Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-09-20
FROM WALL STREET TO NEWGATE.
VIA THE PRIMROSE WAY.
BY AUSTIN BIDwELL.

other. examining them with anxious
care But where were my good resolu-
tions and what had become Of them?
Why, they, under the effect Of the wine
and the magnetic influence Of these
three minds, had gone flying down the
bay, and under favoring gale were fast
speeding seaward beyond the ken of
mortal eye, not to be found by me again
until years after, when, with the tolls
about me, found myself in Newgate.
Then the fugitives all came back, this
time to stay.
My three graces who adorned the po-
lice department of New York were full
Of matter Of new enterprise which by
my cooperation was to make the for
tunes Of us all But they were too evil
IDENTIFY anxious, too eagerly desirous to
handle the greenbacks my bills Of ex-
change represented to fix their minds
upon anything else, so by a unanimous
vote we adjourned to the other side OF
the river, appointing a wineroom on
Broadway, few doors below Exchange
place, for our place of meeting at l
O'Clock. Stanley and White went away
together, but first each once more told
me privately that he depended upon me
to put in his own hands his share, show
ing how these rogues suspected each
other and indeed were full Of suspi-
cions Of every one and everything. Irv-
ing crossed the ferry with me, but on
the New York side he dropped behind,
and, although paid no more attention
to him, no doubt he followed me. The
excitement of success and Of being at
home again banished any possible re-
grets or fears over the course had en-
tered, and with light heart and buoy
ant step ! quickly made my way to a
friend Of mine, q we'll known broker in
New street, shook hands with him, and,
telling him, very much to his surprise,
that I had just returned from Europe,
asked him to step around the corner TO
the Office of the bankers and identify
me.
In minute we were there. Indorsing
the drafts, I told them to make it in
five hundreds. They sent out to the
bank for them, and was speedily on
my way to our rendezvous with l60
$500 greenbacks in a roll, and meeting
the three at the wineroom made their
eyes grow big when I flashed the roll
on their delighted orbs The division
was speedily made, I retaining $4,000
for my share, but was dissatisfied with
my share and told them so, when each
promptly threw out $1,000, and we
shook hands all around
Here were four conspirators of US,
and it was comical to see how anxious
we all were to get away so that each
could stow his plunder in safe place.
For my part I went home, but shall
say nothing of the meeting with the
members Of my family. I told them
had made lot Of money in specula-
tion, and not knowing the inside his
tory or suspecting anything they re.
joiced with me and were proud and
happy for their boy. Ispent about 81, 900
making things comfortable for them.
but to their grief I told them that cir
cumstances required me to take up my
former quarters at the St Nicholas
It would be interesting to tell Of my
reception among my acquaintance Oh
Wall street and other parts Of the city.
Rumor magnified my resources, and it
was reported I had cleared 100000 III
some fortunate deal 1t was strange to
see the new found Difference all around,
from my former employers down to nv
old waiter at down town Delmonico's,
where dined, but will pass over all
these matters and proceed with my his
tory of the Primrose Way.
In 1865 there lived in London fa-
nous queens counsel, Edwin James
Fame and fortune were his. A born ora
tor, q talented scholar, he rapidly pushed
his way from the very bottom of the le-
gal profession to all but its topmost
height. At 40 he found himself facile
princeps Of the English bar, and public
opinion, that potent factor in popular
government, had already singled him
out for the high position Of attorney
general That secured, only one step re.
manned to place him in the seat of the
lord chancellor truly an imperial pc-
sition, one that satisfied the proud am
bition Of a Wolsey and fitted the genius
Of Thomas Beckett, 1t carries with
it the position of keeper of the conscience
of her majesty, giving the possessor
precedence in all official functions over
the English aristocracy, next to royalty
itself.
But about this time dark whispers
began to fly about through the clubs Of
London. Soon it became known that
Edwin James, the lord chancellor to be,
was in the tolls, and it shortly tran
spired that, in spite of the fact that his
income from his profession was nearer
eco, 900 than el0, 900 per annum, it had
proved insufficient, and he was heavily
In debt and worse.
1t would seem he was keeping up
what in the polite language of society
is known as dual houses. A woman of
brilliant beauty presided over one, and
the marvellous beauty of its mistress was
only eQualed by her extravaganza. He
also had fondness for associating with
younger men than himself and had got
into a particularly fast set Of young
lords and army men. At his club he had
lost large sums at blccarat and loo, and,
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