Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-03-27
IN GREAT LUCK.
A Lively Story of War Counserfeiting Told
by Secret Service Detective.

A Lively Story of War Coun ;erfeiting Told
by Secret Service Detective.
In the spring of 1863 every denomin-
alton of "shinplaster' currency had
been counterfeited and circulated, and
every issue of greenbacks, from dol
lar bill to twenty, had been repro
duced by the queer men. Counter
feiting fourished as never before nor
since. Anything that looked like
money would go, especially in the coun-
try towns.
The gang which was working the 81
and 81 plates was located at San
dusky, but we did not get this pointer
until they had foated out good many
thousand dollars. The case was as
signed to me, and 1 proceeded to San
dusky in the guise of an army con-
tractor. Ihad no details whatever, but
by keeping my eyes open and picking
up note here and there / satisfied
myself that our information was cor
rect. Then [ selected the most popu-
lar drug store in the place, told the
proprietor my business, and arranged
to make capture. Men showing the
queer" will call at drug store sooner
than any other place of business, be-
cause they can purchase from such q
variety and carry the purchase away
in the pocket The druggist had been
bitten several times and was anxious to
help nab some one. felt that it was
only question of time when some of
the spurious would be offered again,
and was right On the fifth day after
/ took up my station in the store re-
spectable-looking middle-agei man
rushed in, holding his hand to his
cheek aud exclaimed:
"For heavens sake give me some
tn 'ng for the toothache! I am almost
crazyn
The clerk hurried to put up some
thing, the stranger danced around and
groaned and moauetl, and when he re-
ceived the bottle he handed out SO
bill and said:
"Quiek-Pve got t, catch q trainl"
The clerk glanced at the bill and
began to make change, but stopped to
take o second look at it. started
forward, but before I had taken five
steps the man was off like flash. 1
pursued, but he lodged me in the
ClOMo. L Wcub pttCh ttull Oh0o uu ZIG
bill, and lol it was counterfeit, but
one so nearly like the genuine as to
deceive almost any one except o
cashier. For the next three days I did
some tall hustling, and the result was
to drive the gang out of Sandusky
without having the luck to arrest any
body. There were four of them, and
they had job Office which turned out
work for the public. The fellows had
put out at least $50, 900 in the West,
having several plates of different de-
nominations, and the worst of it was
TIL y got off with tho plates.
Almost purely by accident / learned
that one OF the gang had a brother
living near Rocky River, few miles
out of Cleveland, and it was possible
he might go into hiding there for
time. rs this was the only trail had,
1 determ ned to look the ground over.
Going up to Cleveland, / got horse
and buggy for country drive, and
started for Rocky River. was only
welI clear of the city when I saw q
heavy thunderstorm coming up and had
to look for shelter. I had to drive
couple OF miles to find il. It was an
old bara on the lower end of farm.
It was in tumble down condition but
there was shed under which could
put the horse. I was My two minutes
ahead of a storm which ragged for an
honr and half. found corner Of
the barn which did not leak, and for
che first half hour scarcely glanced