The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-05-26
Che Baie Gitp.
GEN. BAKERS REVELATIONS.


Gen. Baker, the Chief OF the Government
Detective Force during the Administration
OF President Lincoln, and who subsequently
fell victim to the vengeance Of Mrs. Cobb
and President johnson, for an attempt to IN
terfere with tn cir lidison and pardon broker
age specuations, has written book, giving
many interesting sketches of his operations
during the war.
We Gull from the volnminous extracts Of
the New York Tribune two or three items:
BOUNTY JUMPING.
Two or three chapters are devoted to the
bounty jumping frauds in New York, aud the
means adopted by the Government detectives
to arrest the guilty parties.
1t Is, doubtless, matter of surprise that
forged enlistiug papers could have been go
readily manufactured and pro6tably used.
One Of the leading brokers arrested was q
notary public. Aided by the clerks of the
recruiting office, the necessary blanks we're
obtained. These were written out with fic-
ttlous names. properly certified by the notary
public. Each set Of the papers represented
an enlisted man, and was ready for sale in
the market to any unsuspectlng agent from
were whole towns IN the interior of the EN-
pre- State filled with these fraudulent credits.
In many instances the same false enlistmepts
we're credited IN different Congressional dis
trlets. The matter will be more fully com,
pretended by reference to my official re-
port.
took up my headquarters at the Aston
House, and let the brokers know that | was
an agent or supervisor for the interior of the
State, having several large quotas 10 fill. |
was at once besieged BY applications TO pur.
chase credits. The third day purchased
sixteen sets of these enlistment papers; and
on the fourth, twenty two, when a PROPOSE
ton was made by broker to purchase forged
papers, saying those had were such, aud
would answer the same purposes that, so
sAiliialiy we're they prepared, detection was
impossible. he offer was accepted. and
placed me on the most friendly terms with nv
associates IN business. Foranunlber Of DAYS
continued the purchase OF spurious papers
Tor less than halt the price of the genuine
documents. his feature of the swinding
came near causing quarrel among the bro.
kcrs-sone OF them insisting that | should
not have been informed that | bought forged
papers, because might then have paid full
price. The other party contending that by
committing me to the forgery | was secured
against betrayal of the cause. The former
further claimed that forged papers were worth
as much TO ne as the genuine These nepo-
tiauons were carried on four days, when |
decided TO arrest the whole company. twill
be understood that the arrest OF a single bro
keF "a the city would create an alarm. and
end The investigation. The greatest strategy
ana eoneealment were therefore indispensa-
bic to success. The knowledge Of my pres
n he moi ,r1T "a 1
my plans. On q certain day | requested nine
brokers, with whom had business to come
TO my room at the same hour, bringing their
papers. Lad concealed in an adjoining
room, number Of my assistants. | in
structed them that the signal | should use TO
bring them to my aid would be q knock on
the door Of the apartment in which they were
placed
The illustrious nine stood around me,
forged paper in hand, eagerly waiting for the
checks which would bring the reward of their
villainy o fasten the guilt upon the crime
mails, beyond dispute, had written receipts
for the money to be paid each broker As
they walked up in hne and made their marks
for most Of them couldnot write-l stepped
10 the folding doors and gave the signal In
staniiy detective cane in, and said to my
broker friends. Gentlemen. this Joke has
gone far enough you are my prisoners. II
am General Baker, the Chief Of the Detective
Bureau.
1t would be futile for tongue or pen to at
tempt to describe the effect Of my words upon
the assembage before me. The change that
passed over il was very marked, and to me,
who was the cause ot il, irresistibly entertain.
ing. ] lie explosion Of hombshell in the
battle ranks could not have startled and dis
mayed the s0ldIery more suddenly than this
unexpected exposure Of their crimes. ard
the powerful grasp Of justice, did the dlscom-
fitted brokers, who had anticipated a very diff
ferent fate.
Here, a dapper little fellow, in iashy dress
aud jewelrY, changed color, looked CHASTITY,
and reeled to the sofa There, burly, red
faced fighter pat on defiant air and, with
an oath, said: II would like to see you
arrest me. display Of my six shooter
cooled him off wonderfully, and be stood like
a living frebrand, ready to 90 into self con.
Stunning fame. Another burst into tears, and
pleaded that he was seduced into the crime
by artful men. A few more resolved to make
q joke Of the whole matter, and laugh Off the
scare. ! transferred the interesting company
to an apartment in the Astor House. their
prison tor the time. Two or three Of them
made written confessions. which revealed in
detail the criminality OF their companions,
AID Of many others.
MRS. suRRATT's CONFESSION.