Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-29
APT WITH HIS PEN.
The Adventures of a Bold and
Clever Forger.
he NATURALLY GETS INTO TIE PEN

But Gets Out by MarveIously Inseni-
Piece of Sinuosity-A Complete
Set of Papers for Pardon Forged So
Skillful y That They Deceive the Gov
ernor and Give Bad Citizen His
Freednm-One of His Schemes That
Didn't Work.
NEW YORK, Oct. 29-Forger Edward
l. Stoddart, who has been in the Jersey
City Jail since early last summer await
ing trial for forging a telegraphic order
for money on the Pittsiield National bank,
of Pittsfield, Mass, will be sent to Ten
nessae 10 serve out an unexpirei term if
Jersey justice fails to reach him. a req
ustion for the return OF Stoddart to Ten.
nessee, which was recently received by
Governor Albeit from Governor Bachan-
an, has brought to light new chapter in
the history OF the prisoner which stamps
him as one of the cleverest rogues in the
country.
His Operations at Memphis.
In 1899, while he was in Memphis under
the name OF Henry B Davis, he was ar
rested for passing number of checks on
various banks and merchants After
SCuSttiOldl ITldt, w WlISn OF
Davis, gave romantic tinge through
sensational letters which he forged in
Jail and got into circulation by means no.
body was ever able to discern, he was con-
victed and sentenced TO ten years in
states prison. His attorney, w. w. Bah
list, tried to save his client from the con-
vict mines at Tracy, but he had to 60
there. Last spring Gouernor Buchanan
received a petition for Stoddart's pardon,
which bore the signatures of some of the
leading men in Tennessee, and was ac-
companied by letter apparently written
by Attorney Bablist, which aroused much
sympathy for Stodiart.
Card job of Forgery.
The letter is marvel of ingenious con-
struction. The accom- panying petition
for the pardon was equally ingenious, and
despite his usual caution in dealing with
such affairs Governor Buchanan accepted
it as genuine and considered it without
asking for interviews with any of the
signers, many of whom were his personal
friends. The petitioners "humbly declare
their belief in Davis innocence and that
he was undou btedly the victim Of base
conspiracy enacted by persons who sought
to ruin Davis and place him in prison,
where he could not be an obstacle to their
plans" The petition contained the forged
signatures of all the officers of the court
in which Davis was tried. the jurors who
found him guilty, and a large number of
citizens.
The Governor Finds Out Something.
Governor Buchanan on March 16 issued
a pardon for the convict had him brought
up to Nashville, and gave him new suit
OF clothes. n sum of money, and sent him
away with kindly wishes for his welfare.
Two weeks after Stoddart had gone Gov
ernor Buchanan met Attorney Bablist and
congratulated him on his success in secUr-
ing his clients pardon. The attorney was
amazed. He disclaimed all knowledge of
the matter. Then the governor instituted
an inquiry, which resulted in the startling
disclosure that not only the attorneys
letter bat the petition for the pardon,
with ali the names attached, was forgery
last August, when he was arrested in
Jersey City.
Tried to Fool Massachusetts Girl.
A day or 50 after ne was locked up in
Jersey City young lady in Somerset.
Mass, received letter from Stoddart,
written on the official letter head of the
police departmentment, asking her TO send
him money to get out of a serious
! scrape' He acknowledged himself to be
her brother. and said that he had assumed
the name of Stoddart to save his own fam
lily from disgrace. 1t SO happened that
the brother of the young woman in ques-
ton was at home. and beyond showing
what a rascal he is, the letter accomplished
nothing for Stoddart