The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-08
. nrcKEror.LxAvE NAN.
Bidwelrs Mission 70 America
Oie-5 John Bright's Share il it.

~
i0iss-d John Bright's share in it.
E,ou, the Cincinnati Times-Star.
,osroy. May 1.-The presence in Boston
Do o.her day OF George Bidweu, the leader
=. -. four Americans who seventeen years
O founded the financial magnates of
- 80 With the s. 200, coo forgery on the
- England, arouses fresh interest in
10 GIGANTIC fraud. especially as it was
- that all received life sentences for
-i,re Bidwell's chief object is to Sc
'De .ba release of his brother Austin, who,
GU bimself. received life sentence. he
~ l'.ia-as that Austin was not party TO the
.;,,a Int that he wes on tne continent en-
e.l Ii.1, his wedding tour at the time of its
.cmmission.
~ he saws. "They should have given
naur1 dit for greater shrewdness than that.
~ % NOT run the risk of getting us both
l W. W ..a,,ble. for then we should be unable
mo N-s 1s each other. He could not procure
70 d ssis, trial. and would not permit his
s ~, N tell the Jury that he was absent
a"! ENGLAND on his wedding journey
I'M. Ilbii was carrying out the fraud, declar-
lat whatever the consequences to him
~ ha would not have his brides name
sra1sged into publicity. He was % years
"a 5ben Heis ~ now, and at period of
life when an intelligent man should have
ND II himself a responsible position in
x. ,rorld. he is serving as head cook in
Chatham prison. Ills mar, pour ieno"' 10
es white as snow"
Ridwell's narration of the facts relative
% tna securing of his release from prison is
I'VE were confined in separate prisons.
A., brother went to Chatham. was sent
- Newgate and the others were sent else
where In 1881, after 1 had spent eight
Years in Newgate, Pentonville and Dart
moor prisons, and my brother the same
iarghth of time in Chatham, our family
and friends in East Hartford, Conn.,, be-
con 70 make efforts to have us released.
Tney brought powerful political and liter
srv influence to bear on the British govern
nent. but owing to the dynamite out
races in England, in which Americans were
believed to be concerned, our appeals
excited little sympathy. | remember that
Insed to lie in my cell in solitude at that
time cursing the dynamiterS for their ne
fsrious acts, which were thus recoiling
upon my head. Our friends. who had
hoped to succeed in our behalf in a few
months, did not meet with their first en-
enlargement until six years later. In 1887
the dynamite outrages ceased, and petition
from nv friends reached the home Office at
favorable moment. was discharged on
ticket of leave Notice here that | was not
hardened. The ticket of that leave may
be revoked at any time. If it Is revoked l
shall be merely an escaped prisoner.
left Waking prison, where | was last con-
fined, on july IS, 1887; Immediately took
steamer for New York and arrived on
Augusta. was promptly arrested by one
of Byrnes' men on the charge of being a
dangerous character, but l did not remain
in custody longer than two or three hours.
Myrelease was due TO four cause.-the
timely cessation of the dynamite ouurages,
the persistence of my friends in sending pc
titions to the home office, ignorance of their
efforts on the part of the Bank of England
people and the favor of the governor of
Waking prison. Now the first two causes
were actively at work in the interest of my
brother too, but not SO with the last two.
He had not the good fortune of counting
as firm and powerful friend as the COVER
nor of the prison in which he was confined;
and, moreover, the instant that my release
and departure for America became known
to the Bank of England directors they en-
tered bitter protest to the home Office and
effectively prevented any further action in
behalf of my brother and other companions
ID the crime or 1915. IN SnOrC, my release
before his place to my superior fortune and
mos Influential friends"
Bidwells release was largely due to let
ter to the nome office from the late John
Bright who said: "a life sentence on a
young man for an offense against property
seems to me very harsh and inconsistent
with the better feeling prevailing In our
time.n
"Mr. Bright's letter." said Bidwell, "was
indorsed by the Hon. w. E. Gladstone,
John Morley, NJ. P; Joseph Chamberlain,
NJ. P; Charles Russell, queens counsel;
Randolph t. Churchill, M. P; the Mar
quis of Lymington, the Marquis of Har-
tington, the Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon
and others in England. In this country we
have interested in my brothers behalf such
men as these: ex-President Grover Cleve-
land, ex-President Rutherford B. Hayes,
the Hon. James Russell Lowell, J. Pier
pont Morgan, Clarence A. Seward. Robert
G. Ingersoll, Senator Joseph K. Hawley,
MIR. Charles Dudley Warner and Others"
Bidwell is confident of getting enough in
fuential backing to secure his brothers re-
lease