The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-08
COUNTERFEIT CATCHER CAUGHT,
A Government Detective Arrested for
Passing the "Queer" Himself.

The Davenport Gazette of this mornip G
gives the following account of an impor-
tant arrest made across the river:
Last evening at @ o'clock Officers Cart
land and Howard arrested l.. G. Pratt,
an old representative of the United States
Countcrfeiting Detecting association. of
Massachusetts,, for passing countetieiting
money. Two charges were preferred
against him, one by clerk in Bender
becke & Miller's. and the other by VIM
Atwood. The circumstances upon which
the arrest was made are as follows:
About four O'Clock Pratt entered Beider
becke g. Miller's wholesale grocery on
Second street, and asked Cashier Herman
Smith to change SEQ bill. Mr. Smith
examined the bill carefully and returned
it to the man stating to him that it was
counterfeit. or course Pratt was sur
prised, and didn't know how in the world
he should have got possession of coun-
terfeit money. The next place for his APP.
pearance with spurious money was at
VIM Atwood's saloon, where he ordered
drink and cigar. He offered $40
counterfeit in payment, which Mr. AT
wood took and gave him his change.
Fortunately few moments after Mr.. AT
wood had occasion to offer the $40 back
to customer, whom upon looking at it,
pronounced it counterfeit. Mr.. Atwood
telephoned for the police and Lieutenant
Martens hurried down aud upon making
an examination of the case Immediately
ordered Policemen Gartland and Howard
at the depot to look out for Pratt Mr.
Atwood was sent along also SO as to en-
able them to identify him. AT the depot
Mr.. Atwood went through the cars with
the officers and pointed out their man,
whom they Immediately arrested As
soon us he was out Of the car he made u
pass to his hip pocket, as if reaching for
"A revolver, but Officer Howard was too
quick for him and grasped him by the
wrist. only to see their man drop Il well
stuffed purse, This was picked mp and
the prisoner was taken to the station,
where he was examined In his DocH,
book was found passes on almost ever,
line in the country and 1925 III coun
terfeit money. Upon being gu, STONED |
as to having passed counterfeit money he |
made flat denials and secuted the idea of |
having done do.
"Why, gentleman" the prisoner said,
'it is my business to detect, not to pass.
have been in the business for ten years
and truly this is the first experience |
have had as an arrested counterfeiter /
1eny everything. did not pass the mons
~. 1t was somebody else. The money
n my pocketbook is what | have picked
lp in my business, and and Is Just what
of other detectives have got in
heir possession. Herman Smith, cashier
IL Blcderbecke e. Mller's, Fred Fried>
lault, clerk in the same store, and VIM
Atwood were taken to the station and all
Identified the prisoner as the man who
passed The money. Pratt, under the
crutiny of the above named persons re-
NAMED as cool as cucumber, never
moved Il muscle, and had the autiac!ty to
ooly inform them that they prevaricated.
AS to his guilt, the police officers assert
hat it seems to them there is no doubt of
t. That four men should each imme>
lately identify him is almost convincing
nd his complete denial has less effect
han if he had admitted his guilt and
lamed that by mistake his real money
ad become mixed up with the spurious
I Pratt is guilty. the capture is good
ne and our officers deserve credit in
atching him. 1t was about twenty min
ties from the time the information was Ii
iven to police station and the time the
ccused entered the station door. Quick =,
,Ork