Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-01-09
From tie PttsbnE Chronicle, Dse. 9V
lmPORIANT ARREST OF COUK-
TERFEITERs.
SEIZURE OF $2s, 900 IN BOGUS MoNEY-ouRr.
Gus STRATEGY OF DETECTIVES

One of the most important arrests of coun.
ierteiters which has been made in this State
was effected in Erie on Monday, through
the efforts of Detectives Cooley and Whit.
ney, of Erie The arrest embraces FIVE OF
the gang, who were located in New York.
and the seizure of $2s, 900 in counterfeit
Treasury notes. For some months past this
gang has been doing thriving business,
and through their efforts the entire Oil Re-
gons have heen literally flooded with coun-
terIeit money. Detectives Cooley and Whit
ney determined to discover the whereabouts
OF the gang, and, if possible, break it up by
discovering the parties and their stock of
money. After considerable trouble the off,
GERS ascertained that the gang had their
headquarters near Buffalo, and at once
placed themselves in connection with it. "
in police parlance One of the officers ad.
dressed note by mail to the ''chef.n pro-
posing TO purchase considerable quantity
OF the trash for the purpose of "shoving" it
In the Oil Regions After some negotiations
the terms of sale were settled. and the
"chief' agreed to deliver the money bv
express at Erie. Either from fear of detec.
ton or OF the failure of the promised remit.
lances for the "stutT, " the "chief." whose
name is j. w. Sowles. concluded to send
the money by rhos Hale one of the gang.
In due time, Hale reached Erie, and imme
diaiely upon his arrival he was taken IN
custody by the detectives and lodged in
lall before he had time to destroy any of the
evidences OF his guilt or to communicate
WIN his friends. The detectives then ad
dressed letter to sowles, purportng to be
written by Hale, informing lin that he
llale) had been taken suddenly ill. and
had been unable to deliver the money. The
letter also referred to the impossibility of
secreting the money, and 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 Sowles started for Erie on the first train
after its receipt. The train on which the
chict had taken passage met with an
accident, and number of persons were in.
lured He, however, escaped unhurt, and
arrived in Erie after several hours detention
vi course he was Immediately arrested and
conveyed to Jail to keep Hale company. The
letter rusc having proved so successful. the
detectives determined to resort to it again.
lhey accordingly took advantage of the
accident TO the train above referred TO and
proceeded at once to Buffalo. On their ar.
rival there they addressed letter to the
three remaining members of the gang. MIR.
porting to have been written by Sowles in
Which they were informed that the " chiefu
had had his leg broken by the accident tn
the train, and that he was lying at hotel
unable to he moved. In addition To this
information, the letter demanded the imme.
diai presence OF the three. their nrom,,
reply to the summons being necessary to
prevent exposure. The following day the
detectives had the satisfaction of meeting
their men at the hotel named. and in sbor,
time allerward the counterfeiters were safely
lodged in the Jail at Buffalo The skill and
energy displayed by Mcssrs. Cooley and
Whitney in their operations, reflect tbe
highest credit upon them. The result of
'helr operations was the arrest of Sowies
ana Hale and three Others whose names we
aid not ascertain, and the seizure of s2s, 600
IN counterfeit money Messrs Cooley and
Whitney arrived in this city from Erie last
evening with Sowles and Hale in CHARGE
lhese prisoners We're committed to the
county jail, and will be tried at the next
lelm Of The Cnited States Court in this city
ne other members Of the gang will be tried
at Buffalo, New York.