The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-21
THREE COUNTERFEITERS.

ARREST OF JACOB OFT, THE PARTNER OF uI-
RICH AND coLE-A FIRM THAT HAS CIRcU-
LATED NEARLY HALF MILLION SPURIOUS
BILLS.
Secret Service Detective David H. Gilkinson. ar
rested late last evening Jacob OFT. one of
the principals in the famous gang of
counterfeiters. who. led by Harry Cole. of
Philadelphia, have succeeded in putting
upon the market nearly 100000 In counterfeit fifty
and five dollar bills. Charles Ulrch. the en-
graver of the gang was arrested in Novem-
Der last. but his arrest was not made
known until the officers succeeded in finding
Cole on Friday last. These three arrests. which
have been carried into effect with unusual sudden
ness the parties directly interested. breaks
up one of the greatest and ut the same time most
dangerous gangs of couuterfeters that existed IN
this country.
COLE, THE LEADER.
Since the gang has been broken up it's history has
been made known, and forms of the most inter-
esting chapters in the annals OF American crime.
The chief member of the gang and the
guiding spirit under whose direction their
several schemes were planned and carried out
Harry Cole. is now about sixty-four years OF
age and the Secret Service officers assert has been
counterfciter during the better part of his iife He
has at times lived in this city. but has for
the most part been resident Of Philadel
phia. and has seemed to be possessed of wealth
living in good style, driving fast horses and
occupying luxuriously furnished house. He is one
of the shrewdest men with whom the detectives
have had to deal, and has. consequence.
nearly every occasion when he has been arrested
managed to wriggle out on some technical point
Some years ago he was arrested in this city, and
served portion of term in the Clinton IN. w. Peni
Tertiary being pardoned before it expired by Cover
nor John L. Hoffman in 1871, and immedi-
ately came to this city, where he again
embarked in the counterfeiting business. Soon
after his return he disposed of $4,000
worth of counterfeit money Of the denomination of
"tens and .fives." For this lie was arrested in Oc
tober of the year. and his examination resulted
in his commitment for trial under $4,000 bail.
While awaiting trial. however. he another
opportunity to escape punishment, and gave in
formation to the government officers concerning the
operations of an alleged counterfeter named Miner
which secured the entry of nolle pros in his own
and he was discharged from custody
ULRIcH's HISTORY.
For many years prior to this time Charles Ulrich
had been operating alone in counterfeit money and
His career has been checkered one, twenty years
of the forty he has lived having been spent in
the United States. He is Prussan by birth,
man Of commanding presence and exceptionally
genial in his nature. After coming to this country
lie embarked freely IN the COuIteTIeltluS BUSINESS,
himself doing all OF the engraving. which was mar
vel of exactness Among the plates which he engraved
prior to his first conviction in 1868 were one hun
dred dollar counterfeit the Central National
Bank Of New York. one hundrcd-dollar counterfeit
on the First National Bank of Boston and one hun
lretdollar counterfeit on the Ohio National Bank of
Cincinnati He printed and successfully disposed of.
without glimmer of detection, all OF these.
and became quite wealthy, and then. in The early
part of 1867, settled himself in Cincinnati for a
final effort. He engaged a small house and there
began to engrave counterfeit of the $500
in n'st this ''' work his actions excited the
suspicious of the Secret Service officers
and finally led to his arrest, with
of his guilt were strong that his conviction
speedily followed and he sentenced to the Column
bus Penitentiary for term of ten years.
After he left the penitentary he formed partner
ship with exdeputy warden of that prison in q
legitimate business. Of photographic printing. EN-
arrested last night Ulrch would probably
have carried out good resolution formed
Cole was looking for him, and Offering to '.put up'
the necessary money persuaded him to again enter
the counterteiting business Thus came into exist
nearly 100000 in counterfeit fftydollar bills
four banks and $4,000 in fve-dollar bills on two
Others OF this amount it is thought about $2000O0
Urich was suspected and closely Swallowed from
the time he left the Columbus prison until his arrest
in November last. Since that time Burkharlt Peck
ham and Connors, who were the three heaviest deal
in the 'coney. have been arrested and were last
and five years, respectively in the Albany Peni
Tertiary.
JACOB OFT.
Jacob Off, who since the gang began its operations
has done all of its printing. is said to be an excep
tonally fine photographic printer, and. as before
stated, was employed by Ulrich in legitimate
business after the latter was discharged from
prison in Columbus. Prior to that time
he had been employed in Cincinnati and
was in Ulrich's employ some six seven months
when the latter went into partnership with Cole.
The exdeputy warden was thus left out IN the cold.
and not knowing anything about the business was
Obliged to close 1t up. and OFT was thrown out of
employment.
Ulrich went back to Columbus and secured HIS SER
vices to do the printing OF the gang after all the
necessary arrangements had been made by Cole.
OFT claims that they did not tell him what
kind of business he going into, but
to work printing the ..coney." He remained with
them until March last printing all of the counterfeit
fives aud ftes which have been traced to the firm.
and which comprised fftydolar bills the Central
National and National broadway banks of this city,
the Third National Bank of Buffalo and the Trades
mems National Bank OF this city: fve-doar bills ON
the First National banks of Tamaqua aud Hanover Pa
They then broke up the business, sold their
presses and other effects. and OFT to this city
ing. he opened saloon. This. however. did
not prove successful venture Being an
unusually good workman he found no
the past six months he has been constantly snadowed
by detectives. but was for time lost track Of. Ulrch
came to New York. and it was mainly
OFT again discovered. AS previously
stated he arrested late last light. United States
the Secret Service Office in the Post Office building.
where, matter of form. OFT
mitted without bail for examination to-day.
Urich and Cole will be brought before United States
Commissioner Keasby. in Newark. on Thursday, aud
the will probably be submitted to the Grand
Jury, which meets at Trenton during the week.
STILL ANOTHER.
wAeurxcrox Ian 1870