New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-18
A VETERAN DETECTIVE;
THE NEW CHIEF OF THE GOVERNMENTS
SECRET SERVICE.
SKETCH OF A. L. DRCMMOND AND THE STORY
OF SOME OF HIS CAPTURES OF
COUNTERFFITERS

OF SOME OF HIS CAPTURES OF
CoUNTERFuTERS.
Tho boy who has read the detective stories Of COM
merce in large numbers would smile incredulousy II
A. L. Drummond were pointed out 10 him the new
chief Of the countcrfcter catcler of the United states
Government Catch him believing that that middle
aged man OF goOdly girth, with rotund countenance
bcaming good-natuicdy on every one. Is most sue
ccssful Getectivel NOt much. says the lad. How
could that man with his heavy blond mustachc dis
guise himself as 4 ronGslOreman, society belle.
negro bootblack and a backwo6ds farmer in rapid
cession and with such skill to deceive the villains
completely? Yet the eavy.set man with the bcnevo-
lent look and the general air of prosperous business
man the chief of the Secret Service Of the Treasury
Department. and has been prominently identified
with the capture Of large number OF counterfeiters.
including several of the king pins" Of that branch
Of criminals.
Mr.. Drummond placed at the head Of the Secret
service by secretary Window early In January After
serving the Government successfully for seventeen
years, Mr.. Drummond in 1888 established private
detective agency but he gave this up again 10 recnter
the employ of the Treasury Department. He born
in Pennsylvania forty five years and In early fO
n sailor. lie became officer of the Aspnwall
line and aftcrward In the United States and Brazil
Mail steamship Company.
In 1871 however, he gratifed ain early longing by
entering the secret Service Of the Government. His
fitness for the work Of ferreng out makers Of bogus
money was soon apparent and in four years he was
made chief operator Of the Philadelphia district Four
years OF advanced him 10 the place in the
New York district place of great Importance. which
he kept for nine years until he retired to private life.
SOME OF HIS ARRESTS.
The list of the arrests made by Mr. Drummond in the
seventeen years Of his service Is long one, and
many the tales Of daring and danger cunning and
skill which the veteran enemy of cOuntcrcltcrs could
tell. His connection with the capture Of Henry &.
Cole. Joshua D. Miner and Thomas ballard. all
Of the highest cminencc in their calling. almost
The beginning Of his carer. and marked him
detective Of unusual shrcwdness. skill and boldness.
Cole his comrades called him " Big Dutch
Harry a thorn Of the sharpcst and largest kind
in the side Of the secret service for many years He
was Nermontcr. born I'm 1871, aud a tall stoop
shoudercd man with sharp eyes. set far back in his
head and detective who trird TO shadow him had
a. difficult n task could well imagine. Cole
sent 10 the sing sing prison for five years, in
l-54 FOR selling counterfeit money, and In 1862 he
became interested in business with "Josh' Miner,
whose extensive dealings in bogus money and skin In
avoiding being convicted earned him the title Of
King Of the Coney Men, Cole a middcman and
on some days placed much Is $4,000 Of bad money
for Miner.
ONE ARREST FOLLOWS ANOTHER
The q gang" of counterfeitcrs like a chain. As
soon the Government officials got hold Of one mem
Der Of H. they pulled in another and another. until all
the men had been ar1,gncd in a United states court
Bin" Quincy wholesale dealer, the first 10
fall into the hands Of the detectives next came Dave
Kirkbridcc upon whose person found Sl0-O In
bad money. Mr.. DUmmOnd then captured David
Keen who 10 save himself from rigorous prosecution.
agreed 10 bctray the great Cole. Keen arranged to
buy $1,000 counterfeit bills from Big Dutch Harry
for 5000. and Just the bargain was about 10 be
nrrm nd keuuOCk stepped
and made Cole prisoner.
Cole Was persuaded 10 do unto his comrades as
one Of them had done unto him. His arrest was kep
a secret and he promised 10 place h!' principal Ia
the hands Of the law. lie arranged 20 buy quantity
Of counterfeit money Fl 800 in good notes being gwen
~ him for the purpose. \ meeting between him ana
lis cOpartncrs arranged for october % lo'l' AT
slxty-lr-t,t and the Boulevard; The night was an
aw fu one, a storm raging with terrible nerccneSs.
I'M. chief Of the secret service in New-lork had ar
ranged TO have number OF his men on lahu 10 cay
which his companions were 10 swOOp down on the men
Cole was 10 meet
AN IMPORTANT CAPTURE.
The pitchda-k night, The beating rain and the heree
blast- OF the wind. however. PLAYED havoc WIN u"
plan, Of the detective In fact. mDnd and Ken
mock were the only Oh hand. the Others having
lost their wa. The two men waited In vain for the
lgnaI from their leader something had 10 BE- done
or cole va, already in CONVEX alton VII. TWO men,
and did 80 after q severe struggle. each Oycrcame
liz man K,nnos,'s prisoner turned out 10 DC Josh
Miner and DrimmOnd', Tom Ballard. an en-
gr7,ver OF wondc fu! SKILL who supplied Mler win ms
plate II impossible 10 convict Miner IN tii, a.
IL cost him :. 100 IN la|icFa l'''
etc to get free Ballard escaped from Lldlo" street
jail but Icarrce,"i. 49,, -, 49,,
lsalll-d and Miner. 10 get revenge on Cole VINO ah
been pad0ncd trImped up charge Of forgery asalst
him and it took him years time and cost Inn sJ''ooo
III 157- counterfeit $50 notes Of the National Broad
way Bank uttered in large quantities. ~ Europe
Drunmond who was then stationed In Philadelphia.
where Cole also lived, kept strict watch on nm ana
I'm -pitc 0f the old fox, hundred devices slhio"ed
him cfectnaily that 1t was learned tlat .gc ana
Charles Irich, another wei! known cohntc.cItr' %t'
making the ,pulqon, bills tanwood, v j. Both
were arrested aud afcrVaId two OF their acconpncc'
who were floating tie bad money, were captured I'D
Munich, Germany.
BIG SCHEME CHECKMATED.
Detective Duimmond also took leading part In
bringing to e-icf William +. Brockway. Lewis Il
Martin and Nathan Il. 70 ter just As they were about
10 put Oh the market large quanttic, Of counterfeit
bond, of the Morris and Essex and Central Pacihc
railroad companies, upon which months Of Labor had
loou spent. Mr. DrummOnd learned Of their scheme
81 Ill GENT research, ana turned Inc
CO oyer 10 I'm, pcctOr Byrnc, the Government was
not concerned ia II. The Two men, however, remained
iu con ,uatun and the criminals Were lndly captuIcd
when the cvdcuc" against trm wa, auncl'ntly strong
These only few Of Nr. DrunmOnd1 many
capiurcs While he was In charge Of the secret ser
vifc he made friends, and won much admiration
for his cou,umin1tc skill His Old a>sOclitn, In TIE
Federal Binding. including Commissioner shields VINO
held for the Grand Jury many a prisoner captured by
Mir DrpmmOnd, especially hearty III cOngratu-
lating him when his appointment was made public.
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