New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-18
WATCHING COUNTERFEITER WATCHERS.

THE CHECK AND CoUNTERCHEcK SYSTEM OF
THE GOVERNMENTS SECRET SERVICE.
TIL. Secret Service of the United States Government
Is BY no means misnamed Tar at least as It's opera
lions in this city concerned. The rooms on inc
bourth floor Of the Federal Building WHOM are oocu-
pied by it's agents have nothing on the doors to midi
ate the nature Of the business which is transacted
N them but all the counterelters OF tlls city Know
we'll enough who makes Room No. 1877 his head
quarters. The chief Of the NewYork branch OF the
service is J. P. Brooks, an old ana experfenoeu
officer whose knowledge Of countefeiters and tllelr
ways would surprise those worthless themselves II
they were aware Of it's extent Mr. BroeRs's meunoos
are mysterious and secret in the extreme, but ne Is
compelled to show his hand at times when an
arrest has been made and the alleged osuntcrfeter Is
Oh trial the Secret Service men have TO testify Against
him. and thus are forced to reveal In measure ohelr
superiors schemes Tor putting stop to counoefeatg
One WHO las been present at the trials Of some OF the
prisoners arrested by Mr. Brookss men can therefore
throw a little light on his methods.
In the first place Is extremely dintcult 20 tasten
the orimo Of counterfeiting a man. Those whose
business is the manufacture or passing OF spurious
sons or bills have the advantage OF the experience OF
many generations of criminals OF that class. They
,re often Of the greatest Shrcwdness and craft and
an only be crcumvented by men who are their
EQUALS or superiors in those qualities. When Mr.
srooks's mon, operatives" they officially called
make a capture, a conviction generally results. The
secretservice detectives perfectly familiar with
Me law relating to counterfciting and the kind Of
evidence necessary to satisfy a jury OF prisoners
r,jlt and seldom make capture until their prey Is
tangled up in mcsles OF preo1 from winch ne cannot
clear himself.
Mr. Brooks has perhaps dozen men under him.
INST how many there nobody but himself knows.
yometirncs operatives from other parts Of the country
IRE placed under his orders without the knowledge
# any of his regular staff. Some of his men never
appear at his office, sending their reports to him by
nail When an operative is detailed to do certain
,iece of work. he can tell whether colleague
las been assigned to the same task or not. AL the
men make daily reports Of their movements and OF
what they have learned. and when two men
radct one another explanation Is at once sought
for When Mr.. Brooks learns from two different
sets OF men who do not even know one another that
pertain suspected criminals were doing such thing
II such a time, he be that his information is
absolutely trustworthy. The operative must be man
untring vigilance and perseverance. and il left en-
nrely 10 ms own conscience might be tse negligent.
When he knows that he may be watched by q brother
,fcial his devotion 10 his duty is faultless.
II keeps him standing In the all day watching a
house.
This plan Of check and countercheck also prevents
Secret Service man going into the ranks OF the
band, man in the pay OF the Government may be
a ~ Gd Tsu s s u 6 @ 1 "1 W no.
5 often closely watched for months by the criminals
md he must be exceedingly circumspect 10 prevent
heir learning OF his communicating with Mr.. BROOKS.
II often happens that Of these pretended counter
EOw that he is brother detective. In fact some Of
NE Secret service men heep their calling hidden from
avery Including their most Intimate friends except
Mr.. Brooks. The strlcness Of the watch of operative
,n operative is shown by the fact that one OF The
vas once suspended for leaving his post only long
mough 20 his oVcrcOat, the weather having grown
much colder. His action might have been justified
Tad he reported H. but lie thought it trivial Tor that
md punished.
The testimony In recent counterieiting showed
nat AT various critical stages 81 the chase three
lecret Service were independently watching the
Inspected man. When the three men, refreshing their
Memories with their daily reports told exactly the
aTne story OF the handing II package Of counterfeit
oin from person to another, the jury naturally be
leved the account, especially the who TO
eiyed the goods" was subordinate Of Mr. Brooks.