The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-09-29
STUPENDOUS STEALS.
Two or the Boidest Bank Itobberies
on Record Perpetrated by an
Alleged Chicagonn.

The most stupendous and highly successful
swindlc that has been worked in New York
since the days OF Ferdinand Ward has just
come TO light and the principal actor to grief.
Like the swindler Ward, too, his victims
were sfaunch and shrewd business men.
James Edward Bedal, real estate clerk for
the law firm OF shipman, Barlow, Larocquc
a Choate, at No. 20 Williams street, New
York, has by u system OF audacous swind-
ling, robbed clients OF his firm OF hundreds Of
thousands OF dollars. The precise amount Of
bis sDeculatlons, as far as at present known,
u S264 800. Bedcll WAS trusted employc, In
full charge OF the firms large real estate bus
mess. lie forged bonds, mortgages, registers,
seal and all, took all tho money himself and
paid the interest on tho false mortgages as
they fell due. IFS swindles cover a period OF
hye years. An accident led 20 his discovery.
The firm had among It's clients people whose
fortunes were mostly invested in bonds and
mortgages. Bedell has for years had exclu-
siye control Of this department, and received
salary OF " 800. He passed upon all real
estate for loans. IL occurred 20 him several
years ago 10 transfer little OF the profits 10
himself, and by a clever system OF registry
and issuing fictitious mortgages 20 ttnsus-
pecting moneyed men, he had managed to
make himself quite comfortable for life with
In the past three or four years. A willing i'm
weston would present himself with from &c..
900 TO CSC, 900, and Bcdcl was never at loss
70 have the most valuable property 70 offer
as first-mortgage security. 1t did not mat
Ter 10 him where the property was or 10
whom il really belonged, whether IL was a
hotel or church, or even whether the property
belonged TO man who was worth his mil
lions, and never intended raising dollar on
IL by mortgage SO long as IL was acceptable 20
the mortgagee. The latter in every instance
took II for granted that AS IL was passing such
renowned firm IL was all right and thus tho
schcming forger carried on his work for years.
Bedcll had as go-bctwccn lawyer named
Henry. When Bedell received checks pay
able To the firms name, he would forge the
mortgage, forge the abstract OF title, forge
the insurance policy. Then he would take
the check and forge the Endorsements. Re
delfs nemesis came In the person OF Mr.. III.
Koop, who loaned $40 900 on piece OF prop
erty In One Hundred and Twenty-sixth
street. Mr.. Koop noticed that the registers
seal on the mortgage seemed 20 be imperfect.
He set about investigating the matter, and
regular mares nest was discovered. On be-
Ing confronted with evidence OF his guilt
Bedell broke down and confessed. He was
arrested and locked up. Bedell was a married
man, and highly respected.
james T.. Bedell, was remanded for exam
inatlon In the Tombs Friday afternoon.
Philip Goss and Joseph Emerson, the pro-
prietors OF the policy-shop at $50 Broadway,
where Bedell says he lost 100000, and who
were arrested. were also arraigncd and re-
manded In the custody OF the police. Be
delPs method was OF such nature as 20 bind
his firm 10 full responsibility 90 the investors
In every instance. All the firm can hope 10
recover IL what can be raised by the sale OF
his Wcstchcster farm.
Later in the day Bedel appeared as com
plainant against the policy dealers. Herman
J. Emerson and Philip Goss, in whose shop
at $50 Broadway he says he lost Si2T ,2IT.iS.
This sum, Bcdell alleges, he lost between
January, 1881. and Sept. II, 1883, when the
last visit was rsadc there. He invested $3.50
on that day. The defendants were held in
$1,000 bail each for trial.