The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-02-13
miscellaneous.
REMARKABLE ROGUES,
1HAs. ULR1CH AND HENRY COLE.
HOre About the Careers Of These two hen-Ui-
rich the most SkllIful Forger Of Modern
Times.


Times.
From the first organization of the Se'
cret Service Division of the Treasury De-
partment in 1865, until the present time
NO event has occurred of such grave inn
portance in maintaining the purity ofthe
circulating medium of She country as
the recent arrests, by the officers of that
service, of Henry G. Cole and Charles
Ulrich. These men are, without ex9ep'
tion. the most extraordinary criminals
in their respective lines Of counterfeiting
and uttering counterfeits on the curren'
CIV of the United States that have been
known to this continent. Nor are they
ofthe lowest class of criminals. On the
contrary, they are men of good educa'
tiou. Charles Urich could challenge the
skill of any steel.plate engraVer upon ell
ther side of the Atlanticto cope with him
in the higher branches of the eDgrayer's
art, as exhibited in the production ofna
tional bank and legal tender note plates;
but he lacked the means to enable him
to pursue his work, and without capital
ofLis own, or in the absence of aid from
others, he would have been compelled
TO turn his attention to something more
honorable than counterieiting the Gov
ernmeut issues. Henry G. Cole could
scarcely tell parallel line from geomet-
rical lathe work as an engrayer, but he
possessed the brains to originate, and
the skill, cunning and nerve to execute
the most subtle and ingenious designs
for dGluging the country with counterfeit
issues; and more than this, he had mon
ey to carry out his plans. These men
united made a combination more danger
GUS to the Government and to the peo.
pie than had ever before existed in the
history ofAmerican counterfeiters. Both
men are in the prime Of life-Cole tall,
stoop-shouldered, thin Of flesh, cadaver-
GUS in countenance, with dark and de-
Bpondent expression almost constantly
lowering about it; UlriCh square'shoul'
dered, bright-faced and sanguine, a
compactly. built, steady.nerved, intelli-
gent man, sharp.brained, retiCent, and
cool. Such men could not be less than
exceedingly wary in their progress along
the path of crime, and the story of how
they were finally detected and brought
Cnce more within the meshes of the law
has a tinge of romance and mystery
about it quite equal to anything in the
history, of detective experiences in this
or any other country. Both men are fa'
miliar with the inside of Penitentiary
walls, and both had, in days gone by,
made many promises to the Govern
ment officers to abandon the ways of
crime. Cole promised to be a farmer
Ulrich to pursue his calling legitimately
as an eDgraver. Cole bought farm, and
Ulrich went to work but neither were
contented. Satan plowed with Cole, and
ut III luIll Will OllJLly anu I4lO Y" bAh
disregarding their promises entered into
this last and most dangerous combina'
ton, which has just ended 80 disastrous
" for them. UlriCh is native of Prus-
sia. He began his career of crime before
coming to America, not aspiring to such
refinement Of art in the matter as has
crowned his later efforts, but still doing
a class of criminal business which the pc.
lice describe as "fair." Nearly twenty
years ago the events occurred III Berlin
that rendered Ulrich infamous with the
police of that city. The place had been
thrown into condition of excitement by
the announcement that five different
banking houses had been viCtimized on
the same day by forged acceptances.
Five descriptions of the alleged fOrger |
were furnished the Prussian police by as
many different bankers clerks, each de.
Bcripien differing from the other. One
described the criminal as tall, erect, |
broad shouldered, straight as an arrow,
we'll dressed, and with a business-like |
air, wearing moustaChe. Another de. |
Bcribed him as round shouldeTed and |
having a considerable stoop to his per-
son, we'll dressed, and wearing a full |
beard. A third stated that he walked |
with limping gait, was smoothfaced,
and spoke slowly and very distinctly
A fourth was positive that he was an alb.
BolHte cripple, one leg being shorter
than the other. While a fifth remem-
bered him as a man with an aristOCratiC
air about him, and slight impediment
in his speech.
The researches of the Prussian Police
showed conClusively that the same indi
Vidual had presented the forged accept
Rnees at the various banking houses.
Circumstances pointed to Ulrich, and he
fed to America. One other person only
was suspected of having been engaged
in the transaction, and that was George
Wendleken, now dead. The credit OF
this clever deception rests between Ul'
Eich and Weldenken, with the balance
in Ulrich's favor.
For long time after his arrival in
America UIrich was one of the greatest
mysteries that had up to the time of his
coming befogged the American detective
officers. 1t was evident that master
hand in crime had Suddenly sprung into
being. Ten-doIlar. notes raised to $l00
notes made their appearance in business
circles, bearing evidences Of the most
Consumpa ate art in their preparation.
Long research resulted in learning that
the originator of these notes was known
as "Dutch Charlie" and that was all that
could be obtained about him for many !
months. As time rolled on, however, he !
came within the meshes of the law, as
all criminals are sooner or later bound
to do, and in an evil hour for him, he
sold some of his bogus wares to Secret
Service officer who had been introduced
to him as an 10. K. coney," and Ulrich
was arrested. Up to the moment Of his
Incarceration in Ludlow Street Jail, New