Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-07-08
DAN MOBILES FATE.
The Notorious Bond-Thief Sentenced
TO Twenty Years, in England.
New York Times

detectives as the most skillful thief in
his particular line that ever disgraced
America. He has also the reputation
of courage unusual among his class.
He can always be counted on to fight
desperately while the slightest chance
remains. "He would as lief fight as
eat," said veteran detective, speaking
of him yesterday. Noble was originally
a sporting" man. He was born in
Elmira, where his relatives still live.
Coming to this city, he opened a gam
bling-hOuse, attended horse-races, and
led gang of repeaters for hire for
some years. He then became sneak
thief, becoming the leader of such men
as Dutch Heinrich, Chauncy Johnson,
Tim Lee, alias Red Tim" Tommy
Mulligan, and Whitley Bob. He was
best known from his connection with
the Lord bond-robbery and the Royal
insurance bond-robbery, both of which
were up among the millions. After the
latter robbery, Noble went to Elmira,
and spent money recklessly. He pur-
chased a fine farm, built house, and
bought number of fast horses. He
had been suspected from the first, but
1t was difficult to fasten the crime upon
him. AT length he was entrapped
through an attempt to negotiate some
OF the stolen securities, and an arrest
followed. He was tried three times for
the crime, and was finally convicted
and sentenced to five years at hard la
Dor at Auborn prison. After serving a
year, he, Jimmy Hope, Jim Brady, and
several others escaped through the aid of
Billy ConnOrs, the Northampton bank
| burglar. Connors hired a house in
Auburn, In which they remained con-
cealed for a long time until the author
tiles had given up the search for them.
Noble then went to Europe, This was
IN 1868. He established himself in
London, and his house became the
headquarters Of all American thieves
who have since had occasion to 60
abroad. He was concerned in the at
tempt to pass counterfeit fifty dollar
national bank notes in Bavaria, which
was discovered through the arrival of
immigrants here having them in their
possession. He was arrested in Munich
on suspicion, but managed to get clear.
His associates in this crime were Joe
Chapman, Jim Miller, and two other
American thieves, and Jack Phillips.
an English thief, who spent some time
III this country. Chapman and Phil
lips got fifteen years each. Noble has
also been arrested and convicted in
France for sneak-thieving. He served
out his sentence.
Mobiles latest crime was, as has been
stated, forgery. Jim Miller, who was
formerly Il counterfeiter in this country,
and is now wanted here by the secret
service officers, and Charles Lister, and
two men named Wardley and Garret.
English thieves, were his accomplices.
In January last, Lister went down to
St. Adams from London. BY arrange
ment G2OO in sOvereigns were deposited
IN the bank of Barnett HOare & Co., to
be remitted to Blandy, Stephens & Co.,
at Reading, to the credit of edward
Hunt, which was the name Lister as
sum9d in his new calling as cathedral
en- In that way an account was open
ed at Blandy's, into which the proceeds
of certain notes cashed with money
changer named Venables were paid.
On Jan. y, Lister sentup from Reading
some dead meat to Dean & Hutton,
of Smithfield, with instructions to re-
nit to Edward Hunt" A check on the
Bank of England for 94 9s. Sd. was for
warded, and was subsequently altered
to $500. 1t was paid by Wardley, who
purported to be Listers clerk, into
'Hunts' account into the bank, and
q check by the latter for 9230 was drawn
against it and cashed A few days later
an attempt was made to draw ESQ
against two other checks for 93 3d.
and e4 los. 10d, received from Lee &
Covell and Wild & Co., respectively, and
altered $3.50 in one case, and 91 400 in
the other, but by that time the forgery
of Dean & Co. s check had been discOv-
cred and Wardly and Garrett was ar
rested. This was on Jan. q. Noble,
Miller, and Lister escaped, and made
ther way back to London. Lister,
in his flight threw two altered
checks into 81 timber-yard near
the railway station, where they
were afterward recovered and used
in evidence against the gang. Lister
was caught hiding in his mothers house
at Shepherds Bush. He was convicted
and sentenced to fifteen years impris-
Onment. He then turned queens evil
dence, and Miller was captured. Noble
had fled to Italy, but was traced by
means of letter which foolishly wrote
to his wife under the name of Daniel Dy-
son. Miller pleaded guilty, and taking
the witness stand, swore that Noble knew
nothing of the forgeries. He accounted
for the latter's p1 esence near the bank
at Reading by saying that he went
there by witness invitation to receive
s1O0, in part payment for a loan Of
G120. The jury did not believe this
story, and found Noble guilty
All the professional forgery in Eng
land for some years past has been the
work of Americans, and so greatly have
the banks suffered by them that they
have formed union for the special
purpose Of breaking up the gang. Any
loss to bank resulting from forgery
is borne by all the banks through the
union fund, which is also freely expend-
ed to secure the evidence necessary to
convict the culprits. The English judges
seem also to have made it rule to
mete out exemplary punishment to
American forgers. Noble and Miller
were given twenty years each, which is
four times as much as would probably
have been awarded to an Englishman
convicted Of a similar crime, and four
times as much as they would have got
in this country. When some of Mobiles
former "pals" heard of his sentence
yesterday it nearly took their breath
away. The best of it is that there is