The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-30
THE DETECTIVES BEST JOB
ARREsTIN0 THE MOST sKILFUL OF
THE COUNTERFEITERS.
The Gang that had Flooded the Country with
spurious Money Captured In BROOKLYN
Found In n Wilson street Residence.


notice since the Nelson Drigg case In Illinois.
which was the largest they ever had to deal
with. In November last Mr.. William White, an
employee In the United States Treasury In Wall |
street. sent TO the Secret Service Bureau In
W A. hington a fifty cent counterfeit fractional |
currency note executed In the best stvle OF |
workmanship. The chief Of the Bureau, ELMER |
wsshburne, as ia his custo N, took II to Mr.. Cas-
silar, the Government engraver to ask him |
he knew the work. the theory among |
eneravers beiug that engraving Ia like hand |
writing In betrayinR its authors indt-
He thought that II was the
work OF Geo. White, an old aud experienced
Philadelphia engraver. The Chief then directed
that every counterfeiter in the United States
who was known should be spotted. and that re-
ports should be made TO see whether any clue
could be obtained TO the gang who were at work.
In March II was discovered that there were a
number NJ counterfeit Ave dollar notes ntioat on
the Merchants National Bank OF New Bedford
Mass chusetts. In about four weeks more Ave ,
dollar commercials on the First National Bank |
OF Northampton, Mass, we're discovered and |
National Bank Of Westneld, Mass. All of these
seemed to Indicate the same Workmanship.
first NstloaT Hank Of Chicago, on the First
National Bank Of Paxton. ILL.,, on banks ~ can
ton, Aurora. Peoria aud other places In Illinois,
but these seemed to come from another quarter
ruE FIRST CLUE.
The energies OF the secret service were d.
rected toward the gang for which Geo. white
was working. and about two months ago they
discovered that Tom Congdon. one Of the moot
dangerous in the business, was In the habit OF
going into the three;story brick residence 20
Wilson street, BROOKLYN and not making his
appearance again for eight or ten days. The
detectives were stationed about the neehbor-
hood, and when COngdon went out he WAS ful-
lowed and seen to communicate with certain
counterfeit money dealers in New York, who
were also spotted. Tue detectives worked very
Congdon WIS the head OF the gang. and that
George White was his engraver. Other de-
tectiyes soon settled on Ransom Warner a. the
head dealer, for they discovered that about the
time that Congdon vert To New York TO see
Warner new counterfeit appeared, and that
Warner went out of the city to get rid OF the
money Orders were given 10 secure every pos
sible piece OF Information before making an
arrest, so that there would be no dpuDt Of
conviction. As soon as Detective Curtis thought
that THIS was accomplished, he sent for chief
Washburne, and all OF the men who had been AZ
work on the case met In wilson street AZ No 10
a, eleven S,cock' on Monday mIrn,ns issr,
their business went up stairs to the third floor
and surprised Tom Congdon and his printer
Charles Conklin, at work. Conklin was at the
seal press, about to stamp counterfeit note on
the aional Bank of Castleton. N. Y, with the
Government seal. Both men gave up at once,
and the officers began to gather together the
counteIfeitinR material.
THE CouNrEREETERs' OUTFIT.
They found besides the seal press, a copper
plate hand press with twelve inch bed. six
The engraved plates were on the banks named,
Including the n ltional Bank of Castleton, N. Y,
ana the Third National Bank Of Providence. X.
/. The counteTfeiters had used the whole OF
the third door In their business, and occupied a
room on the second floor To sleeD in. One OF the
rooms was used "a dr,,ne room. There were
ave lines OF wires stretched close TO the ceiling
on which were a number Of small hooks. When
the detectives opened the door a breeze rustied
seventy-nve thousand doll irs in counterfeit
money which had been hung no to dry. AS
soon a. Congd Oh and his printer took Ave dol
lar note from the press they pierced It's I'M
clipped marein and hunsit upon these hooks.
The detectives packed everything up, to be
shipped to Washington. CoDgdon ana Conklin
were imprisoned In the house 10 care OF two
OF the secret service men.
