Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-06-26
KING OF coUNTERFE1rERs
His Wonderful Ability in Raising
Bills and Numerous ESCAPES.


In tho annals of Treasury crime there
is no more noted counterfeiter than Pete
Mccartney, and his wife has been his
chief assistant His last arrest was for
raising 81 bills to SOS. He took the $50"
figures from tobacco stamp and by
pasting these over the '1'sn was able to
make them look for all the world like $50
bills. He passed number of these, aud
he also raised So bills to 20's. He has
been counterfeiter all his life, and he
has had a career which would make a
dozen dime novels. He has reformed a
number of times, and his wife, who was
engaged with him in counterfeitin9 for
a long time, pleaded with him to give
up the business. He would not do
so, however, and she went in with
him. 1t was through her that he
often escaped from prison. In 1866,
when he was in jail at Springfield,
Ill, she appeared on the scene with
$4,000 in her pocket. A week later
McCartney's cell door was found open
and both he and his wife had disap-
peared. 1t was supposed that the sheriff
had been bribed. After this Mccartney
became photographer, and later on
opened livery stable at Mattoon, Ill.
One day secret service agent came to
hire team and Mccartney recognized
him. He made some excuse, and taking
all the money from the cash drawer
skipped out of the back door of the
livery stable and escaped. At another
time he was running counterfeit work
shop in an old log cabin in the little town
of Osgood, Ind, and Mrs. Mccartney
was helping him. There were two other
women connected with the gang, and
among its members were Fred Biebusch,
German capitalist of st. Louis, and
an old man named Levi and his son.
These two latter were determined coun-
terfeiters, and the whole Levi FAM
lily engaged in counterfeiting. When
the old man died one of the
girls presided over the establishment
She was robust and handsome, and a
daring manipulation of bogus money
She was very ladylike, am told, and her
bright blue eyes gave no evidence of
the secrets which she carried. With
this gang Pete Mccartney and his wife
staid for some time. and in 1870 he was
arrested with lot of bogus money on his
person. He escaped again, and shortly
after this he was again arrested and taken
into the same Springfield Jail from which
he had escaped. While he was here one
of the chief detectives of the secret SER
vice called upon him and had an interview
with him. During the interview
Mccartney said:
"You don't intend to leave me here, do
youa'
"Yes, do" said the detective.
''Well," replied Mccartney, 81 can get
out of here easy enough. l have done it
before and can do it again"
AT this the detective laughed, but Nc
Cartney inquired his hotel and room and
said he would return the call that even
ing. At 10 o'clock that night the de-
tective, it is said, heard quiet rap at
the door. "Come in,n he called, and
Mccartney entered. The detective sprang
to his feet and covered his visitor with
his revolver, but Mccartney quietly said:
81 merely called to pay my respects, and
am going back. You do not need to
shoot me-" The greatest caution had to
be exercised in the care of Mccartney at
this time, and he was usually searched
after his wife had paid him visit. At
one time, after she left, small bar of
1cdu WAS lOuuu UPON Hill, tltl nc WOulu
probably have escaped had this not
been discovered One of his former es-
capes he had made by means of the tin
foil which was wrapped around his chew
ing tobacco. He had pressed it into
shape, and in some way had managed to
get out by means of it. AT another time
he disguised himself as an old man. and
third time he escaped while in the keep
ing of two United States marshals.
He was captured in Indiana some years
ago and put into the penitentiary, and it
was here that he had to serve out his SEN
tence. HIS term was fifteen years, but
he got something off for good behavior
During his Imprisonment he offered the
marshal 81, 700 for a steel saw, but the
official was honest and would not give it
to him. Mccartney at one time lectured
on counterfeiting and he acted the part
of the reformed counterfeiter He an
nounced that he had abandoned his trade
and was going to be good boy for the
rest of his life. He passed out counter
felt bills to the people who bought his
tickets, however, and he supplied other
counterfeitcrs with plates which he en-
graved on the sly. He was man of
wonderful parts and during his life acted
as an artist, miner, livery stable
keeper, practiced medicine, and acted as
a commercial traveller.