The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-11

From the New York Sun.
 Mark Twain wrote "Innocents Abroad but neglected a subject in Criminals Abroad" The eyes of the world are now conyerging upon an American abroad suspected of crime in Dr. Hawley liar vey Crippen, the latest. and if guilty, the lowest of our contributions to the sum of the worlds evil.
 At the same time, by a coincidence, vo,ne American, Porter Charlton, is the object of proceedings whereby the tal- ian government seeks to extradite him on the charge of murdering his wife in ltaiy, Yet neither of the present causes celebres uea sure up to some of the great past stories of American criminals abroad. A rather impressive lot of high-class criminals have emerged from among us into international fame. CofnparisohS with other countries need not be drawn, Hest our pride in Americans showing suf- fe, abatement But even so. we might take solace in the reflection that we are young. There is no knowing at what moment the latest and mightiest or muf- derers, footpads or poisoners may not step forth from the great polyglot Amer lcan crowd and demand the whole worio for 8. stage.
 half dozen worldfamous unregener- ates occur to one offhand. For eminence
  Worth is high up in the roster. worth ii was who stole the famous Gainsbor- oueh, "'Duchess of Devonshire,' a inert which set two continents by the ears, ana who in one of countless other crinhhai ventures made of with a package con aiming sTO0.000 in French money on US way to Credit Lyonnais, and who put a brilliant period to a life of crime "ith the robbery of a second mail wagon from the Care du Nord, whicn net'eo him cool $50o00o more,
 Skilled in All Games
 These were but items in a total Of criminal loot which is said to have ap- proached ss00o,0Oo He practiced every form of swindling, forging, larceny, sa1e- cracking, mail robbery, diamond ronpery, hold-up and bank footing, both here ana abroad. The police of England and America were constantly on the watch for him. Yet only once in half century vas he betrayed into their hands by the blunder of a confederate
 In Little Adam (and the original Adam vas strong in him for certain) the police recognized the most resourceful, the cool est and most troublesome criminal or modern times. For those backWard anu unphilosophic folk who are unwilling 10 apply an inverted judgment to his crim inality on the score Of It's unequaiieu daring and inventiveness, he cannot De conceded any other redeeming traits thaii generosity and loyalty to his friends ana associates. devotion to his family and consistent refusal to resort to violence. He was a professional, utilitarian crin- | ipal-no more bungling amateur-and nao the contempt of professional for useless ferocity. No man ever lost his lire al | the hands of this delft and clean-handed transgressor.
 Worths loyalty was shown in his vol untary surrender of all he had, to pro cure the release of band Of forgers from a Turkish prison and later from i Greek brigands. It was this sacrifice which lead him to steal the Gainsborough with the purpose of recouping himself
 Like so many others of his kind he died penniless bounded expatriate, he re- | turned secretly to America long enough to arrange for the return of the stolen canvas-one of the strangest incidents or criminal history--then went abroad again to die.
 He Tapped the Bank
 Another American citizen who went course of crime which earned kim an in famous celebrity in two hemispheres was l George BidweH Properly his name should be linked with that of his brother Aus tin, for they were co-authors of the se- ries of historic forg-ries by which the Bank of England was robbed In 1871 or g, coo Less fortunate, or less clever. than Worth, both were caught and stood heavy penalties in jail, though not until they had victimized number of French money lords and at least one South American magnate did they make their main and disastrous descent upon the Old Lady of Threadneedle street.
 That performance is called the greatest forgerv in history. George Bidwell was the master spirit of the pair. It was his acu.e discovery that the Bank of Eng land cashed bills of any amount without inouiring as to the genuineness of the acceptor's signature, which made possible the execution of the scheme fictitious account established by Austin Bidwell under the name of IF. A. Warren in the western branch of the bank enabled the brothers and the two men whc worked with them to cash bills of ex- change upon which the acceptances were lfcrged. A carelessly undated acceptanc< was their sundoing. It was sent .0 r.nf lsupposed signers for rectifcation and dis lcovery oft he forgeries resulted. Witt