Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-10
OF CHEER.
Bidwell, the Forger. Talks to the
Prisoners at the Jail.
Tells That it is Never TOO late to Re
form and Instances His Own
Life

George Bidwel who gained notoriety
as the head of quartet of forgers who
swindled the Bank of England out of
$5,0O00O0, gave an interesting and in
house of correction Sunday afternoon.
The rapt attention of his auditors
showed the deep interest taken in the
speakers remarks.
In introducing the speaker, Captain
Charles E. Simmonds said that Thurs
day afternoon he was standing in the
Boston Store, looking over Mr.. Bid
wells book, From Wall Street to New
burg prison." when the author touched
him on the shoulder, and during the
conversation which followed, Mr. Bidwell
was invited to speak at the jail the fol-
lowing Sunday, which invitation was
subsequently accepted.
Mr. Bidwell said his book was not in
tended as record of crime, but rather
as proving the statement, which has
been made by some of the most able
men in the United States, that success
in wrongdoing resulted invariably In
failure in the end The men before him
realized the truth of this statement. He
evidence that they would give much if
they could retrieve the past and they
can do it if they will make the effort.
He said about two weeks ago when he
was standing in the office of the Quin-
cy House, Boston, WE'LL dressed young
man of decidedly respectable appear
ance accosted him, and in the curse of
conversation told him he had recently
been released from Newberg prison af-
fa, txryo aY.es S,,ay1 ho n
read MI Bidwell's book and was put
ting for h his best efforts to follow its
directions in the endeayor to lead a
successful life No one can tell when a
life is wrecked so long as life remains
and the will is strong.
Forty years ago two young men, of
whom the speaker was one, lived in the
city of Hartford, Conn. Neither had
entered saloon or been exposed to the
temptations of the world One of them
went into business, was successful, and
when the speaker was liberated from
prison ten years ago was wealthy
man. Bidwell had wrecked his life while
the other young man had prospered and
attained the height of of success. In a
few months, through business reverses,
the friends fortune was swept away,
and the once prosperous merchant sunk,
crushed by the blow, while the man
WUOcG lie ndQ U66u COuulCQ dS q MICCfA
lived to work for the bettement Of
mankind and to attain his lost social
standing. Which then is the wrecked
life? When BidWell was released from
prison his friends made an effort to as
sist him against his will. He steadfast-
ly refused their offers and labored with
but one object in view-to effect the re-
lease of. his brother and two friends
trieving his lost friends. but had grad
from prison. He had little hope of re-
ually won back their confidence and es-
TEEN.
While in the English prison, he had
witnessed all sorts of scenes from the
pathetic to the most terrible. He cited
one humorous instance, when patient
in the hospital ward who was being fed
on bread and milk, complained to the
attendant of the quality of the milk, He
explained TO the physician that he
thought the COW which gave the milk
must have drunk too much water.
The speaker said it was hard for him
to realize as he stood before these men,
that at one time he had been in the
same situation. During his Is years
Imprisonment, most of which was soli-
tary, he became very absent-minded.
He told of several instances since that
time which proved him to be one of the
most absent-minded of men. In one
case he left train late at night to take
cab to his home. 1t was raining,
and as he left the train, he raised his
umbrella and started toward the cab
stand. AS he neared the carriage, he
noticed the rain and thought to himself,
I have forgotten my umbrella He
started back toward the car, shouting,
wait, / have forgotten my umbrella?'
when the trainman informed him that
he was holding it over his head.
He spoke of the brilliantly lighted sa-
loon which seems to many young men
who have not pleasant homes, to be the
only place they have to go to. He
urged that millionaires should put forth
an effort to provide suitable places for
young men to congregate and enjoy
themselves.
He advised all young men to join the
church, or at least some club or social
organization that would have a good in
fluence upon them. He condemned the
habit of treating, which eventually
leads up to the ruin Of so many young
men, offering as an example, his own
life. At the age of % he had never
been in a saloon. One night a party OF
a glass Of lemonade" Once started, his
curiosity was aroused as to what
stronger drinks were like.
He could scarcely find words to ex-
press himself before such an audience:
he could see many brilliant intellects
which, under proper circumstances,
would rise He expected to receive
word from some of the men before him,
at some future day, telling of their
lives after being released from prison.
He closed with an earnest appeal to all
who had homes and friends ignorant of
their whereabouts, to go back to their
old friends and surroundings and make
an attempt to rise in life. He ended
with fervent, God bless you ALL"
The regular volunteer quartet rem