New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-08
I'm me PENulN.

Some stories have been published concerning Sir
Charles Young's play Jim the Penman" which
betray rather dense Ignorance In regard to the
foundation OF the piece The fact Is that Jim the
Penman was the nickname Of an English crlmi-
nal who had remarkable career. His real name
was James Townshend Saward. lie was a man OF
good family. lie receivei university education,
studied law, was called to the bar, and exhibited
great capacity in his profession lie was IN fact
man of DISTINGUISHED sttainments aud rare intel
lectnaI power. and could have made n fortune and
an honorable position had he followed the avenues
which were open to him. But he was one of those
depraved souls that prefer evil to good dehber-
atey; who. like Millions Satan think 1t "better
TO reign in He'll than serve in Heaven y" and his
bent toward crime was 80 strong that he threw up
all his brilliant prosp. cts and in cold blood. and
under no pressure from without adopted the career
of a professional forger
It il probable that no more formidable scounGrel
than Jim the Penman ever entered the ranks of
that army which against society. His
graphic skill was astonishing but il was nothing to
the foresight and cunning which enabled him dur
ing almost the lifetime OF generation to depredate
with impunity. The force of his intellect and his
rare powers of combination and provision soon
made him the oracle of the most daring criminals in
Europe The most extensive and successful rob-
suited constantly by less able thieves His speciality
was obtaining money raised checks and
drafts. but he combined with this the business of
fence" or receiver of stolen gools and that Of
counsellor to all the rascaty of the United King
dom OF course such man could not prevent his
name and work from becoming known to the police,
but though The latter heard of him often enough he
succeeded loIg In escaping arrest that he came
to be regarded by the detectives as sort of Flying
Dutchman. lie entered upon his criminal career
When quite young man. and he was never arrested
until he had reached his fifty eighth year. and then
he fell into the hands of the law through the
lessness Of one OF his leutenants.
Saward had planned 10 rob country bank, and
two men had gone down to prepare the ground.
One OF them was to pay sum OF money into the
bank in order to obtain credit. lie paid the money
in the name of another person. and forgot to say
nat il to be put to his own credit When he
went to draw il out some days later he was in
formed that il stood in The OF the other party
who alone could draw on it. The perplexed rogue
wrote to Saward, and Jim tho Penman sent HIM
letter of Instructions Meantime the suspicious Of
tho bank officers had been reused. and whom tho
man called again he arrested oawards letter
was found In his pocket and Ii led to the arrest of
the redoubtable forger H. was tried convicted,
and sentenced to Transportation for life During
his active career no was concerned in almost every
robbery of note. Inclu ling the notorious Bullion
robbery, one of tne most audacious and successful
crimes of modern times II is said that Jim the
Penman never employed professional criminals as
the active agents of his attempts on banks. lie
ALWAYS made use of innocent third parties at this
stage OF the ork. and the precautlon had much TO
do with his prolonged immunity. The true history
of the man would be more wonderful than any
romance. for he was one of the rare Instances of
high intellect wholly devoted to evil. and therefore
realizing the conception Of diabolical character.
And " Jim the Penman was thoroughly and con-
sistently wicked for when he not engaged in
plotting crime helping other criminals 10 escape
punishment he was relaxing himself by the prac-
tice of the most grovelling scnsnalty SO far is
known in fact he had no redeeming traits