The morning call., 1893-12-07
CAUGHT AT WORK.
Coin Sweater Richardson
Is Arrested.
A Bottle Containing Two Hundred
Dollars Worth of Sweat
ings Captured.

The famous "coin- sweater" A. T.. Rich
ardson. is again in Jail, this time with
enough evidence in the possession of the
Government officers 10 send him across the
bay for long term. Richardson is an old
offender, and is said by the officers to be
one Of the most skiliful and successful
coin-sweaters in the world. He was ar
rested on August II, 1892 and after lying
in Jail seven months was tried and con-
victed OF mutilating United States coin
and sent 10 the Alameda County Jail for
six months. The light sentence was due
10 the Intervention on Richardson's behalf
OF friends OF his wife and his family, il
being promised that ii he were given a
light sentence he would leave the country
as soon as released.
Richardson's term expired on Septem Der
last. but instead of keeping his promise
and leaving California he at once returned
10 San francisco and resumed his career
OF crime. Within the past month the at
teDtlon OF Special Treasury Agent Harris
of the United States Secret Service mas
been called 10 the fact tnat "sweated"
i've. ten and twenty dollar gold pieces
were being circulated in greater numbers
Than ever before. So numerous were
these coins that orders were is
sued from Washington TO the money
order department OF the Postoffiee,
was presented that had been ''sweated" il
should be stamped across the face on
either side with the word light" meaning
light In weight. The coin, after being
stamped. would, as a matter of course. not
pass for its face value, and as a result the
money order business has tallen off great
~. people prefering TO send coin by regis
tered letter orexpress to taking the chances
OF the cashier al the mouey-order window
hndinS lightweight five. ten or twenty
among the pieces OF money handed him.
From the first Agent Harris has suspected
that Richardson was at his old tricks again.
but try as be would he could not locate
him. Two or three days ago two young
men named William and Albert Howell.
and living at 455 Mlnna streer, were in the
yard about their house when they detected
strong smell of acid. They began an in
vestigation and soon discovered that the
odor came from the basement of the house
at 457 Minna street, occupied by Mrs.
Anna Craig as lodging-house. Peering
into the basement through chinks in the
wall. the young men discovered a man al
work with a pile OF twenty dollar gold
pieces In front of him. There was con-
siderable apparatus on the table. and the
Howells at once jumped TO the conclus sion
that they had caught a counterfeiter at
work and notified Special Agent Harris.
A man WAS sent TO interview Mrs. Craig.
who readily gave him a description of her
basemsnt lodger, who. she said, was
manufacturing Jeweler. The description
tailed closely with that of Richardson.
and Harris at once made arrangements to
capture the man at work. Yesterday
morning, accompanied by one or bis depu-
ties, Agnew, and Detectives Coffey and
Byram, Harris went TO the house. The
TWO police officers went TO the front of lie
building while Harris and Agnew entered
the yard from the rear. Richardson, who
was at work, caught sight of Harris as he
approached the basement door and ran.
but the officer was too quick tor him, and,
covering the coin-sweater with revolver
brought him 10 halt.
In the basement was found the entire
sweating outfit. crude but effective. The
coins were thrown into glass containing
solution Of muriatic ana nitric acids ana
allowed To remain there certain time
The money was then taken out and
weighed in a pair of coin scales. Evi-
IDENTIFY from the weights which he had
Richardson only took 81 off of $40 pieces.
80 cents off OF $40 pieces and % cents off of
S5 pieces. He would then burnish the
coins, and to any one except an expert
the coins looked az well as when they
came from the Mint When tile acid be-
came surcharged with the gold eaten from
the coins IL was evaDOrated over small
alcohol lamp. hidden in cigar-box, and
the sediment, which was almost pure gold.
poured into bottle. A bottle Of gold in
solution. worth fully $500, was also cap
tured.
1t is believed that Richardson was max
ing from $50 to $50 day, and it is be-
lieyed that he was working in with firm
here who furnished the coin to be
'sweated." and divided the profits with
him. The prisoner refused TO answer any
questions after his arrest. aud in default of
bail went TO Jail. There is a sure case
against him aud Special Agent Harris
SAYS that no pleas for mercy will be con-
sidered this time.