Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-26
WHO Is BEATRICE COLLINS
A Mysterious Young Woman Who Is Ac
cused of Passing Counterfeits.

READING, June 25.-Who is Beatrice
Collins, Of New York?
This is a question to which the police
officials Of this and neighboring cities
| have been tr ing to find the answer for
two weeks, and they are apparently no
nearer success than when they started.
Beatrice Collins is the name given by
a young woman now in Jail here on the
charge of passing counterfeit dollars.
She says that she is from New York,
but will say nothing more.
The World correspondent saw her in
jail here to-day. She is well-dressed
woman, about twenty-five years old,
possessing a wealth Of reddish-brown
hair, regular features and face which
denotes Shrewdness and determination.
She said that she had wealthy parents,
was well connected. and preferred bear
| ing the punishment without bringing
disgrace upon her relatives. She ad-
mitted that Beatrice Collins was not her
name, and added: THAT will do just as
well as any other"
There is suspicion here that Bea-
trice Collins is in league with gang of
cOnnterfeiters. Nearly six months ago
this section of the State began TO be
flooded with counterfeit coin. First,
complaints were heard that spurious
dollars were in circulation in Pottsville.
Next PottStown merchants said that
they found great many in their days
receipts. Following closely Lebanon,
EaSton, Lancaster, Norristown and
smaller places presented like reports.
Then Reading merchants complained
that ''Queer" dollars, bearing the date
of 1891, were unusually plentiful.
The complaints have ceased since Be
atrice Collins was put in Jail. Her case
could not be prepared for trial at the
June term of Criminal Court, and she
cannot possibly be tried now before Sep
TENDER.
A United States Secret Service officer
from Philadelphia had long interview
with the woman. He obtained no in
formation from her and he went away
convinced that she was ga deep one"
He acknowledged that she was not on
the list of counterfeiters and their allies
in his department. The New York oflic-
ials have written that Beatrice Collins
is unknown to them.
She had more than dozen counter
felt dollars when she was arrested, and
the police refuse to say how many more
they discovered in her room at the hotel
where she put up upon her arrival here.
She was accompanied by medium
sized, well-dressed man with black
muStache. He only went with her as
far as the door of the hotel, and when
1. l.. 1nA ha- Ill
black Satchel.
Then the woman started out on a
shopping" tour. She bought five cents
worth OF borax at no less than three or
four drug stores, and at each place
rendered Il bright, new silver dollar in
payment, receiving change, except at
the last place, where the clerk said the
coin was counterfeit.
"Oh, guess not" said the customer;
but the young man said that he was
sure of it. Then she said that she had
no other money, and the clerk said that
she could pay some other time. She |
left, and the young salesman telephoned |
to the Central police station. A gentle
manly officer soon met the young woman
on the street and conducted her TO the |
police station.
Besides the counterfeit dollars nearly
$40 good and lawful money of the United
States was found among the young
effects, indicating that her
purchases of borax in small quantities
had been very extensive. Some believe
that she belongs to regular gang of
man was one of them and that the gang
have become shy and have attempted to
pass no more counterfeitS since her ar
rest.
To the police officials the woman has
the information that New
York is her home; that her name is not |
Beatrice Collins; that her family would
feel their diSgrahe keenly did they know
of her situation, and that she does rot |
intend to bring sorrow and pain TO those
who believe her pure and innocent.