The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-18
A WONDERFUL PENMAN
SECRET SERVICE OFFICER HALLS
RELATES AN INCIDENT.
He Was instrumental in Running
Down a Member of the Famous
Bfdyyeu Gang OF Thieves.


United States secret service, was looking
over some old photographs Of noted Grim
inals of by-gone days of which he pos
sesses large collection, he came TO the
likeness of a man with a full bushy beard,
broad forehead, a sharp, prominent nose
and pair of eyes set well together. which
gave to his countenance the shrewd aspect
typical of criminals in the higher branches
of the profession, such as counterfeiters'
confidence men and the like. There said
the captain, he adjusted his glasses,
there is the picture of the most skiilful
penman 1 have ever encountered in all my
experience as a secret service officer. When
/ say that my experience has extended
over period of more than thirty-hve
years, and that / have come in contact
with some of the most skillful and noted
counterfeiters OF the country during that
time. mean by this statement TO pay the
highest compliment of which / am capable
to the marvellous ability OF this man. No
one, as far as know, was able to discover
the real name of the fellow, but he was
known to me by the name of Palmer, al
though l learned that he had several
aliases. He never would acknowledge his
real name, but it was known that he came
from England. This man was one OF
gang of swindlers who operated in this
country about the time of the great Bank
of England robbery by the Bidwell gang.
1t will be recalled that early in the seven
ties gang of sharpers, headed by Austin
Bidwell, succeeded in beating the Bank of
England out of millions and were after
ward sentenced to prison for life for the
job.
LOCAL BANK DEFRAUDED.
"a short time previous to this event an
Indianapolis bank had been defrauded OF
considerable sum, and a few weeks later
bank at Cincinnati had lost $4,000 by the
same method. No one was able at the time
to discover who were the guilty parties,
but long years afterward, when the surviv
ing members of the Bidwell gang mad been
pardoned, Austin Bidwell told me that hfs
gang did the job at both, Indianapolis and
Cincinnati. although he had declared in
book which he published that the gang had
never operated in this country previous to
the robbery of the Bank of England.
las l said Palmer was one Of the best
men in the business, he and two partners
going about the country and presenting
bills of exchange on the Bank of England
and securing large sums of money on the
paper. They operated in this section or
the country for while, and 1T then
that succeeded in arresting Palmer and
virtually causing the gang TO disband. /
worked on the case for quite while and
got possession of some of the bogus paper
In Urbana and Danville, ILL.,, and Attica,
Ind. Palmer was placed in jail at Urbana,
with enough charges against him to pre-
vent any possibility of his escaping the full
punishment he deserved. In order that L
might keep the case well in hand l re-
tanned possession of most of the counter
felt stuff. so that l could personally pre-
sent them as evidence In court.
"A few days before the time set for the
trial l started for Urbana with these and
numerous other papers in my grip. had
shadowed and L was especially careful
that the grip did not get out Of my hands.
When the train arrived at Champaign in
the evening was hungry as a bear. as 1
had not had good meal during the day,
and, as the train made a stop for supper, /
determined TO eat: When II came TO get
ting off the train for this purpose did not
know what to do with my valise. 1t was
too large to carry into the dining room
with comfort, and / knew no one with
whom / cared to leave IL. puzzled over
the matter for time, and finally said to
myself, 'Pshaw. no one is going to take
the valise. There is no sense in being so
| Squeamish,' and with this idea in my head
l threw the valise over on the seat with my
overcoat on top of it and started to leave
| the car. Just as l did so l noticed that a
man who had been sitting in front of me
| did likewise. This caused my fears to re-
| turn, and resumed my seat. Then 1 no.
| ticed that this man did the same. But in a
few moments, my hunger again asserting
| itself, and throwing all caution aside. de-
| ternined to tempt the fates and go to sup
per. We'll. when L returned the valise was
gone.
HUNT FOR vALISE.
"There L was without the papers and
photographs pertaining to other important
cases, and there determined to stay un-
| tii>they were recovered. 1 remained around
| that town for two or three days, keeping
my mouth shut, my eyes open and thinking
| hard. On the third day L happened to
stumble on to the man who had occupied
| the seat in front Of me the car, and
made up my mind that he knew something
about the matter. So at the first oppor-
| tunity, when he was alone, ] approached
him and said. See here, my friend, l losi
| anxious TO recover. 1 think that perhaps
| you can be Of some assistance TO me IN
| the search, and if you will find 1t for ms
| ask no questions He knew who / was
| and he also knew that could make trouble
| for him If cared to, SO he said he woul6
| do what he could to help me and promised
| 10 meet me the next day. When the mex
| day arrived. L was at the appointed place
and found my man waiting, but he SaiC
| that he had not yet been successful.
| secured the valise. and urged him 10 con
| tinue the search. The next day, while
/ was on street car, note was thrust int.
my hands, stating that if L would call at
| certain house the lost valise would be found
| 1 Immediately jumped off the car and wen
| to the place indicated. A woman same 1,
the door, and in answer to my Inquiry
said valise had been found that morn
| ing under hedge in her yard L identified
| my property and saw that IT had beer
silt open and the papers bearing on tn
Palmer case removed. That did not worr,
| me any, for the most valuable document
were under a false bottom, and had no
| been touched 1 met my man again ac
cording to arrangement, and asked hin
| how much 1 owed him. He replied that
| did not owe him anything, as he had don
| nothing. Since he chose to view the matte
| I'm that light / had nothing to say, bu
catching the first train, L departed 70
| Urbana, where Palmer was given q sever
| sentence Besides the papers in my posses
| sion, the prosecuting attorney also hell
some of the bogus matter. and the cui
| prits would not have gained anything b.
| the transaction
THAT was one time In my life when
| was thoroughly disguised with myself, an,
| believe that l should have continued m,
| search from that day to this If l had no
| been Immediately successful