The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-07

must he artists, engravers, chemists and excellent
penmen, while in fact the most dangerous counter
feits in circulation are produced without any Of
these supposed necessary accomplishments. The
explanation is simple enough to be cOmprehended
by the dullest intellect, and is briefly this: The
system Of bank note engraving in vogue in all parts
OF this country is such that the counterfeiters
adrsity employ the best engravers to unconscious
~ execute the best counterfeits, and numbers Of
cases are upon record where engravers Of the
highest respectabty, who engraved the original
plates were employed by the counterfeiters to exc
cute the counterfeit. This fact explains the excel
lent workmanship on the best countereits, and the
frequency with which banks accept fraudulent
limitations Of their own notes. The patchwork
plan OF constructing the notes enables the counter
feiter to obtain the different portions from different
engravers, leaving for himself only the mechanical
duty OF combining and printing them. Or, the
peculiar construction Of the notes enables
the counterfeiter to alter the pane denomination
OF the Dill with facility In addition these induce
hents there are the loose laws with reference to the
issue and passage OF bogus notes. that ia proper
ZION TO the trouble and risk of the business the crime
OF bank note couD,erfeii8g is the most lucrative.
The crime OF coin counerfeiting is more danger
GUS and less successful aud except in the branches
OF sweating" or boring by substituting base
metal for the interior Of the CON- ia seldom reward.
ed with great success. The counter letters however
are said to have an extensive organization, known
as circles OF alchemy, which number among their
members many prominent men supposed to be hon
est, who really lend their influence to screen the
culprts. The association ia said to number between
six and eight thousand members. There are one or
more circles In this city, in Troy one in ALBANY
and others scattered through the States. Through
the AID OF these societies confederates frequent
iy rescued from difficulty. They have also issued
circulars containing fun directions tor the maauc-
ture OF counterfeit coin and paper money giving
the preparations of metals for base coin and other
information to aid in their neiarious business.
JERRY CowspEN, THE KING OF coUNrERrErrERs
No. 43S is the portr ait of the notorious Jerry
Cowsden, who is, or ought to be, known to all the
prominent members Of the old police force, and
some of the new. He has pursued the business of
counterfeiting bank notes for many years, has
served a number of terms of imprisonment for
counterfeiting, and escaped any quantity of times
when his heightened Incarceration seemed inevta.
BILE. He is known we'll to about every bank note
engraver in the country, so often aud persistently
has he applied to them for the purpose of pro-
curing their aid to his nefarous operations. His
plan of procedure was to pretend to the en-.
gravers that he wanted plates for legitimate pur.
poses, such az the printing OF checks, notes. bills
Of exchange labels, &c. After procuring the diff
ferent devices required for his purpose by these
means, he would combine them and produce
finished note executed by the best artists, and
often liable to be taken by the banks themselves.
Jerry has been often arrested with the materials
for counterieiting on his person; but. as stated
above, has frequently avoided conviction.
The last time he was arrested in New
York he broke out Of the cells at the,
Metropolitan Police Headquarters It would
seem strange that Jerry should have been
able to do this when confined in the building
where there were fifty policemen, supposed TO be
the best in the force. Rumor has suggested that
be Es .h s'ssS ses sa the Ct idea may
sallOw complexion, sunken chest, dark hair, slim
legs about five feet l0A inches high, with general
appearance resembling an alderman, whose name
with another historic individual, that Comparisons
are odorous." Jerry is said to have gone to Troy.
He is well known there and in the West.
No. 26 Is James +. Watson, alias Leonard Barker,
Sing for four years from White Plains. He for.
mery kept place in this city which the resort
OF many doubtful characters.
No. 226 is Fred Cowles, alias Warner, German
passer Of counterfeit money, commonly called q
Shower" He was caught with two bills in his
possession, and to escape conviction swallowed
them. A prompt emetc, however, caused hin, 10
bring them 70 light, and out OF his own stomach he
BURGLARS.
AN OLD STATE Prison BIRD.
No. 2a2 is Harris Grin, alias Greenthall, said to
have been thief in Germany. and to have served
altogether twenty-seven years in different terms Of
imprisonment, ending as a burglar. He is stout
built and thick SET with black hair and eyes, about
fortytwo years Of age, and five feet eight inches
high. He Is little known to the police, although his
portrait recently graced the columns Of the Gazette.
His determined features denote his adaptability to
his desperate profession.
MuLArTo BURGLAR
No. Isl is Leonard De Vesay, alias Charles Fay,
desperate mulatto burglar, who has served TWEEN
ty two years in prison, and is now in for fifteen
years more. His terms were first two years, next
three next seven and next ten for emitting an Off
Ger IN Brooklyn while the officer was attempting to
arrest him for burglary His last sentence of fifteen
years was for the commission Of q burglary in the
Fifteenth ward. He lived at the time with good
looking white girl about eighteen years of age, who
no doubt mourns his loss. Charley was sent up in
July, 1858. His bald head gives him quite o vene-
rabe appearance.
CHARLEY FAY's "PAL.n
Ne. $50 is John Francis, Charley Fays "pal"-a
black burglar with most villainous expression Of
countenance. He il much darker than Charley.
He was once sentenced to imprisonment for life for
arson, but was pardoned ont after ten years SER
vice. He was sent up for twelve years for the
burglary with Charley Fay.
JOHNNY MILLER.
No. 1872 is Johnny Miller, noted first class
burglar, and very daring one. He is Scotch.
man by birth. with dark complexion and dark eyes.
He Is now undergoing sentence Of five years for
q burglary in South street. He gives strong signs
Of asthma on the approach Of visers to the prison,
and ia trying to get pardoned out on the pea Of
consumption. He kept place in Canal street that
was the resort Of the most desperate thieves of the
city.
JOHNNY MILLER's OPAL"
No. 6 is Tom. Mccoy, alias Timothy Sullivan,
Johnny Miller's "pal." Tom has served several
terms for the State, and ia now in for burglary.
He has Q light complexion, dark hair and gray
eyes. He was caught with burglars tools in his
possession, used in . Grand street robbery.
LITTLE DAVIS, THE JEW GENIUS.
No. 800 10 Abraham Davis alias Little Davis alias
Myers, German Jew, one of that class Of thieves
who, from their knowledge Of goods and facilities
for disposing Of them, have the monopoly Of store