Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-10-14
Highly Important Arrests

A GANG OF CoUNTERPEITERs CAPTURED BY
'i- ORDER OF COL. BAKER.
Within the past few months, a vast number
OF nffy cent stamps have been put in circula-
llon, which Were good copies of the genuine
In order to discover the gang engaged in this
neiaTious business, by which thousands, prin-
clpalIy or the poorer classes, have been vic.
lmized, Col. Baker, chief of the National De-
tectlve Police at Washington, set about to give
Ire criminals local habitation and a name,
ana eventually place in the State prison.
Inc zeal OF his own force rendered them so
well known among thieves in general that he
was LED to select Messrs. James A. McDevitt
ant John "a. w Clarvoe, OF Sup erintendent
Webb's corps OF detectives IN Wash ington; and
tDese young officers soon proved themselves
equal 70 the important aud difficult task set
DeIore them Acting under the instructions of
COL Baker, they soon discovered that an i'm
mepse number of bogus fifty cent stamps were
In circulation in the State Of New Jersey, and
further search showed that tn ey were offered
and passed in large numbers along the line of
the Erie railroad. After wor king up the case,
they traced the principal issue OF the notes to
Patterson. N. j., and as they were about pro-
ceediZg to hunt up the counterfeiters, they be-
came frightened, and removed the press and
plates to Port Jarvis.
The officers then repaired TO Port Jervis, and
after further efforts, they found that the notes
were printed in the house of A. G.. Marvin. a
brakeman on the Erie road, On entering the
rooms OF Marvin they discovered several ofthe
parties engaged in printing the notes on small
press, and in placing bronze on them. The Of
Ulcers then arrested a man named Robinson,
VINO COME ssed that ne had engraved the plates
lie stated that he commenced the work day
after he had been released from Trenton iall,
where be had served a term for counterfeiting.
In the room there was man named Alexan-
der, who had come from the West to buy the
hrst lot OF notes, engaged in learning the art OF
printing them, so as TO be able, perhaps, to start
similar establishment son his own hook" in
kalamazoo Michigan, where he halls from.
Two women,named Jennie Marvin and Fannie
Storma, both sisters of Marvin, were occupied
IN brushing bronze on the otes after Robinson
had printed them. All the parties were ar
rested and are now in custody, with the ex.
ception OF Alexander, who succeeded in pro.
curing bail
The plates, presses, bronze, bank paper and
notes, were then captured by the GERS, who
found $4,000 of the counterfeit currency in
ffty-cent stamps, rolled up IN bundles, in the
room.
The plates are accurately executed. One is
on steel and the other on cspper-the latter
being the Endorsement Of the fifty cent stamp
The previous issues of counterfeit fifty cent
stamps Were detected-the Endorsement being
printed from wood cut-but there Is no such
means 70 detect this last issue. 1t is probable
that an immense number of them are now
freely taken in change.
Col Baker and Messrs. McDevitt and Clar-
voc deserve the thanks of the country for these
important arrests, which cannot fail to check
the counterfeit business in generally. Y
Express. - ..'