The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-23
BIG HAWLEY CONVICTED.
STATE PRISON CoNFBoNTs THE FAs
NOUS SWINDLER At LAST.

Court That He Made = Million Cardshnrp.
Ing In London ms the Hon. Iiouol MuuGrnve.
big Hawley, the swindler who calls himself
in this country William c. Woodward, and who
posed In London as the Hon. Lionel Musgrave.
was convicted yesterday in tho criminal branch
OF the supreme Court of attempting to black
mail Samuel w. Brigham, a well.known club
man, son.in-law of W. G.. Schermerhorn. The
Jury was out about an hour. Hawloy took the
matter calmly, and addressing Justice Fursman,
asked for q postponement until Monday next,
to give his lawyer chance to prepare a motion
for a now trial. Justice Fursman set Monday
as sentence day. In answer to the usual ques-
tions Hawlcy said he was born in the United
States, was 81 years old, and was married.
Were you ever convicted before T. asked the
clerk.
Never in my life" answered Hawley.
what is your occupation q asked tho clerk,
this question being put for the purpose of Nscer-
tanning what lIawley would be able to work al
while in prison. Hswlcy answered:
Put me down as q gainbl r and card player
That's what l do for n living-plny cards for
money
Can you read and write T. asked the clerk.
well, you ought to know replied Hawley.
"Sou'vo proved it here
1t was Hawicy's handwriting that convicted
him. When asked what was his religion naw-
10y replied:
II have none. but l sometimes believe In
God"
Justice Fursman compliments. the jury and
said that they had taken the same view OF the
case that he had taken.
Hawley has travelled over two continents. ana
has swindled hundreds of persons. He has been
arrested, according to his W story. thirty.
seven times, but was never convicted until yes
terday. With a woman known as English
Jennie" and two other persons he laid a ploo
to get $25. 900 from Mr.. Brigham. His frso
step was TO get English Jennie" to pose
as tho wife Of ono James Ward. Then he
got q lawyer to bring a suit on Wards
behalf for q divorce against the alleged Mrs.
Ward, making Mr.. BRIGHAM correspondent.
Then another suit was begun against Bridghnm
BRIGHAM had aiienated the affections Of .Ward's
wife. Hawley wrote several Matchmaking lot.
sst'i a. s't coun nseuf IN The .SbE issoEm afi3su suits itS"4 The
lawyer went to the offices Of BridEham'B ooun.
away, after learning that he had been Indicted
Hawley took the witness stand yesterday in
his own defence; One Of the Matchmaking let:
DO did not write it, and he denied ali knowledge
Of tho Matchmaking suits which were the basis
tbSF t ass EanSs G Bistsios 1t ton . HeS'' G"rpenter Se
admitted that he had taken the woman known
PC ps. M5 e oSn%e no Il 1a a 9isil as S t FL Hs . shs ESss
6e hrst met her at the Hayuarket dance hall 40
s siS hn avenue HaHs and and 1lh eth. street rect but but t The I hs
called Jennie. Then Mr.; Carpenter tackled him
on hi. past record. as follows:
known a. English Jennie succeeded in getting
large snms OF money from various persons in
Ns1osseb6ldn't you know this woman as English
Jennio' A:-No: I don't know what she was
9.-Where DO you reside Am over:
4Aa.11Sssda u You l iwsii tRhsfs ' under the name of
Q.-Hed a big place there, didn't youl A.
9--AMRsan S soSzsiS. ssiSs t @snsy. a;n3!s you, A.
Q;-About how muchi A.-Possibly Q million
oErAnd then you lived at Ceylon. didn't you
.Q.-Had somo nice games of cards there. toe.
Q.-Didn't you have some trouble there about
Q.-What were they valued att A.-oh, about
R~2o,0oo-that is a hundred Thousand dollars.
tt6HSHt,. but that Was was ali I could sell them for.
Q-Were you ever convicted OF any crimet
o.-But you we're in State Prison in Ohio.
weren't youi A.-No. sir; I never was in State
Prison. You have been in State Prison 40
Q.-But you have been arrested A.-oh.
Allow many timesi A.-Letme see; I gues0
o.@And how old did I understand you to cay
for every year Of my life. That's right, though,
..Q.~YouSr last arrest was in this city for swind-
ling q %jeweller, wasn't III Al was arrested.
P1 pro o1ss q I was pl n jail sI' in washington At tn;
time the Job was done.
fori A.-Pioking pockets. but I didn't do Il. I
proved that the pocket was picked before got
In the crowd, 30 1 was released from Jail on that
'Q-.And you took q trip around tho world
No.AAnd when did you get back from that trip
hif1 fnnSsn 1t II, wa. So IN aPril' after gei r sos ont 81
! dropped over 10 Van Diemen's Land. in South
trsiia, too, weren't your A;-Yes
Q.I,;WhGt were, you arrested there fort A.
Q.-Dld you serve time for It'll A.-No; i got
out Of 1t and they let me 20.
o-XAna where did you gov Al came 70
o-Thls time yoyy were arrested in Boston.
were arrested ! A:-Playing cards.
OIL n can what business were you engaged
int A.-Going back and forth on tho trains DO.
tween HI. here s.s sad B9 sssm w bh,Hy'nS 5r tS Ssfds mo %,sa
"Where were you when this suit Of Ward
against Ward was begun 7" asked Hawley's
""Wsii," replied Hawler IT was In Colorado
went into a little business there. but got ar:
rested and lost tho $4,000 i invested. Then 1
went to Washington to DO in time for McKin.
ley's inauguration. After that l worked the
trains around New York
Never" replied Hawley. 81 was never be-
fore brought to trial; There Is one thing ] will
any ono who bears false witness against me-.
"Do you mean by thai, I" asked Mr.. Carpenter,
that retribution will fall ON Mr.. Bridgham and
Not at all" replied Hswley. ~ think there
10 nothing malicious in their actions: mink
Mr.. bartlett is an honest, hiRh.mindcd man.
and that he and Mr., brigham have been mis-
led. ! will say this about my nrrfs'~ 80, - r.
APPRECIATION" interrupted Justice FTnrslnan..
When Hawley was seen in the loinbs after
his con he sad: :,
"It's pretty tough. and didn't expect IT. 1t
will take more than this. however, 10 make me
round.ehouldered carrying II around. eNper,t
to got a new trial. Fate has II in store for me
The extreme penalty for the crime for which