The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-08-03

marks the tnd Of the earthly career Of or
OF the most dsiing snd snecessiol criu
nsls the world ever ssw, says The Chieae
Cbronicle Few men have been sble
rob the Bank Of Ensland. Bidsell ss
one that lev, he secured s5 000,0 o
forged securities and bu, for the We
gesnce Of some Amefiesu eobieierstts i
former swindlipg games nigh, easily hav
made the sum ten times greater Thi
man moth crime stamped him as nc, cnl!
{. very daring man bat q wonderfully
shrewd crook.
Piiwell vas dnslly caught aud slpt TO
British prison Tor life. He was psrloned
sud returned 10 America. msking Chicago
bis home until be died While bis rot
berry OF the British fnsucisl stronghold
vss bis great feat he had preiormed .
number OF iests 10 this country OF equal
daring but not so great fame. All told
be vas the man 10 whom oil crooks looked
for su example ia devious mgthods aud
ceit,inty OF execution.
Austin Bidwell was OF Yankee bitb.
he WAS horn Ia Hartford. Ct
Bldwell commenced bis New York ca
reer as eff ,e boy for stock broker THIS
was soon after the close OF the civil war
when speculation ran rot all over the
nation, Ths boy was qnick snd apt and
by watching bis chances became possess
ed OF msby d .rk secrets which forced the
holders to let him 10 Oh the ground hoor
he saw 80 much corruption ia dealing =
so be says that il be bad been the most
hooest boy 10 the world he must have
fallen. Ia his autobiography, From
Wall Street to Newgste," he treats the ter
rble corruption OF New York during the
A. Oakley Hall aud Boss Tweed regime
without gloves.
Bidwell acted ss broker 10 New York
Tor thieves who stole bonds and other Sc
curities and made money rapidly until
be eRlecled to account for the proceeds
II one sale and also to divide with the |
police inspector, who was in the deal,
This vas in 1873 and BidwelI, still too
mart to be caught mapping, received
warming and coolly walked down TO the
looks with roll and some more bonds in
lis pocket and sailed ior. Europe There
ls went TO Paris and dispose OF some OF
lie goods without trouble. as they we're
egotisble and not registered bonds, He
ben joined his brother, George 10 Lon
on, where tue scheme WAS hutched to
reak the bank or force settlement with
ut prosecution.
The scheme was to pro,ure some 800,
90, 900 OF the banks money, d % the
.pd for awhile until 1t could be safely
idden, then offer to compromise on tie
'asis oil the return OF part 10 considers
lon OF the dropping OF oil action against
be schemers. II very nearly succeeded,
" the operators we're too sharp for the
snk officials and but for the "squesl" OF
former confederate 10 America would
robably have been played out TO the bit
II end, Austin Bidwell opened an sc
ount with the bank with the 100000
lsh be bad with him. lie went sbont
is business like any other wel!-to-do man
abiding little in stocks and showing
at he knew the markets well.
He made some money and increased his
,posit. Then he became very condden q
Il with some shrewd operators on the II
her side. who we're equally confidential o
th the bank officials. He showed these b
how to make good money In Il
merics end was rewarded by being intro
ced and dined by his new friends. He ',
came oh ummy with the governor and as
8 tips we're always productive OF fat re u
rns none had the ear OF that functionsfy v
ore readily. Then be prepared for bis
up That was to cell bogus bonds. get
Q cash and drop out OF sight. AZ
Fortune seemed TO tmile on the con n,
traitors. Auttin sold the bo de aud v
orse took the proceeds away to place bt
EN- 10 y safe place. The men were win u,
rs t, the extent OF So. 900. 900 good bard s,
iish gold before the slightest suspicion 81
.ached to their dealings. The leader IA
9 90 skilled in market Iora, knew and 10
ked intimately OF the kings OF tinsnce cl
this side and altogether bore himself
an American who preferred to work on
, London bosrd to going back to New O.
rk. There seemed TO be no limit TO
steal but that fxed by the conspirs pl
While his brother WAS making rapid Sf
rest TO France he kept ups bold front,
iting the bank be had swindled and W
ing with the officers, He was go cool 90
i they delayed setting the detectives ri,
bis trail until ii was too late. He was m.
ing lines oil this time TO decsmp, and
morning disguised himself and ship w
for the West Indies on . tramp steam 40
He mad 80 exciting trip and Was fnsl
Ispded 1t Cubs, where be went into hid b.
for . time. He laughed at the British tn
sctives, bat, ~ he nsively writes in bis
,k', be forgot the Americans.
ieorge was caught in France after
t hunt and taken back to London.
. former homes oil the detectives we're tic
rcbed aud the plant for the forgeries stu
covered. Then the American detec cal
10 we're put 90 the trail OF the princi .
offender aud be sss Gnslly tsken. He 60,
eIttsdited and at list i1iaed George sh,
sewgste. cit