The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-08-21
QUEER CHARLEY'S WIFE.
An Incident from Life Related by n Secret
Service Detective.

An Incident from Life Related by Secret
Service Detective.
One Of the most successful counter
fciters In this country up to the spring
of 1864, when he was nabbcd and placed
behind the bars for long time. was u
former employe of the bureau nf en-
craving and printing named Charles
Atsell. While still an cmploye of tho
bureau he married girl named Will
liams, of Providence, r.. |. She had
been brought up to regard herself as an
heiress, educated abroad and was one of
the proudest young ladies in tho land.
In 1862 her possessions were swept away
by fire and embczzlement, and in De-
cember of that year she married Atsoll.
The match, l 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 60 with
her money. Notwithstanding a moder-
ate salary, she came to Washington
with her nose high in the air, and her
arrogant manner and style of dress was
generally remarked. 1t was, indeed,
her extravaganza which led her husband
into crime.
Twice in the spring of 1868 sums Of
money were lost in Atsell's department,
and while he was both times the object
of suspicion there were no proofs to
convict him. One sum amounted to
Sl75, and tho 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-servicc force was working in
vain to turn up the criminals. Atsell
was not suspected of being 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 a stran., II
from Missouri was arrested in q drunk
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 !.
residence on Twenty-second street and
captured Atsell. a man named Coffin. u
shower named Green, and the entire out
fit of press, tools and plates.
We made the raid about three o'clock
in, thn oft aud nvc Afsan q
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 rs arro-
CANT as a queen. l broke the news as
gently as possible, but she was not Il
bit agitated. Without the least sign of
embarrassment she replied to me:
VERY well, sir. You will allow me to
change my attirc!'
Certainly"
She passed up stairs and 1 followed.
She entered her bedroom, locked the
door, and / sat down to await her re-
| appearance. At the end of twenty min-
! utes raped on the door. No answer.
/ waited five minutes and raped again.
! AS she did not respond l felt it my duty
| to make move, and after one more
effort to induce her to open the door,
burst it open. She was lying on a
lounge, dead for the last quarter of an
hour, having, rs Il doctor afterward
testified, imbibed some swift poison.
She was not too proud to be a counter
fcter's wife, but too proud to be tried
as counterfciter's accomplice. When
/ carried the news to her husband he
was for moment stunned, then he raj
lied and carclessly said:
"Well, she'd have died in prison in
side of month. She is better of. "
Detroit Free Press