FORGER AND BIGAMIST

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 215, 9 March 1912, Page 7

FORGER AND BIGAMIST

San Francisco, February 23. The Californian police are just now energetically looking foh a "Dr." Milton Abraham, a notorious former and bigamist. This clever criminal, one of whose many aliases is that of Sir Harry Westwood Cooper, has had a most remarkable career. He worked in Sydney from ISB9 lo 1891, and under the name of Charles Ernest Chadwick was tried but acquitted on charges of obtaining money by false pretences in connection with which he represented himself as the heir to vast estates in England. In 1883 he was prosecuted on a similar charge, and ,-sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment. '

Two years later, as the police allege, lie married in Sydnsy a Miss Helen Scott, whom, however, he soon deserted. He then fled to Brisbane, and while there, in June, 1890, he was again in trouble in connection with a worthless chequo for £IO,OOO. Making his way to Canada, he visited Toronto, and during his stay in that city he is said to have occupied the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church.

After having contracted another bigamous marriage, the "Doctor" turned up in Chicago, where he is alleged to have fleeced his landlady of £IOOO by means of forged drafts.

In 1897 he made his appearance in San Francisco, and having deserted his latest wife, planned an elopement with a young lady living in this city. Towards the end of the year he again found himself in the hands of the police charged with forgery, in connection with which he was convicted and sentenced to three years. While serving his time in SanQuenti gaol he is alleged to have formed a plan for the murder of the prison guards in order to escape the period of solitary confinement to which he was condemned.

Abraham was discharged from San Quentin in 1901, but he had not been out of gaol long before he was again arrested. He was released on parole only last year after having served another sentence, and the offen«e for which he is now spught is that of having attempted to forge a draft for £3OOO on the Oakland National Bank.