Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-17
OFFICERS GIVEN The SLIP
Smooth Counterfeiter Evadss the Minions Of
the Law and Reforms.
OMAHA At ONE TIME HIS ABIDING PLACE
When Hunted by Chicago Police
Myers Throws Them on the Trail
by Disgusting ana Securing .
Position as a ~COnchman.

The inside history OF an escape from
justice that at one time bafled both the
Chicago police and the secret service Of the
United States government in that city has
just been made public. together with the
announcement that the fugitive has finally
been located only TO discover that the In
dictment against him Is no longer in force,
and the government Is without power to
bring him 10 account.
Henry Myers and Joseph W. Myers were
Indicted In Chicago in 1895 for counter
feiting both gold and silver coin. The treas
ury agents had been watching the men for
many months and had secured evidence that
made conviction practically certain. The
Myers brothers originally started from
Omaha and had only been in Chicago a
couple OF years when they were arrested.
Neither were known as a criminal while
here. but. according to the information Sc
cured by the government detectives. they
did a most successful counterfeitiny business
in Chicago for nearly a year before they
were run TO earth. During this time they
wore good clothes. made the acquaintance
Of many very fashionable people and alto
gether enjoyed to the limit the proceeds OF
their illegitimate occupation. For a long
time they were unsupported. but eventually
the watchful agents Of the treasury DEPART
ment concluded that they were spending a
good deal OF money that they evidLntly did
not earn and patient shadowing resulted in
their ruin. They were both indicted and
bound over under heavy bonds until their
case could be reached by the United States
court.
Oficers Get the Wrong Cue.
In come way or another Joseph W. Myers
succeeded in making his escape. He was
traced to the LAKE front Just south of
Twelfth street, where his cast of clothes
were found lying on the bank. This was APP
p~arently the end Of the trail. Weeks Of the
most vigorous search failed to discover the
living man and the waters refused to give
up the body. The police and public ac-
cepted the theory Of suicide. but the govern
ment agents we're suspicious Of a different
explanation.
Their ideas we're emphasized by develop
ments that were slowly worked out. II WAS
brought to the attention of tho service that
during the days when Myers luxuriatei N
C~hicago's select circle. serving the double
purpose OF giving him relaxation and at
fordipg a medium through which his spu-
rious gold pieces were introduced In cir
c~ulation. he had formed an intimate friend
ship with the daughter Of a business man OF
some local prominence, who lived in a
luxurious establishment on the North side.
He had been a frequent visitor at her home,
and had been seen In her company at the
opera, Of which she was ar enthusiastic I'D.
mirer. But II the young woman knew any
thing Of his escape she also knew enough to
keep a secret, and all efforts to extract any
information from her proved useless.
1t was not until over a year after that one
Of the detectives who had previously helped
to arrest Myers accidentally stumbled on the
solution of The problem that he had long
before given UP. The clue led to the dis
covery that when the police had supposed
that Myers was either rotting somewhere
under the waves Of Lake Michigan or enjoy
ing his freedom in a distant locality he
was right there in Chicago.
It was found that the woman had really
assisted her one-time admire to
escape on condition that he
would not trouble her in the future.
1t was her inventive intelligence that had
! concocted the scheme Of leading the officers
to believe that he had committed suicide
and she had furnished him with clothes In
| which he disguised himself and went straigh,
to her home after he had left his own gar
ments on the lake front.
Posed as a COachman.
For a couple OF days he remained con-
cealed In the barn and then she succeeded
in getting rid Of the coachman and Undue
ing her father to give Myers the Job. Clad
In a coachman's livery and with face
smoothly shaver the fugitive would scarcely
have been recognized by his most intimate
friends. No one would look on the box o.
a fashionable turnout of one of Chicago'i
swell families for a convict who was sup,
posed to be getting away as far as time
would allow him and no one but the woman
imagined what the real character Of the new
coachman was.
Myers continued to handle the ribbons
until the excitement over his escape subsidet
and then took the train for Omaha. He dit
not remain here. however, evidently for fea
OF recognition, but went on to San Fran
cisco. There the trail stopped again and l
was supposed that he sailed on SOM vesse
and went to a foreign country. 1t was onl.
a few days ago that the Omaha secret servic
department located him in Los Angeles
where he Ia leading an apparently respecta
BILE life. The Chicago officials were at ono
notified, but yesterday an answer was re
turned that the case against Myers had beel
nolled through some misunderstanding an,
his offense had been outlawed by the statut
Of limitation. Consequently the government
rests and unless Myers should permit hi
old-time habits to get the better Of him
he is free Of all prosecution.