New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-06

During the past fifteen years the American BANK
Note Company has done great deal of work Tor the
Brazilian Government. Previous to that tline
nearly all the Government notes and bonds OF that
country were engraved and printed in England
Whenever our attention has been called to the TACT
that attempts were being made in this country
| to defraud that Government by counterfeit
ing her circulation, upon other occasions II mas
+ been, we have believed it to be our duty to
Illustrate, if possible, such schemes, and to
bring the offenders to Justice Within the
past five years two cases similar to this
have occurred. one In New-York and the
other in Pennsylvania. In one instance through
some statutory imperfecton, little was accom-
plished in the way of furnishing those engaged in
the operations; but in the other the men were con-
yicted and sentenced TO eighteen months lmprlson-
ment in the Pententiary.
About two months ago | received advtces through
the Brazilian Legation to the effect that plan had
been concocted for counterfeiing certain notes of
the Treasury of Brazil, and that the work was be-
ing done in New-York City. In short time was
able to locate" my suspicious, and went quietly
to work to follow them up. soon discovered that
it would require close watching on my part to pre-
vent the perfection of the scheme.
TRAGIC THE CRIMINALS
The methods adopted to accomplish that end l
at this time might tend to defeat my efforts in any
similar attempts that may be made in the future.
Ii is sufficient to say, however. that was soon in
possession of many of the secrets of the
operators and kept myself informed of their
progress. ! had come to know the men
by sight and by their movements and the signals
passing between them. j knew just when TIE time
had arrived for me TO make the arrest. The prncl-
pal of the band and the originator OF the scheme
was Cuban named Francisco ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ
Sanabria His'assistant was Joao Beniclo BeDela-
qua. native of Brazil. These two wese always
closely associated with one another Sanabrla
boarded at the. Grand Central Hotel and
Bebelagua occupied a room and took his meals at
No. 200l2 West Twenty-fourth-st. The others who
were drawn into the work were Segundo Lopez,
Cuban, who kept cigar and tobacco store IN
terpreter, Paul P. j.. Donvan, who acted as
sort of intermediary, conducted the gen
eral outside business and made arrangements
for having the work executed, aud John Monarltyl
photographic printer. room on the top floor of
No. 81 Nassau-st. rented and fitted up with
the necessary machinery for print ng the notes.
To this place the men almost daily re5orted, MORT
arity, who had been led into the work through the
! influence of DOnyan, being nominally III charge.
MAKING THE ARRESTS.
On Monday afternoon affairs had reached point
where it was necessary to call upon the authorities
to arrest Being advised of Bebelagua's intention
to sail on the steamer Rio de Janeiro to-day.
L called at Police Headquarters about
4 o'clock yesterday, where l had a con-
ference with Detective Kealy. He promptly
responded to my request that the arrests should be
made, At half-psst IL o'clock that night we went
to No. 2001e West Twenty-fourth-st. and there ar
rested Bebelagua. who was packing his trunk, and
Sauabra who was assisting him. These two men
were taken to Police Headquarters, together
with the trunk and ITS contents. This morn,
ing early, Detectives Kealy, King aud myself
went TO the place. from which the steamer
was to start, knowing that the confederates OF
Bebelagua and Sanabra would be there to see the
former off We waited about an hour, and were
growing inpatient, when we saw Lopez ana
Donavan approaching These were taken In charge
by the detectives. Dolavan had In his possession
several impressions OF toe forged notes which he
had brought with him TO deliver 70 Bebelagua.
Both men appeared TO be greatly disturbed when
they found that Bebelagua had not arrived,
Later in the forenoon we went to No 81 Nassaust;,
where we found and arrested MOriaTity, and took
possession of the Autograph stones, press, ana pa
per some of the latter being still wet in prepare
ton for the press. All three OF the men, on being
and expressed the hope that we would be as easy
upon them as possible
An EXCITING QUEST.
While sanabra, so far as we know. is the in-
sticator of the crime. have reason to believe
that he has confederates in Brazil, by whom por-
ton at least of the necessary funds has been adj
vanced. 1t has required an expenditure of at least
S3 600 to bring the work to completion. The
scheme was sufficiently attractive to induce
the investment of money in the way OF spec
ulation. 1 regard the arrest of these men
as one Of the most important that was
ever made. Had they been permitted to complete
their work the Empire of Brazil would have been
flooded with very well executed counterfeit.
sincerely hope that the law Is broad enough to
cover the case and believe that when our counsel
get the matter in hand they will succeed In convict
ing the men.
MIR. Goodan says that Sanabria arrived in New
| York last December, and that he has made
the acquaintance of his confederates since his
| arrival. He is said to own large estate in Per
! nambuco, Brazil, where his wife is at present.
Nothing whatever appears to be known OF his ante
| cedents. It Is thought, however that some OF his
| friends in South America have been advised by
| this time of Bebelagua's proposed departure from
New York, and that they were prepared to assist
| him in safely landing with the spurious money
! which he intended to carry with him.