In searchins the house Chief wsshburne ran
across Mrs. Mason, q widow, her pretty young
daughter, and two or three children, all soobins
w,s OF en-. ,srss Q, .,.ry.t,cr wh.n Conedon
this house aud board him and his printer. She
knew what they we're doing but sne felt that
she must go to the poor house II she left them.
Detective Curtis on Tuesday arrested Ransom
Warner in New York. On Wednesday after
noon other detectives arrested @. W. jenkins
and Eli Grfin, Wholesale dealers In counterfeit
money. On "Wednesday night ne went TO Cam
graysr In his own home.
THE PRISONERS INDICTED.
Chief Wash burne Informed United States Dis
trict Attorney reuny on Monday, and he at once
began TO prepare the testimony against Thomas
Conedon, Charles Conklln. and George White,
to submit IL to the CIR nd jury Yesterday after
ana yesterday afternoon at half y at the Grand
jury handed up indictments against the three
men. Consdon, low-orowed. dark man,
wearing full dark whlskers, entered tue court
room, handcuned to Conkln. George White,
a gray haired gentlemin with marked
Of II Detective curtis As he passed consdon.
the latter, VINO until then did not know OF his
sEre; sal "%9s Ge9tfs In so55y for YOU
me-" Judge Benedict hurredy arraigned the
prisoners. Congdon pleaded - Not guilty" with
the privilege Of Withdrawing the plea. Conklin,
VINO is de al, after he mad heard what was wanted
OF hun, pleaded In the same wav. George white
handed for sentence on July 10. White Is sixty
Ave years old, and has the reputation OF being
one II the most artistic engravers IN tue pro-
fesson. Some OF the detectives and otrcials Ia
the court room had beautiful specimens Of his
work in their hands. lie was arrested about six
wears la the New jersey STATE prison. lie Is
well educated has hne family OF children. and
outside Of his crooked ways Is called gentle
man.
Congdon "a 40 years OF age. He Is not well
known To the secret service detectives, AS he
has worked SO deep that they could not mud
him In any OF the big jobs. lie was arrested in
New York by Chief Whitley, Mr.. WashDurnes
predecessor, and was INDICTED for counterfeit
In, but he was allowed TO 40 upon delivering
up some counterfeit plates. Conkiln Is believed
by some Of Tn. detectives to be Congdon q broth
or, but there 10 no marked resemblance between
them. They we're committed TO the Raymond
THE EXTENT OF THEIR WORK.
Chief washburne said that he thought that
the gang had made In all about $EO,oJ. but
that they had not put more that $500 or $ie0OO
of II into circulation. Warner sold the money
In Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, and
Massachusetts, for thirty OF thlrty-hye cents
Oh the dollar. He had regular customers. As
noaT as could be ascertain ed, he thought that
there was $ll,0U out on tue Bank OF New Bed
ford, $1,000 on tho First National Bank OF
Northampton, and $4,000 on the Iiamden Bank
| Of Weztheld. Warner mad been away on deal
| Ing trip for a short time. He returned to New
York this week, to get ready for the issue on
| the Castleton Bank, which was 10 be made on
next Saturday.
CIV. jenkins, Ranso IN W amer, and Ell Grimm,
| who were arrested IN New York on Wednesday,
| were arraigned before Commissioner Osborn
yesterday but their cases were adjourned.
jenkins, II II said, Is an Omaha man, who has
| been ABOUT New York for some rme trying TO
| got big supply Of counterfeit money.
A missing plate, containing the yignette OF the
| landing Of Columbus, which IL put ON the bank
| bill in It's second impression, was found on
| White.
Mrs Mason has not yet been arrested, and IL Is
thought that sue viii not ne.
The commercials are well executed, and readily
pass. The names Of the Cashier and President
| of each bank were engraved on the original
plate. aud not forged by pen, as Is usual. The
| detectives think that they have all Of the mem
| bers Of the gang. Congdon, who was its
| ganlzer, never allowed either Warner or White
| to know where the money was made, and no one
| knew the secret except COnklin and the widow.
| As White was taken to the jail he bade the
detectives good-hy, saying that he thought he