The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-09
HE MADE A HARD FIGHT
NEGRO COUNTERFEITER CAPTURED
AFTER A WARM STRUGGLE.
Man Who Has Been Passing the Nu-
merOus Raised BiIls-Trapped
by n Grocer.

Send a man at once and think you can
catch the fellow who has been passing
raised bills about the city," was the mes
sage received at the police station at $50
o'clock last evening. 1t came from s. S.
Osborne, who keeps a grocery at the corner
Of Liberty and North streets.
Bicycle Patrolmen Holtz and Wallace
mounted their wheels and reached the
place in five minutes after the call came
in. They found Osborne standing outside
the store waiting for them. Inside the store
was a negro waiting for change for raised
bill he had given the grocer. Mr.. Osborne
cashed one of these raised bills some time
ago, and when the same man came back
with a second one he recognized him at
cnce and pretended that he could not make
the change. Saying he would go across the
street and get the bill changed, he went to
the nearest telephone and notified the police
station.
One Of the patrolmen went in at each
of the two doors, and before the colored
man knew what was going on they seized
him. But he fought desperately. and 1t re-
quired the assistance of the grocer and
Merchant Policeman David Clary to subdue
him. Even then the policemen were obliged
to use their maces, and the negro was ter
put pair of nippers on each of his hands
and held him until the patrol wagon ar
rived, and then got into the wagon with
him and never released their hold until they
had landed their prisoner safely behind the
bars.
1t was we'll this special precaution was
taken Ordinarily prisoner is turned over
to the wagon men. but this one fought so
desperately that they feared he would be
too troublesome for one man. While wait
ing for the wagon Mr. Clary searched the
prisoner and found a dangerous-looking
knife in his pocket and also q piece Of
paper on which some one had practiced
copying the figures of a hve-dollar bill.
Clary overlooked a revolver, which was
found in the negro's pocket at the Jail. The
prisoner gave his name as George Lindsey,
and said he lived at 436 East Pearl street..
Reports have come in frequently of the
work of some one passing raised bills. The
work was of an Indifferent character. Some
CT the bills taken to the police station were
very clumsily raised and it Is surprising
that g. business man should be caught on
them. Others showed fair degree of skill
The one which Osborne captured last even
ing was amCng the best The vignette side
was more carefully executed. The large
figure So and the lettering, where the word
two was changed to ''tve." were well
done, but the lettering on the reverse side
was very poor.
The bills have been passed in all parts
of the city. Among the victims were Mrs.
Larsh who keeps a store on Virginia ave-
nue.: baker on Virginia. avenue near
Buchanan street; John Hamlin, saloon
keeper on Blake street; Chris Harmening.
saloon keeper, on North Delaware street;
the Fan saloon, corner Washington and
Delaware streets; S. Binzer, whisky house.
opposite courthouse; barrel house on
Prospect street, and several South West
street saloons and merchants. The federal
officers have made two or three arrests on
account of the bills, but never succeeded
in getting the right man.