The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-17
Robhers and Counterfeiters.


ton certain plans which we deem mprudent 10 uetaii
since it is branch of the secret police, and would by
publication develop of the many systems necessary
to bring certain class of offenders to justice, ana Is
essentially secret. Suffice however, to say that about
six months ago a young Italian OF very good family
in this city taken up by the special police Tor hav
ing purloned certain Of money from his 1ather'
After remaining day in the lookup PRIOR to examna-
ton the father begged to have the charge Withdrawn
and requested the chief send the youth to some IN
stituton but not to prison. This the thief eould NOT
DO but the earnest solicitation of the youth himself
released him. the youth promising to give him certain
information. Time passed on and nothing OF the
Young Italian was seen by the chief Some nights
ago. however, the chief passing by the Acade-
my of Music, the youth accosted him and told him
now the time for him, (the YOUTH to redeem his
promise. He then told the chief where certain
number of men, Scilians WERE who had large stock
of counterfeit silver coin and to prove the truth OF
his information offered then and there to go and get
800 worth provided the chief gave him S. in good
money to do so. The chief, rejecting for moment,
and getting certain information to where the youth
lived and could be found &c. told him to come to the
police office the first district the next day. all Of
which was agreed upon The chief then entered the
Academy of Music and when the performance there
concluded he out and was once more accosted by
the italian YOUTH who informed him that there was
g better lay hand than the bogus money. What
was it? A burglary about to be committed on jew
elrv store. When and where? The next night, FRI
day night, ast Friday at the pawnbrokers and jew
eerson the of Foydras and St Charles streets,
and by some of the coulterfeters. How was it plan
ned? In this way: nexs to the jewelers. on Poydras
street is barber shop, kept by free man OF color;
this barber shop is divided from the jewelers. by thin
wooden wainscotng, papered over. Through this the
burglars could cut in ten minutes and for this purpose
they all had gone into the barber shop repeatedly,
with the object Of accommodating and being shaved at
the same time. This was known to the young Italian
4Ig v1rf fl,a,t
formed the chief that he had been with the burglars
when they took moulds Of the BARRIERS shop door.
Accordingly on Friday night, the chief and special
officer Dick Howard disguised themselves in dress and
took refuge in tailors shop on Poydras street. oppo
site the barber's This taor's shop has little square
window in one of the doors at the upper part. Through
this the chief and his officer kept watch all night by
consent Of the tailor and about o'clock in the morn
ing saw two medium sized go to the BARRIERS shop
door and try the lock- Apparently the door, or lock-
was not ali right for these men, they went off AT
ter some tine, the chief and his officer came from
their hiding place and looking about cautiously went
to the BARRIERS door and discovered marks of soap and
wax-naterals used by burglars to take the pattern of
key-holes in locks, &c.
The next dav the young Italian called on the chief
and gave him further information to the effect that the
Sicians had abandoned for awhile the burglary and
had resumed tie circulation of the base coin Being
determined to catch the raScalS, and placing scouts in
every quarter Of the city, the chief gave the young
Italian two S. marked bills, and babe him get 800
worth of the base coin. This the youth did and the
locality of the vender of the bogus was discovered
but there the trade not made, but the street
This being accomplished the chief entered the build
ing on St. Philip street and there found the man who
had sold the base coin. He Immediately arrested
and searched, but nothing but some good money and
the two marked 50 bills that the youth had given him
in exchange for the counterfeit money were found on
him. The premises all over were thoroughly searched
but nothing some burglars tools found and
the identical key fitting the door of the BARRIERS shop
on Poydras street. The key marked with evil
dences Of recent fling. The chief took this man.
remarkably sh7ewd fellow, to the Second District
lookup and there secretly detained him until yester
day trying every means to pump him, but to effect
and also trying where to find some of the bogus money
in circulation At one time evidences were traced on
board ship, again in the fruit markets. but nowhere
under circumstances satisfactory. This money, by
theby is calculated to deceive and has deceived the
best bank teers in the city admirably is it
ted in every particular.
Yesterday the chief gave orders to Lieut. Crevon
to release the Sicilian who is known only as Frank
but to watch him closely by spies and to arrest every
person he spoke to.
Accordingly Lieut.. Crevon and two of his officers in
disguise followed the Scilian when he let out of
jail. All day, Yesterday they logged him until he
came to his old quarters on St Philip street Here he
keenly looked around and went off through other
streets One of the officers then went after him. In
little while three Seilians who have since been re-
cognized hoverers around the police lookup within
the past three days since the absence of their pals
came towards the house on ST. Philip street and en-
tered it. going 10 the rear BY and by the first fellow
Frank, came along the officer still after him at dis
lance Looking archly around he entered the house
too. Now came the opportunity for the police Lieut..
Crevon and his two officers entered the old building
a perfect maze in itself, and came upon the whole
party, Frank, Andrew Phel Friedrich Spatifor and Ra-
fael Angelo. The four sprang their feet and drew
weapons-one razor, the other a sword-cane the
third a stilletto aud the fourth a knife Each one
took a different position and threatened death to the
first man that approached. Lieut.. Crevon in his quiet
way bounced upon the first and put him in COW
entry BY weldrectcd blow Spatifori threw himself
his knees, and raising razor by the Virgin
to do or die lie sprang up and charged of the
officers who drew his pistol and fired wounding Spati-
fo in the upper part of the left thigh After fearful
scufle the police succeeded in arresting the entire
party. Pheli becoming the most demonstrative, and
having drawn sword from cane, the officers, was
secured the first On him was found 500 so in bad
half dollars On the others some good money, but
marked, was also found.
The whole party was locked up the wounded man
being attended by doctor, and to-day further light
win be thrown this gang of burglars and and coun
erfeiters The whole affair has been quietly managed
by the chief of police and his officers, and we doubt
not but grand scheme of rascaity has been exploded
-
EXTRAORDINARY CRINE-0ne of t most hellish