Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-11
CLEyERLY CAPTURED.
Oficers Green and wibkins Yesterday Arrest
aGang OF Counterfeiters.

An arrest of no little Importance was
that made yesterday afternoon by Officers
Green, Wibking and knight, whereby it is
thought that the leading members, if not
the whole of a gang, Of counterfeiters who
have been working off quite quantity of
spurious coins were captured
For some time there have been spurious
silver dollars in circulation, and mention
Of the fact has already been made. One of
these was passed on Locke &, Findiess, an
other on an East Douglas avenue grocer,
still another ON Mr.. Hogan, a shoemaker
on North Market and several others
cases have been reported. An investiga-
ton was Immediately commenced, and one
of the first of the officers to make any
definite discovery regarding the gang were
Wibking and Green. They located them
in the Exton block, on Douglas avenue,
but could get no clue definite enough TO
warrant an arrest. This was about
December 20 They have ever since kept
the suspected party under the strictest
surveillance, gathering quietly aod surely
the threads of the evidence with which to
overwhelm and convict the parties when
ever they felt that abe arrest could be
made.
From the Exton block the scene
of operations was transferred to a little
lunch counter just west OF the Arlington
house, on East Douglas avenue. 1t was
from this place that much of the counter.
felt coins came. One of the proprietors of
the place, Charles Gutznacher, had given
to Mr.. Hogan the spurious silver dollar,
which afterwards came into the hands of
Officer Wibking.
Yesterday the two officers who had put
the most time upon working up the case,
felt that the critical moment, had come,
and about 2 o'clock they called to their as
sistance Officer knight. Gutzmacher was
seen leaving the place carrying in
his hand a stove CRATE. He was
followed to Netherlands foundry,
and here at o'clock was arrested.
The officers returned, entered the res,
taurant and placed under arrest old man
Freeman and two boys who were in the
place. The old gentleman strongly pro,
tested his innocence of the offeHse and
made persistent fight against being
seerched. IL was, however, done and in
his pocket were found two of the counter
felt dollars. He, with Gutzmacher, was
taken to the county Jail. One of the boys
found in the restaurantwith Freeman was
released; the other with a party who was
arrested on the street were taken to the
cooler.
the lunch stand was afterwards
searched. 1t is an Insignificant
place with a front of about
six feet and built in between the Airing
ton house and a building now occupied as
IA restaurant. The front Of the building
was used as lunch counter, the rear as a
sleeping apartment. Here was found two
trunks belonging to Freeman, a pair of
plaster paris moulds and ladle They
then went to Gutzmacher's home on South
Emporia. The house was used as laun
dry and thorough search revealed but
one thing that might he connected with
the crime, a cup with some plaster paris
from which it is thought that the moulds
were made.
The officers believe that the counter
feiters have concealed somewhere large
amount Of the spurious money and that
the first of the week they expected through
their agents to dispose of it,
Gutzmacher, evidently the leader of the
gang, is a man about forty-five years of
age He has served his term in the peni-
Tertiary of thisa state, having been par
doned by the governor only December 3lst.
Freeman came to Wichita many years ago
and has for some time run restaurants or
joints in different localities of the city
Both of these men. rs we'll rs the other
two arrested. will this morning be handed
over to the L. S. authorities.