Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-27
A NOTED CONVICT OUT.
William Forester Released from the East
srn PeniieniiarT, In Philadelphia.


William Forester Released from the East
srn PeniteniiarT, In Philadelphia.
William Forester, the notorious
criminal, was released from the East
ern penitentiary, in Philadelphia, yes
terday. his term Of five years having
expired. Forester told a Philadelphia
Press reporter that he intended to visit
a few friends in the city and then skip
to New York. When asked with re-
ference to the scheme to hoOdwink
Judge Allison by representing himself
as another man, Forester said Oh,
planned that, and my friends carried
il OUT
ForreSter's reputation "a a cracks
man is unsurpassed by that of any
criminal in the country. Said to have
been born Of respectable parents in
Lafourche. La, :orty-eight years ago,
he early formed the acquaintance of
thieves, and has since followed career
remarkable for its criminal character.
His photograph adorns the rogues' GAL
lerics in the principal cities throughout
the country, and he has been impri-
soned in the more prominent penal In
stitutions under the names of Mathew
Brown (which is supposed to be his
proper nance, Marshall. Campbell,
Livingston, Matthews, Riley, Hard
ing, Kerns, Forester, and Fultz.
His first conviction was in 1853, when
sixteen years Of age. He was SEN
fenced to six months imprisonment in
Jackson, Miss. His next exploit was
to rob a drunken man Of $1,000. for
which he was returned to jail. Going
to Baton Rouge, he served six months
in prison for larceny. At Natchez ne
was again placed behind the bars. In
California be was sent to the House of
Refuge. He managed to escape, and
worked his way to New York on Pa
cific Mail steamer. Subsequently he
went to Detroit, where he was soon
lodged in prison on charge oil muir
der. He had met droyer named
Nicely on a train and swindled him
out of $500 in a game of
cards. The droyer, suspecting the
trick, demanded the return of the
money, threatening to throw For
roster Off the train if he did not comply.
The criminal plunged a bowie-knife
into the droyer, killing him instantly.
Forester was acquitted on the ground
of self-defence. After this he went to
Canada and thence to Chicago, where
he opened a gambling establishment,
but did not make out well. Baltimore
next claimed his attention, AMI here he
married a woman reputed to have pos
sessed considerable money. The cou-
ple went to Springfield. H.. where they
lived in retirement for awhile; but
ForreSter's thieying nature soon showed
itself again. This was in August, lSjS.
lie and a companion named William
Davis committed large robbery. for
which they were sentenced to
fifteen years each in Joliet prison
Eight months later the conyicts
assaulted their keeper and escaped. A
reward Of 5000 was offered for their
iecapt re. Fleeing to Philadelphia,
Forester found things almost too warm
there for his safety, and he went to
New York. Then he joined a gang Of
cracksmen who operated principally in
the small towns Of Pennsylvania and
New York. Two of his pals, named
Elliott and Ellis, were arrested for
robbing bank at Wilkesbarre, but
Forester escaped. During the next
eight years he travelled through the
country. In 1879 he was arrested in
Washington and taken to New York
for the Nathan murder, but was &C
quilted. After that nothing was heard
of him until April, 1881, when he was
captured at Twenty-second and Clear
field streets for attempting to break
into the saloon Of Peter Ashton. After
the identity Of Forester had been es-
tablished and he was sent to the peni-
tertiary, there we're those living in and
around Valley Forge, Montgomery
county, who positively Identified the
photograph of the prisoner rs that Of a
man who had been seen lounging about
Valley Forge day or 50 preceding the
night on which Samuel Clugston was
fatally shot by burglar IN March,
1850. Forester, encouraged by
previous success in breaking Jail
in Massachusetts. Indiana, Illinois,
and Mississippi, determined, on en-
tering the Eastern penitentiary, to give
the authorities a surprise BY taking
French leave of that institution, which
bear, the reputation Of being one Of the
safest in the world. George Black.
Row serving term for robbery. is the
only man who successfully scaled the
high walls on Cherry Hill. Forester
was engaged in the shoe department, ald
during uneuardcd moments he managed
to construct a ladder ont Of wells of
leather and wax ends. TO the chi Of this
he intended to attach hooks Of sufficient
weight to catch hold Of the edging on
the top Of tue wall. When everything
was in readiness for the dash for liber-
" lie took into his confidence a New
) ork burglar who occupied an adjoin-
ing cell. The New Yorker doubted
the feasibility Of the ladder scheme.
and in order to convince him Forester
climbed into the adjoining cell-yard
with the assistance OF the ladder. He
was discovered, his apparatus c0nds-
Gated, and he was lodged in more Sc
cure cell.
4 RARREL EIPLODES.