Evening journal., 1888-09-22
JekyA and Hyde Again
Forger Bedell's Lives in New
York and Brooklyn.
A MODERN TALE or TWO CITIES.
He WINS Model HusbaRd aud Father nt
Home, Rorgor aud n GambIe~ when
Away-He shows NO Regres and NO Pity
for His Wife

New York, Sept ea-Janes Il. BeieiL
The confidential real estate clerk enployed by
the law iirm of Shipman, Barlow, Laracque
a. Choete, who swindled toe RRrRess' Loan
anil Trust company and we'd known business
mes out OF a quarter Of milhon dollars by
issealis OF forged mortgages and who is now
In cell at police heaaqzartersS has been
leading double life Dor years He occupied
modest home at e0Bl4 TAafayette avenue,
Brooklyn, with his fsrntly, and among his
reighbors enjoyed the rsSutatioR q being a
cuiet and respsetable c4tzsn, devoted TO his
wite and child, and studi0us Of the comfort
cf his aged father. In t2lis city he led a life
Of dissipation, gambling recklessly, and fiinR-
nng his and other peoples money among the
Dljt dissolute women OF the town
he says that bis losses a4 policy foot up
something over si27 900. The total amount
e his stealtngs from tho clients of Shipnan,
Barlow, Larocque & Choats is S954,5OO. His
farm at Bedford, Weetchestor county, il said
to be worth $4,000, but II l. mortgaged for
$4,000. For the past ban years Bedell WAS
IN receipt OF a salary OF O. 800 year His
domestic expenses did not reachanything like
the amount OF his salary
Mrs Bedell called on her husband at police
headquarters yesterday. Her child was in
her arms She was broken hearted, and
wept as shs clasped the child ITO her breast
Her husband appeared 10 be utterly indifFer-
ent to her sufferings and careless Of the press-
ence of the child He was gullea and morose.
The tears of his wife did nos move him She
tried in vain 10 win a single expression Of
sorrow for his crimes fro<n him. He gsvo
nome and she sorrowfully tsIrned away with
her child and won't Out of tho prison Her
beart seemed broken by tho weight Of dis
grace that bad fallen 10 suddenly upon her
ExJudge Choats said yester,iay that
Beddls farm in Westchasser oounty was not
worth anything like s50ceQ II cost about
$4,000, and is managed by Bedelrs father
and younger brother, who made it pay. The
stock on the farm is worth about s.. 800.
Bedell's Assets viii not exceed Sl5 1000, and
they have been turned over TO tho firm Ex-
Judge Choate declined to discuss tho aues-
tion Of tho firms liabilities toward such Of its
clients AZ have been swindled by Bedell
Other lawyers said that the firm could not be
made liable, unless il could be shown that
the transactions through which the clients
were smindled were conducted by Bedel as
the actual agent Of Shipman, Barlow, La
ROGUE y Choate. Mr.. Barlow was pros
tated by the news Of Bedell's crime ana re-
mained at home Mr.. Larocque Is in Europe,
whittier he went in the early summer Tho
llrm Is one Of the wealthiest In the CITY, and
likewise one Of the most honorable. Every
member il advanced in years
Ex-Judge Shipman said III regard to
Bedels methods Of swindling: ellis opera
tions were not Of an ordinary kind He
adapted his roguery to tho different circum-
stances Of the victim Our firm has never
made any large checks payable to Bedelps
order. When the person was borrowing
money through ua we made the check nav
able to the order Of the borrower in every in
stance, and Bedell forged the Endorsements
We had no reason TO suspect him until this
discovery. He was very competent man,
and we we're not aware Of his extravagant
habits. Had known that he had entered a
policy shop he would have been dismissed
without a moments notice
Inspector Byrnes said that the discovery Of
Bedel's method of robbing had caused n
general overhaulng Of books in the largo
business houses of the city A question
which the inspector thinks win have to be
settled by litigation is how far the banks
upon which Bedelps checks were drawn are
responsible for failing to ascertain that the
Endorsements were forgeries, anl the na,nes
Epon their face either mythical or falsely
used
Bedell was brought to the Tonibs from
police headquarters yesterday afternoon. He
is about five feet seven inches in height. His
eyes, hair and complexion are dark He Is
lightly built, weighing perhaps $50 pounds
His face is rather long and thin. His manner
IN court betrayed no nervousness. He came
there to appear against Philip Cos and
Joseph Emerson, the keepers Of the policy
shop at No. $50 Broadway, where ne saws he
Dst such large amount Of the stolen money.
He says he played policy there from Jan. i,
1850 down 70 Sept H. 1888
He stated that the exact amount of his
losses was si27, ,277. 49, He went 10 the place
for the last time Monday last, when be gave
Cos Sl25 to play No II in the Kentucky lot
tery. In the event of winning he was to re-
eeive 5000. He also placed S95 on the '.gig'
aS-69 q, for which he was TO receive ST, 900
Il he Won Justice Smith postponed the ex-
animation until Wednesday at p. nj Emer-
son 4 Goss were held in 5000 bail each and
Bedeu was taken back to police headquar
ters ard photographed
MNaTaH l.