The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-04-17
HELPS new YORK
Chief Murphy Identifies
Hart" As a Well
Known Porger.
STODDARD'S EVENTFUL CAREER
He Forged His Way in and
Then Out of Prison.

Paul D. Hart, the professional conf
dence man. who was caught a few days
ago swindling by letters he sent out from
his cell in the tombs. New York City,
has been recognized by Chief of Police
Murphy as Edward L. Stoddard, who
was arrested here several years ago
Stoddard succeeded in carrying on his
swindling methods even while he was oon-
fined in tue Hudson County jail. The
Chief yesterday sent picture of Stoddard
and full particulars to Captain Titus.
WHO is in command of the New York
detective bureau. Hart was recognized
as Stoddard at once.
Stoddard began his criminal careerr in
1878 when he was eighteen. years old. On
big jobs he was generally successful. while
in small games he has been caught a num-
Der of times. 1t was one of the petit
larceny jobs, as the police term it. that
landed him in limbo here. He went into
the Western Union Telegraph office and
telegraphed a Western bank for $50 using
the name of John S. Wolfe, one of the
depositors of the bank. Detective Morris
arrested him.
Stoddard was removed to the County
Jail after Chief Murphy had investigated
letters to people all over the country.
He was an inveterate newspaper reader.
He was particularly interested in people
seeking lost relatives. Several of these
in all parts of the country were informed
that the one they sought was a prisoner
in this city, arrested on a groundless
charge and were told that sums ranging
from 500 to $500 were necessary to secure
his liberty. Many letters brought money.
Stoddard succeeded in working one of
the most sensational and ingenious cases
of forgery in the history of crime. He
was confined in the coal mines of Ten
nessee for g. long period. Shortly after
he began his term the Governor began
receiving letters from prominent and in
fuential citizens of that State and from
men of national prominence from other
States setting forth that the prisoner
was not guilty as charged.
AT last one letter was received that set
tied the case. Ths letter was signed by
one of the Governors closest friends and
it was even more enthusiastic than the
others. The pardon was granted. A few
days after Stoddard left the mines, a free
man, the Governor met the friend whose
letter had given Stoddard his liberty
Well" said the Governor to his friend,
= pardoned that young man, and he is
now free
What young man?'' asked the friend.
Why. the young man you wrote to me
about"
Wrote to you! Why I never wrote to
you about any young man.
Then the deception was laid bare. In
vestigation showed that every letter the
Governor had received had been forged
and sent out from Stoddard's cell.
1t was the manner in which Hart" the
man in the Tombs now, worked his swim
die, that led Chief Murphy to suspect
that ''Hart' was Stoddard. The New
York police were surprised to learn the
true calibre of the prisoner they had in
jail, and were very profuse in their
thanks to Chief Murphy. Expressions of
admiration for his clear sightedness were
sent to him. Another addition will be
added to Stoddard's interesting career.
But for Chief Murphy the annals of GRIM
anal history might have contained a new
name.