The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-23
TRACED BY MEANS OF a PICTURE
How Forger Mcdonnell Left a Cluw
in America That ! ed to his Arrest.

How Forg0r Mcdonnell Left a CluW
in America That Led to His Arrest.
FROM the Louisville Courier Journal.
The release yesterday Of Mcdonnell and
Hill, who were the accomplices of the
famous Bidwell in robbing the Bank of
England of S150,O00, has local interest.
Mcdonnell was once in this city, and he
will never cease regretting that visit, for it
was by his trip TO Louisville that he and his
partners in that $4,000 transaction we're
traced and arrested.
One day in the spring Of 1871 Yankee"
Bligh, then chief of detectives, was notified
that bank in this city had been robbed OF
81 600 by a raised check. Capt. Bligh went
to work on the case himself. He first went
| TO the bank and asked to see the check. One
| glance at the slip OF paper and he was i'm
mensely interested in the case. 1t
was beautiful piece of work
from the detectives point of
view, one that showed the difference be-
tween the true criminal artist and the
clumsy novice. Capt Bhgh secured an ac-
| curate description of the man VINO had
taken the check to the bank. He was soon
looking for a tall, elegant gentleman, with
al eastern accent, and the manner Of man
of the world. The man whom he wanted
| could speak French, Spanish and Italian, was
an accomplished musician, was devoted 70
the arts, found great enjoyment in thu dead
| languages, and above all and beyond every~
thing was Of an intensely benevolent turn
OF mind. Detective Bligh hunted high and
| low for bis accomplished stranger, and
finally caught him. His culture found
| him out. The man said he was
MIR. Mcdonnell of New York city.
He was living in a small room near the
heart of the city. He protested in words Of
three syllables against thed electives blunt
accusation, but was marched of to Jail
nevertheless. He said it was all q crGel
mistake, but Capt. Bligh soon had as good
q case as he wanted against the suspect"
Hardly had the doors Of the jail closed
behind Mcdonnell than he sent out for law
yers He engaged the late Martin Blur
| and W. l. jackson, Jr He told them
| he had plenty OF money il New York city.
| TelegraphIo communication with that
city showed that this wes true.
His friends sent word to spare no
expense in getting Mcdonnell out The
| case came up in court in few days, and
the cultured stranger, whose injured air
seemed born OF innocence, was held over for
the rather low bond OF 81 900 The money
was furnished right away and the court
issued an order to release the man.
Yankee" Bligh saw through the scheme
with the quickness of a fash. Mcdonnell
was going TO jump his bail. Liberty for
| 81 900 was cheap as dirt The detective
had already shrewdly gathered an idea
that Mcdonnell was a great criminal,
| who was wanted" in many places
He felt pretty certain that the check
raiser's presence was desired in Cincin-
natl. He asked Mcdonnell TO remain over
until the next evening at o'clock, 30 that
Detective Larry Hazen OF Cincinnati could
come down and have look at him. This
he of the culture, many languages, and
proneness to raise checks aRreeI to do. he
said he wanted to dispel all suspicion, TO
face every charge agsinss his honesty.
While he was waiting for the arrival of the
Cincinnati detective Capt. Bligh took his
photograph. Mcdonnell thought this was
carrying the violence of the law to excess,
but still his objection did not 90 beyond
that calm, hurt air.
Mcdonnell had been placed in the old
First etreeJ station. which was where the
| Wayfsrers' Rest now Is, to await the ar
rival of the detective. just before O'Clock
the next evening Mr.. Blur arrived at the
station, and preparations for McDonnell's
departure were made. But instead Of the
| Cincinnati detective dispatch came. Mr..
Hazen wired that he could not
be here until the next day.
| Capt. Bligh tried in every way he
could to get the prisoner to stay over
until next day. But Mr.. Blur produced
the order Of the court, said his client had
already been too oblging, aud insisted on
the prisoners release. SO the door OF the
cell was opened and Mr.. Blur and McDou-
nell walked out of the station house. They
had not gone half square until Mcdonnell
stopped suddenly with the exclamation:
Il forgot something"
"You had better not 90 back there" said
the cautious lawyer.
but must, rejcinei the check raiser
IL want to make a little girl who brought
me my food a present"
Let ms have your present, and VIII
give it to the child. suggested Mr.. Blur.
well, that will do" was the answer.
"Hand her this $40 bill with my compli-
ments. Tell her MIR. Mcdonnell will never
forget her kindness. l do love little chill
dren. Their honest simplicity charms
me-" This is told because IL gives pers
feet illustration Of McDonnell's style OF
generosity.
The two men walked over to Fourth and
| Market streets. There MIR. Blur left his
client. who boarded a car for the Fourteenth