Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-03-18
ANOTHER BIDWELL SWINDLE.
Brother Of the Bank of England For.
gers Convicted in Chicago.

Benson Bidwell and his son, Char
les F. Bidwell, brother and nephev
of George and Austin Bidwell of Eas
Hartford, who successfully forged
bills of exchange on the Bank of Eng
land for nearly 81 100000, were con
victed in Chicago Saturday of operat
ing a confidence game and of obtain
ing money under false pretenses. The
game was worked through the Bid,
well Electric company, concern
promoted to exploit an electric motor
/ which would not burn out and which
was the invention of the elder Bid
well, who modestly asserted that he
was also the inventor of the trolley
car and the electric fan.
The concern was started in 1906,
and, in answer to advertisements, in
vestors in all parts of the country
sent in sums which the books of the
company show to have footed UP to
1925, 900. The younger Bldwell was
appointed secretary and general man
ager of the company and received
1856, 600 shares of the s2,500,00C
stock. II was charged by the prose-
cutors that the Bidwells sold their
private stock when the buyers sup
posed that they were buying treasury
stock. an assertion supported by
Charles Bidwell's secretary, Miss Ida
{. Palmer, who also showed a secret
book containing the names of the in
yestors Of the company.
The motor company seemed TO have
worked better than the motor itself.
as experts for the state testified tina,
It was Improbable. The plan was to
pump carbOnic acid gas into the
apertures while II was being worked.
The gas. expanding. covered the out
side of the motor with frost which
looked good TO the uninitiated, but.
as the experts testified. had no effect
on the armature. so that the motor
was Just as likely TO burn out as one
without the Tefrigerating plant. In
deed, Miss Palmer testified that, at ar
electric exposition. while the motor
was being worked. IL became so hot
that smoke curled out Of II while
BENSON BidWell sat alongside putting
cigar smoke so as tn cover up the real
origin Of the fumes.
In defense the Bidwel,s said that
the motor was genuine and that the
rroceediHgs we're the result OF perse-
ouiiUn on the part 81 n rival COM
uany Charles BidwelI accused Miss
Palmer NJ iealouzv The iurv was
ont seven hours before bringing in
thn verdict, Operating con.
hGenre game is q peuitentiary offenss
in Illinois and obtaining money under
false preteuses may be punished with
q term Ia the house n correction and
. dne ~ not more than 81. 600
George and Austin BlHweI1 we're {
the principals in one ~ the mos, 1
notorious swindIeE ever carried ont
in England Operating under the
name NJ Horton 4 COMPANY. a firm,
alleged 70 have been formed for the
purpose Of introducing Pullman cars
into England they forged. In 1872 .
bills o. exchange IN the Bank Of Eng
Land from Brussels and later forged .
the RCtchchiIfs' and BIe1snsrair's
bills. Discovered through the slight
error Of = missing date. the BidusIIf
with tuo eOnfedsratss we're sen
-eaesd to life Imprisonment Gsorz.
zas let out On ticket a leave snt
szus 70 live in Esst Hartford. e
isfs and Austin B5dwsII vas -
- 81 later George did out uss
i y yssrs ago