Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-05-04
HISTORY CORRECTED.


How Detectives are Sometimes NJ de.
EDITOR HERALD: In perusiug a
work now to be found In our Pub
lie Library, entitled "Memoirs of
the United States Secret Service, !"
CHANGED to read short biog-
rapby of Col. Henry +. Flnnegass,
Chief Operative, Secret Service Di-
vision, California district, which,
upon reflection, naturally led me to
understand how some of our noted
experts sometimes acquired ain en-.
viable reputation as being "both
competent, and admirably capaci-
tated for the duties of detective"
Conceiving that perhaps some OF
our good people, who are unini-
tiated in the "ways that are dark"
as applied to the average detective,
would like to learn how detectives
are sometimes made, I would re-
spectfully request the curious to
read the subjoined account of fe "
captures which said "Memoirs" re-.
cord to the credit Of Col. II. f. Fin.
negass. Some years ago 1 had the
good fortune, under very peculiar
circumstances. of meeting Col. F.
during one of his official visits
through Southern California, and
as he has Voluntarily taught my
self and others here, with whom he
was thus early associated Official.
| ly), the primitive lessons. in the
early education Of a detective, /
take this opportunity of most
cheerfully testifying to what 1
know of the gallant Coloaeps ZEN
ergy of character" "unbounded in
dustry," "dauntIess courage" and
"proved ability"
By way of preface to a detailed
account Of two or three important
cases which Col. Il. has (noU
"wOrked up" since his appoint
ment in this department of the Sc
cret service, the book above refer
red to has this to say: "a gang of
| desperate counterfelters of national
notes and currency had infected
| California for some time, and Col.
| tinnegass in June and July, 1871,
got upon their track. They were
well mounted and thoroughly
armed band of despera1oes bold,
rough, experienced, aud deter.
mined in their course of villainy-
and knew the country SO we'll, its
Businesses, routes, rivers, and
| mountains, that it was with great
difficulty they could be overhauled,
and alike dangerous to attempt the
arrest of such men. One or two OF
them were captured by Col. Fin
negass, however, after q series of
hardships in that rude country,
such as would have discouraged a
stout heart and an earnest head.
But the. Col. followed them up,
sought out their haunts, and kept
them constantly ON the 20 to avoi d.
him and his assistants-but with
out that deserved success in secur-
ing the persons of all the knaves
who thus flooded the interior of
that country with their base coun.
terfelts, which he sought and
which was 80 desirable.n
"But the Colonel caught one
VIM. "A. Ford, at Los Angeles,
CAL, In May, 1871, and upon his
person were found $1,000 In coun..
terfsit Sos AMI $2O's, national
notes. He was taken before the
then U. s. missioner, who ex.
amined him, and after a brief con-
sideration of the matter allowed
Ford to go on the paltry bail of
one thousand dollars This rascal
joined half O dozen companions
(MeXican guerrilos and ex-Confed.
crate roughs), the next day, and
fled, jumping his bail, of course"
"E. l.. Chilson, another of the
koniackers, belonging to the Cali
fornia gang, was subsequently ar.
rested by Col. f. This man Detec.
tive Finnegass succeeded in having
placed under ten thousand dollars
bail. He was leader among the
crew, and an effort was made to
have his ball reduced, without eff
feet. The countsrfeits found on
these men were Sl0's Of the POUCH.
keepsie national notes and $2O's of
the National Bank at Utica" etc.,
etc.
Now, Mr.. Editor, being some.
what conversant with the facts rel
ating to the "working up" of the
above cited cases, and being desir-
Gus that parties who were directly
Interested in the capture of both
Ford and Chllson should not be
entirely left tout in the cold" In
the narrative thus prepared by the
generous Col. f., | herewith offer
a truthful appendags to the above
story, which / respectfully recon-
mend to the notice of Detective
Finnegass, with the timely injunc.
lion that SIT is never too late to
mend.n
In the first place I will relate two
important facts in connection with
this matter, which the Colonel
(unintentionally, no doubt,) ne.
elected to transmit In his official
report to his department headquar-
ters, viz: When VIM. A. Ford the
counterieiter on whose person
was found Sl4S0 in spurious notes,
was arrested, May 3lst, VI, by De-
tective Emil Harris and our pres.
cut Chief OF Police, Geo. e. Gard,
lat that time regular officers of the
police force OF Los Angeles city,
Col. Henry +. Finnegass was in
San Francisco, and knew no more
about the case, until notified of the
arrest by telegraph, than he did of
the late earthquake in Chic.
Again, when the arrest of +. L..
ChiIson, another of the counter
feiters, at his home in Los Nietos,
was effected, July Sd, III, by these
same police officers, Col. Finnegass
was in Yuma city, Arizona terri
tory, wrestling with imaginary