 repeat the observations
that had been made by his fellow prisoner Macdon-
Hell, aud to assert that IL was true.
Mr.. MIntyre then addressed the Jury on behalf OF
THE PRISONER AUSTIN BYRON BiDWyIL
and he cndeavored 10 show that the account which
had been originally opened hy aim at the West End
Branch Of the Bank o! England an ACCIDENTAL
circumstance and he argued that there was no
evidence whatever 10 show That at this time any
fraud was contemplated by him. He concluded a
very able speech by calling upon the Jury to give
eject 10 the observations he had made and give
1he prisoner Austin Bidweu au opportunity OF re-
rrieytng his character from the stain that had
been cast upon 1t by his connection with this
action.
Mr. Ribtop then addressed the jury for the re-
ynaiping prisoner, and ne commenced his Observa-
tions by saying that he hoped to be able 10 satisfy
fhem that there really was nc evidence whatever
.hat wOnld Justify them In finding the prisoner
guilty OF either forging utterng the biz that
She subject OF the present inquiry. he then pro-
cecded &c argue that there was nothing TO show
shat