Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-21
A PAIR OF FAMOUS THIEVES.
Two Notorious American Criminals
Caught I'm Portugal.
ONE OF THEM WAS ARRESTED IN WASHINGTON
TWELVE YEARS AGO.


The New York Times December 20, says: In
spector Byrnes has received from Mr.. Strive, the
United States consular agent at Oporto. Portugal,
request for Information In regard to two Ameri-
can fOrgerS who have been arrested there and con-
ytcted OF uttering false Bank Of England notes.
From the letter it appears that on october IL a
man OF genteel appearance and calling himself
Lyman Austin, OF New Orleans, went to the
branch OF the Bank of Portugal in Operto, ac-
companied by one William Henry Hatfield, who
claimed to be native OF Rochester, N. Y. Austin
exchanged fifty pound Bank OF England note for
one OF the Bank OF Portugal. Soon after the men
returned and wanted a five-hundred- pound note
exchanged In the same way. This note was a
counterfeit OF excellent workmanship, and the
men were arrested.
When questioned by the police Austin finally
bought OF man named Morgan three notes for
f5OO, sixteen OF ESQ., and three OF E10O. AT
Paris he met Hatfield, and the men formed sort
OF partnership, with the object OF disposing OF
the false notes. They had succeeded in passing
all but the three for $500 when they were ar
rested. He claimed that this was his first venture
In crime. HATFIELD admitted the truth OF AuStin's
confession, and the men were condemned to Six
teen months Imprisonment.
sular agent were photographs Of the two men.
From these pictures "AuStin" was at once recOg-
n !P;,Ir as walter sheridan and Hatfield, as
dacious thieves and forgers. Inspector Byrnes
said yesterday that he learned about six months
ago that gang OF expert American forgers and
thieves had gone to England for the purpose OF
passing counterfeit Bank OF England notes. He
Immediately notified the Scotland Yard authori-
Ties, ana so the fOfgerS were not successful In
England and scattered over Europe. Sheridan and
Bartlett were members of this gang.
Ralston Charles eene AND a maSV orhe; names
He was born in New orleans nearly 30 years ago,
and Is married. He commenced his criminal career
as horse thief In western Missouri but has since
dclloyeQ great roDutatiOn hank thief. IOfp0r.
and confidence man. In 1858 he was arrested with
joe Moran, noted western thief, for robbing a
Alton, ILL.,, penttentiary. After his discharge he
was concerned In robbing the First National Bank
Of Springfield, Ill, OF $4,000. He had hand in
the theft OF $4,000 worth OF securities from the
office Of the Maryland Fire Insurance company, at
Baltimore, In June, 1870, and the next year took
part In the theft Of $4,000 from the Mechanics
He was engaged In 1873 in the famous New
York, Buffalo and Erie railroad bond forger1es.
ability. Sheridan, under the name Of Charles Raj
Ston, opened offices In Broadway, and commenced
business as grain broker. He became member
OF the Produce Exchange, and after he had gained
the confidence of his associates, he hypothecared
100000 OF the forged bonds for loan OF SS4 600.
This money he disdeG With his G
Orvis. Sheridan fed TO Europe with Martha Har-
greaves, the wife OF Phil Hargreaves also cOun-
Sheridan was arrested in washington. He was
brought to this city, and on conviction, was sent
enced to five years imprisonment on March 6.
1877.
After his discharge Sheridan was arrested for
the larceny OF diamonds in Philadelphia, and
served nearly three years in the Eastern peniten-
tiary. On November 10, 1884, he was arrested by
the United States authorities in st. Louis for hav
ing three counterfeit five-hundred-dollar bank
bills In his possession and was sent TO state prison
for two years. He was discharged after serving
one year. Soon after his release he and Bartlett
were arrested suspicion in this city, but for lack
OF evidence were discharged. Then they went to
Europe.
"Bfll" Bartlett, who is also notorious thief and
forger, was hOn1n this city. He first came into
prominence foG his connection with the robbery OF
the messenger OF the Planet mills In Brooklyn, in
1878, when s., 500 was stolen. Bartlett was con-
victed and sentenced to twenty years In Sing Sing
His counsel obtained q new trial, and he was re.
leased in June. 1879. He was one Of the principal
men In the wilkes gang OF forgers, who operated
in Europe in the winter OF 1S79-S0 Bartlett has
been arrested several times within the past three
years, but was always discharged for lack OF EVIL
dence. He acts as middleman in the forgerieS,
and rarely appears at the bank or other insJitu-
lions when the forged paper is presented.
Inspector ByrneS has sent full and accurate
history OF Sheridan and Bartlett to the consular
agent at OportO. Both the men are OF good appear
ance, well educated and familiar with business
methods Naturally they are dangerous criminals.