Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-01-20
STORY OF A GREAT FORGERY PLOT


man, a handsome fellow Of 40 years.
Bridgwater was great organizing Grim
inal, a man who not only had assistants
at his headquarters in London, but who
was in touch with clever criminals scat
tered all over the world. He and his
gang were finally unearthed by the po-
lice and, after a fortnight's trial. Bridg-
water was sentenced. When the Judge
passed sentence, he screamed out: Is
this justice? Shame on YOU"
The actual charge against him was
that Of conspirine with Lionel Peyton
Holmes aged SO; William Edward Shack
ell, aged 40, and Elizabeth Foster, aged
g. to forge and utter checks in the name
Of Marshall Fox an American business
man. Shackell, who did the actual forg-
ing, was sentenced to five years penal
seryitudc, and Holmes. who presented the
forged draft, was sent TO prison for fiji
teen months. Mrs. Foster was acquitted
on the charge Oh conspiracy, but will be
tried again on the lesser charge of chang
ing some OF the proceeds of the forgery.
The four people seated in the dock, on
the final day of the trial, with warders
on each side of them, made striking
picture On the left sat Bridgwatcr, his
keen, intellectual head poised at atten-
ton. He looked about 40, his trim brown
setting off strong, attractive
features A square forehead rose above
straight eyebrows, and his mouth was
firmly set. His stcadr eyes never wav-
erred. Here was man t. devise and exc
cute. 1t needed but glance to see he
was a leader.
Next to him was Holmes, a heavily
built, worried looking man, who seemed
to look toward Bridgwater occasionally
for sympathC &C word. Bridgwater
ignored him. Or the other side
of Holmes sat Shacbell, slim, pallid
man, extremely fluent and quietly auda-
cious Behind the three was Mrs. Foster,
the associate of Bridgwater. She is an
elderly woman, with n face of stone, with
prim, pinchcd lips and lowered eyelids.
Neither By word nor look did she give a
hint of her feelings.
These four people, with fifth person
already in prison were the principal char
actcrs III a story which for dramatic in
tercst has not been surpassed in modern
criminal fiction
The first scene Of the plot lies in Ok
ford street There Bridgwater, calling
himself medical specialist, was the
chief of n business known as the Pro-
grcssiye Medical Alliance. Holmes was
his assistant. Mrs. Foster. claiming
some sort of medical qualification, was
also associated with him both in London
and at Seaford, in Sussex. a place often
visited by Bridgwater. Then there was
Shackcll, who superintendent the adver-
Oh ,f
While medical work may have been
part Of his occupation, Bridgwater was
engaged exactly how far probably win
never be known--in intercourse with
swindlers, forgers and thieves from all
parts. lie never appeared, but his pres
ence was felt His was the secret guild
ing hand that brought the criminal en-.
terprise to success. A young man was
sent to Bath to present a forged check
He was caught and sent to prison. lie is
now known to have been dispatched on
his task by friend of Bridgwater.
There was Il big Glasgow bank robbery,
involving Il sum of $25, 800, committed
by three men named Wigram, Robinson
and Burns. 1t is now known that the
man who arranged their defense was an
agent of Bridgwater. A letter from a
man named Barron was found at Bridg-
waters place, and in it there was a refer
ence TO y, c." The police did not know
Barron, but they knew 81 c." He was,
i'll the words of Chief Inspector Arrow,
the notorious international criminal,
Johnny Carr" arrested at Copenhagen
in connection with the Liverpool bank
robbery.
DIR. Bridgwater, strong, silent. clever,
made use of many weapons, There came
TO him rs Il patient 4 Miss Toovoy, the
secretary of Marshall Fox. Bridgwater
became friendly with her, took her out
to dinner and eventually was on lover
like terms with her. At this period en-
ters another character, Mr.. Fisher, an
acquaintance of DR.. Bridgwater. Bridg-
water told him that he "had a Job on
hand" He had found out, he said. from
Miss Toovey the business habits of Mr..
Fox and details concerning his bank nc.
count, and he wanted Fisher to obtain
checks and iewehy belonging to that
man. Eventually it was arranged that
Fisher should take lodgings at the house
of Miss Toovey in order to take the first
opportunity of getting an impression of
the keys of the office and the safe, which
she had charge of.
Fisher carried out the programme sue
eesStully, got into MIR Fox's office and
stole some blank checks. The checks be-
ing available, Shaekeu the nominal adj.
rertising manager, who in realty was an
expert forger, was called in. He forged
the cheek, The check, which was made
ont for S4095, was successfully cashed
and half an hour later several of the
notes were changed into French currency
by man, alleged to be Holmes. Final
" came the urn of Mrs. Foster. who
went TO Paris Ia change the notes.
Holmes was arrested Bridgwater proved
an ahoi ON his behalf and the Jury dis
agreed, second trial resulted in sim
liar way. The police were batiiod and
the prosecution was abandoned.
Fisher was subsequently sent to penal
serVitude for Office breaking i'm the city.
and after his conviction he told the no.