The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-05
so U e e e -
Heavy Haul OF Counterfeiters-An Ex.
Colonel OF Volunteers One OF the
Gang-The Counterfeiting Tools
and Effects Captured-Full
Particulars of ~
-.e Arrest.

..,onel Whitley, OF the Secret service p'VHsoh'
and his assistants, have ioF ever nVhth peen Gu
uaqea IN ferrettlng out one OF the nios'
go =, counterfeters in the country and have JUST
nronpnt their labors to successful animation by
the capture OF oil the parties implicated and their
exquisltely finished parapnernalia. Some moDths
ago the gang now under arrest organized them
selves for the purpose Of defraudng the government
by the manufacture and sale OF counterfeit tobacco
stamps. securities ana money. Colonel Whitley
learned OF the organization and, putting MS force
on the scent ascertaned that dangerous Sixty
pound tobacco stamp was being offered 70 enter
prisng tobacco merchants at about onenltn Of ihe
government price,, e., three uuhais ioi
utamp sold by the government at Sle 70. Inc
Inducements were so great that many afms, hereto-
fore bearing an unhenlehed reputation In this CITY,
virginia North Carolina and other states embarked
IN the enterprise and purchased large lots from the
New York manufacturers.
The officers met with great difficulty in ferreting
out the sources Of this stupendous fraud but about
month ago they extended their "feelers" INTO
fashionable circles OF Saratoga ife where one OF the
gang broker named Wright, was willing time
away in the bowers OF an enchantress. They found
the footprints OF the game IN that locality but IL had
turned its head again IN the direction OF the
metropolis. They continued their labor, and finally,
ON the 18th or october, az the ccrner OF FuN
Ton and Water street, one OF the on1cers
succeeded IN arrestng the above meationed Velney
wright, who. il Is alleged, mad endeavored 70 sell an
Immense quantity OF these sixty pound stamps 70
men named Copeland and Walker. He was quietly
taken before Commissioner Osborn and held TO bail
IN the sum OF 5000 await the action or the Grand
jury the fact OF the arrest was carefully guarded
nom the press lest the publication Of It should
his oonfederates. II may be remarked mere that the
stamps offered Tor sale by Wright are OF the finest
execution and lew government officials who have
examined them are able 70 discover their worthless
ness. The edpleee, roll and plate With six trans
lers were secured by the detectives.
Having discovered the dangerous character or the
counterfeit and that hundreds Of thousands OF dol
lars thereof had been put IN circulation, the chief
continued the pursuit with renewed vlgor 1t re-
suited In the discovery that Hart Pierce, OF No 80
Nassau street, room 81, 4 member OF the gang.
Pierre IL an accomplished engraver, q native OF
this city, thirty eight years OF age, and man OF
commanding appearance. sufficient evidence hay-
ing accumulated pointing to the fact that dis
tinguished individuals were behind Pierce watch
was posted the door OF his premises to note the
egress and lngress or those freqenting his estab
lsnment nus led to the discovery tnat Colonel
Robert Clarke, who, durlnga portion OF the war,
commanded the Thirteenth New York Volunteers,
and obtained credltape reputation as soldier,
was very constant aud attentive visitor 70 The sus
iuoasly furnished rooms at No. ST. East Seventeenth
street.
Whitley, believing that he had obtained sufficient
evidence OF Clarkes completely win Pierce. on the
afternoon OF oct ober 80, accompanied by number
OF his stan, made descent ms quarters arrested
Pierce, and seized all the dies and machinery used in
counterieiting among wllcn was q press for trans
ferrng, costing $1,000. No unusual noise was Gre
ated Ia the room and OF the other occupants or
the building were made aware OF the nature OF the
business. The officers renamed IN the building
with their prisoner for over hour, when Colonel
Clarke entered and was promptly taken into GUS
tody. on being searched, nothing OF q suspicious
character was found upon his person. A short time
before that Colonel Whitley had despatched one OF
hs officers, armed with search warrant to Clarke g
rooms The policy OF this precaution is well shown
by Its result. in almost every bureau drawer
stand drawers, boxes trunks and valisesthe latter
OF which the Colonel had three evidences OF guilt were
found. One valse contained the plate OF the sixty
pound stamp, dies for making one penny stamps
hundreds OF sheets containing 10 one cent revenue
stamps, together with about $4,000 worth OF
cleaned, genuine stamps. which the Colonel had
nicely arranged IN boxes procured for the purpose.
