The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-13

LAkoE AMOUNT OF COUNTERPART MoNEY-AS IN
6RNoUs ATTEMPT TO BRIBK THE JAILoR AT
PROVIDENCE, RHODE IsLAND-rNrKHcEPrED LET
Txxs, WRITTEN BY COLE, ETC, ere.
The town of Paterson, New Jersey, Is considered
enc Of the most picturesque places in the vicinity of
New York. The waterfall surrounded by beauti-
ful scenery, together with the delightful rides on
the avenues leading in various directions, tsnd to
make this place of no ordinary attraction. The
extensive mills and manufactures in daily opera
tioa, propelled by the abundant water privileges
derived from the falls increase greatly the interest
and welfare Of this thriving town. The population
Of the manufacturing district consists, in large
proportion, of English and Scotch; also, great
number of girls employed in the factories.
Paterson is always easy of access by railroad, being
ONLY about sixteen eighteen miles from Jersey
City, the trains going to and from many times dur
ing the day.
Now, it appears that the worthy citizens of
Paterson have been for the last ten years past
iabsrng under the odium of two notorious charac-
tiers, called Tom kanouse and Levi Cole, who had
made that town their home and retreat in cases of
danger, aft er the preparation of nefarous opera
tions. These young men, who always dressed gen
teeuy, and looked respectable in their exterior
appearance, were looked upon by the respectable
portion of the inhabitants of Paterson as black
sheep" having visible means of obtaining liv
ing, yet always flush with money, driving about
with fast horses, AMI sporting their cash in the
various public houses about town. Yet still ka-
mouse and Cole associated with a kind of float
ing capital, such as is to be in all country
towns men who found always on hand to drink
at the bar, and take dinners at the expense of
others. these were the kind OF individuals
.ciated with Cole and kanouse and whe further
on any occasion, were willing to testify to the
honesty and integrity of these rogues
The depredations committed by kanouse and
Cole were always away from home-generally in
New ork Philadelphia, and other neighboring
cities and States-and the proceeds of such nefa-
rlous adventures were brought to Paterson, and
there generally lavished their female friends and
the sports of the season In order that readers
may understand the nodnS Opra'pdl We give a brief
historical sketch ofthese and their introduction
TO and association with the g stool pigeon cotere
concentratedn New ork under the auspices oftheir
acknowledged organ, the Police a>ate;-hanouse,
whose age is about twenty seven, was born either
In Paterson or its vicinity his mother and sisters
still resice in that town the old lady keeps fancy
dry goods store in Main street., where Tom, when
at home, resided. Tom, for the last ten years and
over, has been known to the police authorities of
this city a dishonest person. His first debut in
New York was among the "pocket book droppers'
and g watch suffers, from which, by his genteel
appearance and dishonest ingenuity, he rapidly
assembled to the more intricate calling of expert
. hotel thief and, by the skilful OF the nip
pers-su instrument made to fit on the end of
key when in the lock-the rooms of hotels were
entered in the night time, and the pockets Of the
boarders rhe6 of the money contained therein. In
this way, hanouse frequently made very large sums
OF money. Levi Cole was an associate of kanolse,
and, between the two, the hotels OF this and the
neighboring states were almost weekly plundered.
Cole is some few years older than hanouse, and
likewise resident Of Paterson, his father having
established himself in business some twelve or nj
teen years ago, in the manufacture of wool and cot
ton cardiDg machines. Old Mr. Cole has always
been considered an honest and well meaning man,
and Is believed to be worth some property. Levi is
the oldest of three children brother and sister
who both reside with the parents. Mitchell Cole,
the brother is employed in the mill with his father,
while Levi, refusing any honest calling associated
himself with disreputa ole characters, depredating
on the public whereby to obtain livelihood
About the year 1899 or 40, of Coles first
exploits, which brought him into public notice,
wa, the passing of a counterfeit SlOO bill on the
Elisabethtown Bank, New Jersey Il seems Cole
dressed himself in business like manner, drove
hs wagon up to the bank at noon day, passed in,
and, with the nonohaenee of an honest man, handed
the bill to the paying teller who exchanged the
same for good money. The bill was executed IN
. style we'll calculated to deceive and the bold
ness Of the act tended only 10 establish conf
dence in the bank, thereby avoiding any nisgiving
that might accrue had Cole attempted to pass the
same anywhere else. The next day, the bill
discovered TO be a forgery, and information, to
gether with description Of Cole, was given to Mr..
John IL. Lowe, then one Of the efficient members
of the New \ ork police. The description answered
that Of Levi Cole, and in snort time Cole was
taken into custody by Mr. Lowe, early one norm
ing near the Park; and, the officer conduct
ing him up Broadway towards the Tombs, Cole
suddenly shot from the side Of Mr. Lowe into a
picous drinking place, called the " Cottage, To-
Gated in those days, in frame building next to the
Masonic Hall. Cole ran through this building into
the back yard, and sprang over two rear &c noes,
and the officer after him, where Cole was again
captured taken to the Tombs, and sub ,equently to
New Jersey where the officers OF the bank ideati-
fed him as the individual passing the counterfeit
Ill III II 81 agFan and
sentence OF five years to the Trenton state prison.
During the Incarceration Of Cole, hanouse as
sociated himself with rogue known as ION hand,
otherwise called Shustcr This partnership lasted
FOE time, until Cole served out his sentence, when
kanouse and Cole again became working partners
in crime. BY this renewal Of buslness together, a
dissatisfaction was manifested by ohuster, quar-
rel epsued, and each one endeayored to inlure the
other. Ultimately, Jem Webb and Tom Hand eff
tectet the berry Of the government jewels located
N .ne Patent Office, st Washington, and George
Wilkes, Of the Pollcs Gazdte, aided by his allies,
hnnbusged the government, and maze meoo' a WAC
kanoose and Cole, whose enmity was apparent
against Hand, were used as witnesses against him
Hand was convicted, and Webb was allowed to de-
part at pleasure. Now that Hand was locked up
In prison, Kanouse and Cole had the field under
their own control and by regular contribution paid
to the controlling head Of the stool pigeon gang,
they we're made associate members. We may ~
well here insert the names Of some OF the working
member Of this stool pigeon confederAcy, exhibit
ing thsir present condition -
George Wilkes, convicted Of q misdemeanor aud
run away to Europe.
One-Iyed Thompson committed suicide in prison.
Tom kAnouse, State prison for seven years, Pro-
violence, Rhode Island.
Len Cole, awaiting trial for same offence.
Henry G. Dorsey, perjury, seven years IN the
state prison, Providence, X.
NeLea Stewart, burglary, Troy, Eve years 10 the
state prison.
wn. c. Watson, burglary, Troy States evi-
John Watson, (brother), burglary. Troy, two
years in the State prison.
Edward Crandall, burglary, Troy, two years in
toe S<s&s prison.
Bul Fis6, At large, robbing hotel.
Ten Jsckson, &C large, robbng hotels.
George Farnhan, state prison for i've years,
sing Sing.
Joseph C. Ashley, State prison for five years,
&tnU SsoS