The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-04
BEHIND BARS AGAIN
TRIO OF NOToRIOUs COUNTERFEIT-
ERS CAPTURED IN MINNIE
APOLIS.
WcTIMIzED THE BADGERS.
ARRESTED. IN 1894 FOR SHOWING
THE QUEER ON FARMERS
NEAR PRESCOTT, WIS.
MADE A SENSATIONAL ESCAPE.
EIuded Police Until They Decided
to Make Twin Cities Their
Home.

Three alleged counterfeiters, for
whom the United States officers have
been looking for two years and half,
were rounded up in Minneapolis yester-
day, and are now locked up at CEN
trail station and held for the United
States officials. Their names are w. H.
Blair, Albert N. Blair, his brother, and
Matt Richardson, alias Charles Reed,
alias Riley. The men were arrested at
the home of the parents of the Blairs,
/ 152 Seventh street south, by Capt. w.
+. Walsh, of the United States detec-
tive bureau, and Inspectors Hoy and
Morrisey, of the city force
In May, 1894, the three prisoners left
the Twin Cities for Prescott, Wis, and
at once began to circulate counterfeit
silver dollars, which they made them
selves. They operated in and about
prescott in the country. Their method
or operation was to buy some trifling
thing and in payment offer a false
coin. They worked with apparently lit
tie fear among the farmers and left
brilliant streak of bad coin behind
: them. However, the local officers got
on their track, and the three counter
letters were apprehended and placed
under arrest May IS, 1894 They were
taken into custody sixteen miles out
OF Prescott, but were lodged in jail at
the latter place. The officials had con-
elusive evidence against the prisoners.
and over fifty counterfeit dollars were
found in their possession.
But the prisoners were smarter than
the officials, and at meal time Struggled
knife into their cells and with this
they cut their way out of Jail before
| they had an examination, and from
| that time until they were locked up
last night they have been at liberty
During all this time the officers have
been on the outlook for them. But they
! have successfully eluded arrest The
! detectives are of the opinion that the
] men have been in and about. Minnea D.
! oils and st. Paul, but they have kept
! under cover At the time of their ar
rest they were living with the father.
mother and oldest brother of the Blairs
The prisoners will be held until the
United States authorities take them to
Hudson, where they will be examined
before a United States commissioner.
They then will be held to the grand
jury at Madison, Wis. The detectives
say they have conclusive evidence
agairGt them, which will and them In
the penitentia-y for several years
The officials say that the men have
not been handling any of the queer
for some time past, evidently being
afraid of being detected. However, It
is said that they are bad men, having
been making coIn erf5it coin and SHOW
ing it for several years before their
arrest at Prescott. Riley does not look
like sharp crook, but the police think
he is the scnartest one and the leader
of the gang. The man came here from
st. Paul, where the police were well
acquainted with them. They have never
been before convicted on a serious
charge, but have often times been ar
rested for petty stealing, and this is
the reputation they bear.
Capt. Walsh obtained a clue several
days ago, and has been on the trail
for several days, having been out all
Saturday night with Inspectors Nor
risey, Lawrence and Hoy. However,
they were unable to get their men I'M
til about 6 o'clock last evening.