Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-06
THE BIDWELLs.
The Great Bank Of England Forgers.
Details Of Their Previous Misdeeds'
Accomplished scoundreis.

Accomplished Sc0undrels:
chicago, April 6.-The Tribune. in the
morning will contain an interesting account
of the careers of George and Austin Bid
well, recently arrested for heavy forgeries
on the Bank of England. They lived at
Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their first crime
was committed in Cincinnati in 1859 or
1860. They leased store on one OF the
most prominent wholesale streets and laid
in on credit large stock of goods, chiefly
teas and stjices. They also Solicited con-
signments to be disposed of at the custo-
mary percentage. Not cent was advanced
on anything purchased. fE
Their creditors were requested to meet
at their place of business for payment on a
certain afternoon. All came at the hour
and were paid with checks on the various
banks of the 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 the Bidwells had not cent
on deposit at any financial institution in
Cincinnati. One of the victims, more en-
ergetic than the rest, traced his goods east
ward and found portion of them valued
at $4,000 in the hands Of New York
lawyer. s. q
George Bidwell next appeared at Grand
Rapids with third brother in the role of a
Baptist preacher, for which bis clerical APP
pearance we'll fitted him. Stories of his
mlsdeeds had preceded him, but he was
wont to speak of them as slander, and to
berate his traducers with holy JUNCTION.
After brief term of service in the Lords
Vineyard, George, lin company with the
same brother, opened a grocery store at
Grand Rapids, purchasing their goods in
New York. They failed soon afterwards,
swindliDg their creditors out of their entire
dues.
In 1864 they appeared in Chicago. Here
they sTindled candy man out of four
thousand dollars, and then jumped the city,
About the same time Austin Bidwell was
obliged to leave New Orleans for commit
ting frauds, and he and George united their
fortunes in Wheeling, West Virginia. Here
they met with temporary misfortune.
They purchased stock Of goods, and, for
attempting to make payment with bogus
deeds on property never theirs, and drafts
endorsed with fictitious names they were
arrested, tried and sentenced to imprison-
ment in the county jail for one year.
Two months afterwards they escaped and
came to Chicago. 'vAfter looking around
circumspectly for while, they visited
Quincy and obtained from firm there =
large stock of goods, chiefly tobacco, upon
fraudulent representations of high financial
standing in Chicago. The goods were
traced to Chicago and recovered in the
freight depot of the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy Railroad, and Austin Bidweu
was arrested by private police agent.
Then the handsome rascal was subjected to
the process of squeezing. Ths detectives
held him in custody without warrant.
Austin was boarded in luxurious style at
the Briggs House and taken every day by
the officers TO see his wife, who lived on
18th street, near Lake. Having at last
communicated with a lawyer, be was told
he had legal right to escape by any means
he could command. Weapons were furn-
ished him, and one evening when he
reached his home on 18th street, he
drew pistol, turned on the
detective who accompanied him, and told
him he had no further use for him, and or
dered him to leave on peril of his life. The
officer having no legal right to detain his
prisoner, hastily departed. Austin entered
the house, where he found his brother
George waiting for him, bade farewell to
his wife, and both left for New York inn
mediately. This was in 1867.
George went to Boston, leaving Austin
in New York, and by prearrangement un-
der assumed names. George drew draft
on New York and Austin drew one on
Boston. George was arrested, tried, con-
victed and sentenced to the CharlestO IN
penitentiary for five years. Austin was
sent to sing Sing fer two years. The trial
and conviction were in 1869. Justice fol-
lowed speedily and equal y upon the crime,
for the brothers were sentenced within ten
days of each other.
George was pardoned by the Governor of
Massachusetts soon after his Incarceration.
Austin served out bis full time. George
came West soon after his release and was
in destitute circumstances. When in press
ing need of money he would make bis tai
euts as swindler available under any one
of his half dozen aliases, and by preaching.
The last named occupation seems to have
been never failing resource up to his final
departure from America, his labors being
generally in Michigan, Indiana and New
Orleans.