The Arizona sentinel., 1886-08-28
QUEER CHARLEY'S WIFE.
An Incident from Life Related by a Secret
 Service Detective.


 Service Detective.
 One of the most successful counter. feiters in this country up to the spring of 1864, when he was nabbed and placed behind the bars for long time, was a former employe of the bureau of en. graving and printing named Charles Atsel. While still an employe of the bureau he married a girl named Vii. Hams, of Providence, R. l. She had been brought up to regard herself as an he.ress, educated abroad and was one ot the proudest young ladies in the land. In 1862 her possessions were swept away by fire and embezzlement, and in De- cember of that year she married Atsell. The match, believe, grew out of some romantic incident. People who knew her best doubted if she had any love in her heart. Her pride did not go with her money. Notwithstanding moder- ate salary, sine came to Washington with her nose high in the air, and her arrogant manner and style of dress was generally remarked. It was, indeed, her extravaganza which led her husband into crime.
 Twice in the spring of 1863 sums of money were lost in Atsell's department, and while he was both times the object ot suspicion there were no proofs to convict him. One sum amounted to Sl75, and the other to $500. After the last affair he resigned his position, and, as was afterward learned, allied himself with a gang of counterfeiters who had their headquarters in New York. Two or three treasury notes were put out by them which circulated extensively, and for months the whole secret-service force was working in vain to turn up the criminals. Atsell was not suspected of being a counter feiter. He left Washington for New York, and through the influences of relatives, it was said, secured certain profitable army contracts. He could have been found any day had we wanted him.
 Along in June, 1864, having at length satisfied ourselves that the gang was located in New York, the circle began to narrow down. One night stranger
 
 en condition, and on his person were found two or three letters duplicating him as shower of the queer and fur nishing straight clews to work the gang. Aided by local detectives, we raided a residence on Twenty second street and captured Atsell, man named Coffin, shower named Green, and the entire out fit of press, tools and plates.
 We made the raid about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Mrs. Atsell was driving in Central Park. was left to await her return and take her into GUS tody. She returned about five o'clock, dressed in richest attire and as arro- gant as a queen. l broke the news as gently as possible, but she was not bit agitated. Without the least sign of embarrassment she replied to me:
 ''Very well, sir. You will allow me to change my attire?"
 Certainly"
 She passed up stairs and 1 followed.
 She entered her bedroom, locked the door, and 1 sat down to await her re- appearance. At the end of twenty min- utes rapped on the door, No answer. 1 waited five minutes and rapped again. As she did not respond I felt it my duty to make move, and after one more effort to induce her to open the door, l burst it open. She was lying on lounge, dead for the last quarter of an hour, having, as doctor afterward testified, imbibed some swift poison. She was not too proud to be counter feiter's wife, but too proud to be tried as counterfeiter' accomplice. When 1 carried the news to her husband he was for moment stunned, then he ral- lied and carelessly said:
 Well, she'd have died in prison in sde of month. She is better of. "- Detroit Free Press.