The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-03
Arrest OK OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of Twenty
eight Thousand Dollars In Bogus Money
Curious Strategy OF Detectives.
From the Pittsburg Chronicle, December 20 !

From the Pittsburg Chronicle, December 20
one OF the most important arrests OF conn
terfeiters which has been made In this State
was effected In Erie on Monday, through the
EFFORTS OF Detectives Cooley and Whitney. of
Erie. The arrest embraces Ave OF the gang,
VINO were located in New York, and the seizure
OF twenty-cight thousand dollars in counter
lelt treasury notes. For some months past
this gang has been doing thriving business,
and iarough their efforts the entire oil regions
nave been literally flooded with counterfeit
money. Detectives Cooley and Whitney de
termined 10 discover the whereabouts of the
gang, and, If possible, break ii up by capturing
the parties and their stock OF money. After con-
siderable trouble the officers ascertained that
The gang had their headquarters near Buffalo,
and at once placed themselves lin connection
with II, in police parlance. One of the officers
addressed note by mail to the chief pro-
posing TO purchase n considerable quantity of
the trash for the purpose of - showing il in
the oil region. After some negotiations the
terms of sale We're settled, and the chief :"
/ agreed 10 deliver the money by express al Erie.
Either from fear of detection or of the failure
OF the promised remittances for the stuff the
chief, whose name is j w. Sowles con-
cluded to send the money by Thomas Hale, one
of the gang.
In due time Hale reached Erie and immedi-
ately upon-his arrival he was taken into custo-
dy by the detectives and lodged in Jail before
he had time TO destroy any Of the evidences OF
his guilt or TO communicate with his friends.
The detectives then addressed letter TO
Sowles, purporting TO be written by Hale, in
forming him that he (Hale) had been taken
suddenly i'll, and had been unable to deliver
the money. The letter also referred 10 the
impossibility of secreting the money, and
urged upon Sowles the necessity of his immedi-
ate presence in Erie TO make the delivery Of
the money in person This letter had the de-
sired effect as Sowles started for Erie on the
first train after its receipt The train on
which the a. chief" had taken passage met
! with an accident, and a number of persons
We're injured. He. however, escaped unhurt,
and arrived in Erie after several hours de-
tention. OF course he was Immediately ar
! rested and conveyed 10 Jail, to keep Hale COM
! pany.
The letter ruse proved successful that the
detectives determined to resort 10 it again. -
They accordingly took advantage of the acct
dent to che train above referred TO, and pro
ceeded al once 10 Buffalo. On their arrival
/ there they addressed q letter TO the three re-
, manning members of the gang, purportiag 10
have been written by Sowles, i'll which they
were informed that the "chief had had his leg
broken by the accident TO the train, and that
he was lying nj Il hotel, unable TO be moved
In addition TO this information, the letter de-
manded the immediate presence Of the three,
their prompt reply TO the summons being ne
cesSary 10 prevent exposure. The following
day the detectives had the satisfaction of
meeting their men at the hotel named, and in
4 short time afterward the counteIiolters
Were safely lodged in the Jail at Buffalo,;
The skill and energy displayed by MeSSrS
Cooley and Whitney in their operation reflect
the highest credit upon them. The result OF
their operations was the arrest OF SoWleS ana
Hale and three others, whose names we did
not ascertain, and the seizure Of twenty-eight
thousand dollars in counterfeit money
, Messrs. Cooley and Whitney arrived i'll this
city from Erie last evening, with SoWles ana
Hale in charge. These prisoners We're com.
mitted TO the county JAIL and will be tried at
the next term of the United States Court IN
this city. The other members Of the gang will
be tried at Buffalo, New York.