The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-23
A COUNTERFEITER'S CRIME.
The Story of the Capture and Conviction Of
Jonathan Davis.

The Cincinnati Enquirer Of yesterday con
tains the following story of the capture and con
viction of Jonathan Davis. one of the most expert
and dangerous counterfeiters of the West, who
has just been discharged from the Indiana peni
Tertiary, where he served a seven-years' sen
tence:
United States Marshal Hawkins, of Indian
apolis, arrived at the Grand Central Depot last
evening" having in charge Jonathan Davis.
Davis was yesterday morning released from the
Indiana State Prison, at Michigan City, after
serving seven years sentence for handling
counterfeit money. Eight years ago this city
was considered a picnic for counterfeiters, and
the town was almost flooded with spurious coin.
Jim Ruffn was then chief of police and made
every effort to unearth the showers of the queer.
Many persons were arrested, but, although it
was quite we'll known that number of those ar
rested were in some manner interested in the
manufacture of counterfeit money, still it ap-
peared to be difficult matter to gather sufficient
evidence to convict them.
"At last Rathbone chief Of the Secret Service
Department at Washington, was called upon to
assist in the arrest and cow lon of the coun-
terfeiters Mr.. Rathbone .uIe to this city, and
in person took charge of the entire matter He
was ably assisted by both Chief of Police Ruffin
and by Inspector Abbott, who has since become
short while until Rathbone became convinced
that the principal headquarters of the counter
feiters was located at No. 81 Longworth street.
place then conducted by Madam Thomas the
mother of Sadie Thomas, who. it will be remem-
bered killed Coal-oil Johnny at Terre Haute
several years ago. 1t soon became evident to
the officers, however, that they could Dc
nothing in the way OF breaking up the gang of
counterfeiters which it was supposed held forth
there without the cooperation of Mad. Thomas.
1t has since then been asserted that the Thomas
woman was fixed" and was used to good ad-
vantage by the officers. meeting was ar
ranged for between Inspector Abbott and one of
the gang for the purchase of certain amount
of counterfeit money Mad. Thomas was to be
used by the counterfeiters as a 60 between, but
at the proper time she found it convenient to
absent herself, and Tom Adams, one of the
cleverest in his line, and who has since been ar
rested and is at present doing time, and iona
than Davis who was better known as John Pat
ton, conducted the sale of the counterfeit money
for the gang Mr. Abbott purchased 800 of the
counterfeit money, but for some reason no ar
rests were made on that occasion.
About this time 'Brummy" Baylss, an old
time detective in this city, was caught dead to
rights in certain little transactions, and suddenly
left the Queen City for Canada. Bayliss and
Davis were warm friends, and coincident with
Bayliss's disappearance Davis also failed to show
up about his usual haunts. He afterwards
turned up at Louisville, and at that city an
other meeting was arranged for between Abbott
and Davis. That time Abbott took $500 worth
of spurious coin. The goods were delivered in
Indiana. at Jeffersonville. and had scarcely been
transferred to the inspector when he placed
Davis under arrest. He was brought before
Judge Gresham, at Indianapolis, and pleaded
guilty, receiving sentence of eight years He
gained one year for good behavior, and. yes
terday morning, was released from the State
prison.
A few days ago, however a capias was made
out in this city for his rearrest. AS soon as he
stepped out of the prison doors, yesterday,
thinking that he was free man, he was again
placed under arrest. and, in charge of Marshal
Hawkins, brought to this city. He was COM
pletely broken down in spirits when seen last
evening by an Enquirer reporter, and claims
that if he receives sentence to serve term in
the Ohio penitentiary he will take his own life
before he reaches Columbus He claims to have
been made tool of, and says that he wants to
settle down and become better man if ne is
only given opportunity. He has aged Won
derfully since his incarceration at Michigan
City, and has every appearance Of being man
well advanced in years. instead of one who
ought now to be about in the prime of life
When he arrived in the city he was turned over
by United States Marshal Hawkins to Chief
Deputy United States Marshal Rohner.