Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-01-02
ARREST OF COUNTERFEITERS,
Seizure of ZOO in Bogus Money-Curi-
Gus strategy of Detectives

From the Pittsburg Chronicle, Dec 20
One of the most important arrests of counter
felters 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 five OF the gang, who were
located in New York, and the seizure of S2S,OOO
In counterfeit Treasury notes. For some
months past this gang has been doing a thri-
wing business, and through their efforts the
entire oil regions have been literally flooded
with counterfeit money. Detectives Cooley
and Whitney determined TO discover the where-
aoouts OF the gang, and, If possible, break il up
by capturing the parties and their stock OF
money. After considerable trouble, the Of
Ulcers ascertained that the gang had their head
quarters near Buffalo, and at once placed them
selves I'm connection with 1t" in police par
lance. One OF the officers addressed a note by
mail TO the "chief," proposing TO purchase a
considerable quantity of The trash for the pur-
pose Of SHOWING II In the oil region. After
some negotiations the terms of sale were set
tied, and the - Chi ief7' agreed to deliver the
money by express at Erie. Either from fear of
detectIon or of the failure of the promised re-
mittances for the "stuff." the {" chief whose
name is j. w. Sowles, concluded to send the
money by Thos. Hale. one of the gang
In due time Hale reached Erie, and immedi-
a'ely upon ms arrival he was taken in to GUS
tooy by the detectives aud lodged in Jail before
be had me TO destroy any OF the evidences OF
his guilt or to communicate with his friends
The detectives then addressed a letter to
Sowles, Importing TO be written by Hale. in
forming him that he (Hale) had been taken
suddenly i'll, and had been unable TO deliver the
lnOHeg L ne tetieT also referred 70 the InnpOSSi-
biilty OF seereting the money. aud urged upon
Sowles the necessity of his immediate presence
in Erie to make the delivery OF the money in
person. This letter had the desired effect as
Sowlcs started for Erie on the first train after
Its receipt The train on which the ,achief-'
had taken passage met with an accident and a
number OF persons were injured. He, how
ever, escaped unhurt, and arrived in Erie
after several hours detention. OF course he
was immediately arrested and convened TO iaiI
TO keep Hale company.
The letter ruse having proved so successful
the detectives determined TO resort to it again
They accordingly took advantage of the acci-
dent to the tram above referred to, and pro-
ceeded at once to Buffalo. On their arrival
there they addressed a letter to the three re-
naming members of the gang, purporting 10
were informed that the rschief" had had his leg
broken by the accident TO the train, and that he
was lying AT hotel unable to move In ad-
diuon 10 this information, the letter demanded
the immediate presence of the three. their
prompt reply 10 the summons being necessary
20 prevent exposure. The following day the
detectives had the satisfaction of meeting their
men at the hotel named, and in a short time az
terward the Counterfeiters were safely lodged
in the Jail at Buffalo.
The skill and energy displayed by Messrs
Cooley and Whitney IN their operation, reflect
tie highest credit upon them. The result of
their operations was the arrest Of Sowles and
Hale, and three others, whose names we did
not ascertain, and the seizure of S2SHDQ in
counterfeit money. Messrs. Cooley and Whit
ney arrived in this city from Erie last evening
with Sowies and Hale in charge. These pris-
oners were committed TO the county iaiI. 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