Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-22

Word has come east from Columbus, Ohio, to
the effect that Peter Mccartney, q noted coun-
terfeiter and expert in artistic crime. died in
the penitentiary in that city yesterday morn
ing.
Thus ends one Of the most famous careers Of
imprisonment escape, fraud and other inter-
esting elements over passed. Mccartney was
one OF the older counterfeiters, being about
slxty-hve years OF age. In his prime he was
regarded as one Of the most dangerous men in
the field. and his character as a desperate
made him unusually hard to handle. He was
an expert not only in making money, but in
using It, and it was o chilly time for Peter
when he could not pavo the way to liberty over
green paper.
NEARLY SCORE OF ALIASES.
Peter Mccartney had nearly a score Of aliases
and was almost as many times under custody
during his long and brilliant career Of crime.
He was an expert engraver printer and photog-
rapher and was for some time a member of
the noted Reno gang of thieves, highwaymen
and counterieiters, working in the vicinity of
Lemour, Ind. His wife's father, Ackerman,
died In the penitentiary while serving a term
Tor counterfeiting; her stepfather had served
several terms for similar misloings and her
brother Is a noted counterfeiter.
mccartney travelled at one time as lecturer
on the subject Of ''How to detect counterfeit
money, at the same time passing considerable
couhterfelt money on his audience at the
work, telling his listeners points that made
them reject good money and accept bad notes.
he managed, under the pretense Of his lectur-
ing business, to obtain possession of O large
number OF copies Of HeAths famous
counterfeit detector, which contained several
fac SMILES Of United States bonds printed
from the genuine plates by permission of the
Secretary OF the Treasury. With a back and
'front.' print on separate leaves Of proof paper
ho SO manipulated the material as to paste tho
TWO together and produce, to all appearances,
a bona tide bond. A number of these he passed
as genuine.
HIS MANY ESCAPES FROM CUSTODY.
During the year 1864 he jumped from the
rear platform of a train on the PENNSYLVANIA
railroad travelling at the rate of 35 miles an
hour and thus effected his escape from the Of
fcers who had him in charge for counterfeit
ing. In 1866 he was arrested in st. LOUIS. but
again made his escape. The year 1867 found
him in Jail in Springfield, Ill, and again he
broke out He was arrested in Cincinnati,
Ohlo, November l9, 1870. but escaped from the
station house the same night. Sax days later
ne was again arrested at Venice, ILL.,. and was
taken to Springfield but forfeited his bail of
$4,000. Again IN Louisville the next year he
forfeited his bail after about eight months
confinement. In december, 1874. he was ar
u
airy 4, he and five other prisoners escaped from
the jail by overpowering the guards ana cut
ting way through the outer brick wall
He was arrested in Texas in March, 1875 but,
1t is alleged, was permitted to escape upon the
payment OF a large bribe. The next month he
was again taken into custody, but whilo being
taken from Plano to Austin escaped from the
deputy marshal conducting him. Nine days
later he was once more arrested by the us
marshal, from whom he escaped in about q
month by leaping from a moving train.
FINALLY BROUGHT TO TRIAL.
At last, however, he was brought to trial
November 27, 1876, he was arrested at Rich
mond, Ind. and on the 2Sth he pleaded guilty
at Indianapolis and was sentenced to fifteen
years imprisonment in the Michigan City, Ind.
penftentary. He served for eleven years, be-
ing released October 90, 1887, and re-
arrested at the prison door and taken
to Springfield on an old Indictment being re-
leased on his old rccognizance. He next turned
up at New Orleans, where he was arrested un-
der the name Of John Wilson by Secret Service
Agent LOBBY February Is. 1885, for passing
raised notes. For this he was given ten years,
which he was serving when he died.