New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-05
LARGE HAUL OF CoUNrERFEIrERs.
MANUFACTURERS OF TOBACCO STAMPS Ar
RESTED, AND THEIR STOCK SEIZED.

RESTED, AND THEIR STOCK SEIZED
Some two months ago counterfeit TOBACCO
stsp,ps appeared In the market and investigation
showed that large number had been put IN circui"ion
Chief Whitley of the Treasury Department at once se
his forces to work. and result ia tho largest seizure OF
counterfeit stamps known in the annals OF TINS country
The lob of detection" is said to be the Keen
est ever Jput on foot, and the men arrested
are persons who have ranked among inc hrs'
engravers in the ,Uned States Link by INK the chaih
has been followed until there are now IN jail men VINO
are believed TO have derauded the Government Vi
Millions and in the possession OF the detectives o oes'
set of plates types and presses in the country out
side Of the Treasury Department The tobacco stamp in
onestion was the one and its price from tho
Government was sl9 90 The counterfeit was furnshed
to tobacco merchants at s.. qhe counterfeit
stamp is OF superior workmanship ana must
have been-as indeed the casethe WORK OF one OF
the best engrayers in the country At the outset the
detectives were almost bafled-the counterfeit stamps
came into the market reaching 100000 and yet
where to find who issued them and who sold them
puzzled the Chief and his force At last ray OF
light fell across their path and on the 25th OF
October, Col. Whitley put his hand on the
shoulder lOf Hart l.. Pearce OF No. 80 Nassau
ST. and said Z" want you" Pearce Is said TO De- Dy
experts the best engaver In the United States He had
worked in the first firms in the country had borne an un
blemshed reputation and nothing but the presence OF all
the paraphernaa Of the cOunercter and bogus stamps
in profuson convinced the officers OF his quit feaIGe
has been employed by Tiffany Co. OF TINS Guy III er
finest work, and for the American Bank
Note Company, and only q snort pine u.ne
at first stouty denied the charges, but when there was
discovered still in his pocket, a countericlt ~
revenue stamp plate, he made iul confession 10 Ms
cantor In his Office were plates transfer press roll
ers and stamps in abundance Believing hat thefe were
others Interested. watch posted on Peafces place.
aud Col Robert b. Clark, who commanded regiment
during the war was arrested on s9spiG hon
Clark's residence. No. 317 East seyenteenthst
well stored with the results OF The work Of the Son
terfeiters Every bureau drawer box trunk ana NlsS
contained evidences OF the Colonies quit Huhueus oi
from cent to $50 dies for making stamps ana pDe
$4,000 worth OF cleaned genuine stamps that hau peon
nicely arranged In boxes for sale ConnterielL 1IGS
enough to make the possessor millionaire II u coun o
sold dollar for dollar, was also obtained ana tAe Ois
had fairly opened up mine OF enIfno US c Tbiei
headquarters and Clark was hurried away 70 uio"nl'
JAIL where he also confessed his guilt to Chiei Mhtey
Evidence now came III IKE He waves o ~; %
sent hithcr and thither 10 arrest suIig PaItess'
In Clarks rooms was found the C0pOund counterfeit
stamp which rivals the genuine one IN eTecution oIa
fully committed on Monday last IN default on s!oO'
bail On SUNDAY COL NnlelylakAn s. tu 1919 80.
and proceeded 10 secluded spot on staten Island hes9
Princess Bay. and arrested John Keppan, an Oh
engrayer and printer keppan nad oi mcsy teS si g
ployed by TIFFANY CO. and last spring noNsd 20 5ts
Island aud since that time has been engaged in printing
the counterfeit stamps. In the house was FOUND PRINT
ing press Dies INKS and rollers The house was ma away
were taken by surprise and souty protested against
invasion on the sabbath The occupants we're John ppon
Wm L. ak Kenpton patiyc orSane retired seacaptan.
Rppon's wife, three children aud colored gif formed
and te nrinter were now secured yet the chief not
satisfied the plates must be someH about the house
and after faithful search the plates sun were b'.
-Four hours cOaxng urging and threatening compelled
Rppon at last make clean breast oil the matter ana
he confessed that the plates buried IN the garden
and pointed out the spot After foot ana ha OF EARN
had been removed the officers discovered large tl
box which upon being opened. was found 10 contain
iO5OO counterfeit Revenue stamps In large sheets me
plates for printing, dies rollers aud every denomination
of stamps from one cent TO eighty dollars In the box
was also die for making three cent SILVER pieces htee
dies for stamping CONS DIES TOT & n
forating for punching inc holes s tIe
I'm the lower room was large supply OF inks oils, and
Jugs filed with gum The latter was used LOT lHe oh,A1
~ the stamps The prisoners and material taken
10 The United States Marshas Office where they were
held in custody, and Rippon and kempion were taken
scent the chief left this city Monday night Tor Boston
IN company with Pearce, 70 arrest one Reuben
Carnenter an engraver on Bromneldst and who
said 10 be IN the plot Upon arriving IN Boston, Col
Whitley called Chief kurz OF the Boston loHce VINO
detailed two OF his detectives Benjamin Heath and
Mr. Jones who rendered efficient aid In securing the
arrest OF Carpenter The latter was at first indignant at
rendered. and disclosed the whole transaction, and
came with Col. Whitley TO this city; Among the plates
found I'm his possession was one OF the $40 bonds IN an
unfinished Carpenter said 10 be one Of the best
vignette Ia the United states aud the picture
on the plate - OF exceedingly hhe wOILm3nsh,p, ~ &,
The accused Is connected with respectable families IA
Boston and has stood high In social circles for many
years To fully establish the fact that these men were
the best wOrkmen In the engraving lne' IL ~ sd thht
they have done the WORK Dy haha lnaI Us Hoo ~ ene
Treasury Department by machinery ana an agent
OF one OF tho Bank Note Companies said yes
terday that Pearce the finest letterer IN
the world. The work has been so well done
that the Continental Bank Note Company by whom the
COpOund tobacco stamp printed for tho Government
could hardly tell the counterfeit from the Original when
placed side by side IL Is believed that Col Is. Robert
CLARK the originator Of tho counterfeitng schemo
that he brought In Pearce who tempted Carpenter aud
the combination thus formed engaged Nippon 10 do the
printing During yesterday prominent detectives OF the
Metropolitan Police called at the headquarters Of Col.
Whitley Of the Secret Service Corps and acknowledged
that the 4" Job the ceanest thing they ever met
with" and also that was largest hau OF counter
felt currency taken Col Whitley and his assistants
have worked night and day 10 arrest tho guilty parties.
over sixty deals" parties acting agents, have
been employed 10 negotiate for suspected counterelts
and by the activity energy, and genius Of the chief Of
corps OF the greatest warnings TO counereiters
gwen and millions saved the Treasury OF the country
DARING ATTEMPT TO ROB Il SAFE.