All the property OF a suspicious nature found in
Clarke's room VISA taken 10 the Chiefs headqaar-
tiers and the prisoners locked up, Clarke in Ludlow
sreeT jail Evidence was continually accommodating
but other important parties stil at large
namely, the printers. Inquiries ELECTED the fact
was situated about fifteen miles from this CITY,
Staten Island. Reconstruction being dangerous
seven ot1cers started win Whitley for Princes Bay,
the place where II was believed the printing oflice
was located.
This place, In sight OF the lighthouse, but other
wise far removed from human haDitation was wei
ne ected by tue counterfeiers for perpetrating Ia
their darK deeds OF fraud. The mill was In
little house ON the beach, the occupants Of which,
1t subsequently ascertaned, arrived there from
New York In a schooner last April, having carried
with them beds and bedding and all the parapher-
malta for the manufacture OF money ana stamps.
tramp OF half . mile through the woods from the
main road brought the officers In sight OF chimney
beyond the HILL To prevent the possibility OF escape
tue Chief reconnoered the locality returned to his
command and made the proper disposition
tered the house on q run, the Chief and the
balance OF his detectives following ana rapidly
ing OF John Rippon steel and copper plate printer
native Of England, thirty-eight years of age; his
partner, VIM. 8 kempton, native OF Maine, forty
three children and colored girl-were Informed OF
the nature OF their business. The men stouty
denied any completely with the counterfeiters and
expressed their Indignation at the invasion OF their
homes, especially on the Sabbath day.
An examination OF tho premises by the Officers
showed that two rooms Of the building were locked
demand for KEYS on Rippon aud Kempton met
OF forcing the doors when Mrs Rppon turned the
lock or the room on the upper story. The room
below was subsequently opened. In the first was
found large amount OF paper such az Is used by the
government IN the manufacture OF revenue stamps,
printing press. large supply OF INKS, oils and
Jugs hled with gum, the latter used for adhesive
purposes.
they also found die for make three cent silver
pieces steel dies Tor stamping coins containing all
the letters OF the alphabet, dies for all arlthmecal
figures, but no plates or printed and finished work
could be discovered. In the lower room was per-
1ofating press for punching the holes between the
stamps on the printed Sheets The men refused 10
give Information as TO the location OF the plates
and printed material. Rlppou twice consented TO
unbosom himself, but through the opportunities OF
nis whe deemed tong SO. The time for the depart
ture Of the train having nearly arrived the officers
tooS th6 men into custody and started with Them
Hppoa at once volunteered TO expose the hiding
place Taxing spade he proceeded TO the garden
anu commenced digging vigorously, but appeared TO
DC uasHccesslni, when one OF the officers took the
SPADE a1d uneartbed a box covered with can
vas, about eighteen inches below the surface
Where Il mad been buried fifteen days before. When
the canvas covering was ripped from the box Rip.
pon handed Whitley key, ana 1t was opened dis.
paying the plate which had been transferred the
one cent revenue stamp 40 times the bed piece and
transferring die, large number OF stamps, thou
SANDS % printed sheets ready for DINER arti
cle5. Tire prisoners ana material were brought to
inns city aDd lie former taken 10 toe United state3
harsuals outoe, where they held Ia CUSTODY
IL WAS Gscertalued that enerayer Reuben car
pentef having an ofice al No. al bloomfield street
Boston, mad been employed to engraye United states
nVetNentg bonds Tor this gang OF Operators