Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-08
Important Capture Of COunterfeiters.
tL.a.. 4l.a l,l,Icnnn Trihnnn

About the list of January last, information
was received by Detective Lonergan that the
"Bonelatta gang" were doing an extensive bust
ness in Wisconsin, and, as complaints came in
almost weekly, plan Of operations for the
capture of the counteTieiers was agreed upon.
This gang numbered about forty men, who
operated In Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Wiscon-
sin, Michigan, Minnesota Texas and New Mex
leo. The chief of the gang alluded to, Napoleon
Bonaparte Latta, better known as "Bonelatta,"
is an astute individual, who served on the detec-
tive force OF this city. Nearly every detective in
the employ of the secret service department,
noted for his skill in ferreting out "cony" men,
had been put on his track, but being acquainted
with all the subterfuges and ruses adopted by
officers to capture criminals, Latta was continue
ally on his guard. BY this knowledge, he has
escaped arrest for fifteen years, having carried
on the business of dealer in counterfeit money
for that time. The headquarters of the gang
was at Monroe, the county seat of Green county,
Wisconsin. Latta, who is quite wealthy was,
as he gave out, engaged in the hop-pole BUSH
ness. He and his associates never appeared to
do anything, and it was q mystery to the citi-
zens of the place how they got money, of which
they always had plenty. Latta frequeaty left
town, and it was soon ascertained by the detec-
tives on his track that he visited st. Louis, or
one of the other cities on the Mississippi, and
met rough-looking men, who lett the place as
soon as Latta did. On these trips Latta would
sell large sums Of counterfeit money, principal
ly TO Texas men, who gave him gold in return
for the bogus bills at the rate OF from twenty TO
twenty-eight cents on the dollar.
About three weeks ago Detective Anderson,
ordinarily dressed, with peddler's pack full of
patent soap, made his appearance in the town,
and forthwith took possession of street corner
and commenced to dispose of the article to the
people. He saw a man follow him from the
railroad station, and conducted himself in such
manner as to arouse no suspicion. Latta came
along and looked at him sharply, but Anderson
talked so well about the excellence of the soap
as TO completely disguise his true character. He
sold the soap on the streets for week, box of
it coming to his hotel every other day. Keeping
his eyes upon Latta, he soon discovered that the
headquarters Of the gang were in a saloon. OBJ
tanning possession of room in the adjoining
building, he was able to overhear the plans of
the counterfeiters, and obtained some valuable
points. When they gave signs Of dispensing,
Anderson would slip out into the streets, and be
selling soap when the gang came along. Twice
during the week he went out of town, and, upon
his return, talked freely of where he had been,
and of his future operations. He had found a
good place to sell his STOCK and thought of To-
eating permanently, and going into the real es-
tate business. He looked around for partner,
and actually entered into a copartnership with
him and bought three houses and lots This
transaction seemed TO set at rest the suspicious
OF Latta, as lie paid scarcely any attention after
ward to Anderson. When three weeks had pass
ed, the officer had all the points necessary to in
sure a conviction of the gang, and every one 10
Gated, and knew at what time he could secure
them. He had every day report forwarded to
Lonergan, who advised him as the steps to be
taken. Two or three times Anderson was on
the point Of Taiding by himself, but Lonergan,
who is well booked in the technicalities of the
law, would not permit him to do so, as the evil
dence then in hand was not conclusive enough.
On last Thursday Anderson had everything
- k,nan .K.a.l
that everything was ready for pull, and that
a big stock of counterfeit money was coming.
Louergan and those with him did not come into
Monroe by cars, as Latta's man knew them,
but jumped off at a station few miles off, and
drove into the place after dark. The first house
visited was Latta's. which is situated among a
cOpse of woods on the river bank. Anderson
knocked on the door, and Latta, who was ex-
pecting large amount of counterfeit money
that night came; but as soon as he saw An
derson he slammed the door to. He was told to
open it, or ii would be kicked in. He opened it,
and before he could make any resistance, was
down on the floor and handcuffed. The rooms
were searched, as it was known that two others
of the clan, Charley Vaughan and CLAYTON
Robinson, slept there. They could not be
found, and the officers thought they had slipped
away. Seeing barn in the back part of the
yard, Anderson was soon looking into it for
the missing men. He found them in the hay
NOV, and handcuffed them. Returning
to the house with them, general
search was made for the counterfeit money and
tools. A large number of notes, representing
about $4,000, on the Brownsville bank, were
found, as were large number of letters. The
notes circulated by "Bonelatta" and his asso-
ciates were principally tens, on the Poughkeep.
sic national bank; they also dealt extensively in
national twenties, and McCartney's told United
States bills) fives and tens. The gang has
flooded the entire west with counterfeit money,
and their capture entities Chief Lonergan and
Detective Anderson, and those who assisted
them, to the thanks Of every law abiding citizen.
TO show what an amount of work Lonergan
and Anderson accomplished in year. their re-
port for the year ending June 10, 1871, exhibits
that they made 157 arrestS-al the persons
being convicted except three; captured eight
sets of counterfeit plates, one set of nickel
molds, and over 100000 worth of bogus
national bank notes and greenDacks. Both are
young men and faithful servants of the govern
ment, and are doing all they can to prevent the
circulation of counterfeit money in the west
and northwest.