The times., 1898-08-15
The Final Undoing

And now comes the end of a remark
able story. Since 1890 the secret service
has been annoyed almost to desperation
by the wide circulation of two distinct is
sues of 81 counterfeit silver certificates
SO exceedingly clever in execution that
hundreds OF them passed banks without
detection, and some even escaped the
scrutiny of the sEbtreasuries. There were
two kinds-one known as the Hancock
head and the other as the Window head.
They first made their appearance in Kan
sas City. then in Minneapolis and later
they were picked up all over the East.
The best talent at the disposal of the
secret service was detailed on the case
+ but there was absolutely to ciew to
work upon and some idea of the success
of the crooks may be had from the fact
that in eight years of constant operation
not q single Shower" meaning passers
of the bad money. was ever apprehended
AS last resort the Treasury called in
the Hancock head issue stopped printing
1t, and substituted the Window issue. The
counterfeiters did likewise and continued
operations more boldly than ever. The
Treasury then changed the letter of issue
from B to and further altered the Win
dom head bill by changing the name of
the registrar but the counterfeiters
their business.
How the Arrest Was Made
1t will be remembered that "Old Char
ley was released from Kingston prison
last January. Several weeks ago his
famous $ Grant head counterfeit made
its appearance in New York. 1t source
was traced 10 the Canadian race tracks.
The races at Montreal and Windsor are
usually harvests for counterfeiters and
the Johnson family had operated there
before.
The facts were laid before Chief Wilkie,
of the secret service early last week and
ne detailed Operator Webb, of Cleveland.
to investigate. The races at Windsor were
in full swing last week, and on arriving
there Webb found "Old Charley" and his
two brothers industriously passing the
| Grant head counterfeit and likewise sew
| eral Canadian bills. This sort of thing
is carried on with the connivance of the
bookmakers and is considered the safest
way to get rid of bad money.
Detective Webb maintained a close
| watch over the remnant OF the Johnson
| family, and when "Old Charley took a
trip to Detroit on Friday he was placed
under arrest five minutes after he had
! landed on American ground. Edward
| who accompanied Charley, was also ar
I rested, and the other brother. David, was
| taken into custody in Blenheim. Canada.
| Having lodged his men in JAIL Operator
| Webb procured a search warrant and
| made an inspection of edward Johnson'S
residence, at No. 795 Twenty-sixth Street
| Detroit. He found there the plates fol
| the counterfeit two-dollar Window head
| silver certificate, which has been in cir
! culation for eight years, together with
| fifty bills of the Hancock issue and so
| of the Window. The plates for the Win.
! dom head counterfeit have not yet beer
found, but they viii probably be located
! This was the first knowledge OF the fac
| that the Johnson family were responsible
| for the g certificates, which have de
| fled the Secret Service since 1890.
| The engraving is thought 10 be the
/ work of David Johnson. The entire thre,
! will face strong evidence when arraIgne(
| and heavy sentences are in store fol
what remains of a famous family o
| crooks. "Old Charley will die in con
| finement. He is too old now to outliv'
| another heavy sentence.