The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-20
IMPORTANT
CAPTURE OF
COUNTERFEITERS
Who Have Been Flooding Country
With monroe Head" 500
Silver Certificate.
TWO CAUGHT RED HANDED
The Ncatest Piece OF Detective
Work Ever Done by the
Secret Service.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 19.-
Probably the most important capture IN
the history OF the secret service was
made yesterday in Philadelphia by
Chief John L. Wilkie. and his agents.
when they arrested Arthur Taylor and
Baldwin S. Bredell, the makers Of the
famous counterfeit Monroe head" 500
silver certificate. These arrests were
followed to-day by the capture in Lam
caster, Pa, of William NJ. Jacoas and
William L. Kendig, two p.om.nent ci-
gar manufacturers. and James Burns,
who was In Jacobs employ. There were
also captured the original plate from
which the silver certificates were
printed: a new hundred dollar counter
felt plate and new $50 plate. and also
three sets Of plates for the printing OF
counterfeit revenue stamps; rolls, other
paraphernalia and about five tons OF
paper and large amount OF counterfeit
stamps.
The Monroe head" plate and also
the stamp plates and the other materials
were found In Lancaster where the
printing was done. The plates for the
new hundred dollar note and the fifty
dollar note were found in Philadelphia.
The officials have taken possession of
the factories OF the cigarmakers and
have also attached their bank account.
Taylor and Bredell. it is said. were cap
tured while actually at work on the
new plates They are young men
vino were employed in Philadelphia by
different firms, but some time aga
started In business for themselves. They
are said to be expert engraVers and
never before have been under suspi-
clon. The men will be brought before
the United States commissioner and
undoubtedly will be brought to trial at
the earliest possible moment.
What They Confess To.
They are said to have confessed to-day
that less than $4,000 OF the famous
notes were put into circulation. The
silver certificate. which was first dis
covered year ago last fall by an Off
clal of the sub-treasury ut Phlladel-
phia. was probably the most dangerous
even the experts OF the government for
4 long time we're undecided as to
whether the note was genuine or coun-
terfelt. After most careful search.
however, Distinguishing mark was
discovered which decided the question
and enabled the officials readily TO dis
tlngush the genuine from the spurious
Secretary Gage recognized the very
great danger of this new note and at
once called in the entire Issue OF many
millions of dollars. At the same time
he sent warnings to all parts of the
country, fully describing the note This
prompt action ballied the counterfeiters
at the very beginning.
Although less than a hundred notes
were Issued only about twenty-siX have
been discovered Plans were set on foot
to apprehend the counterfelters and
acting on the advice of Assistant Secre-
tary Vanderlip, Mr., John +. Wilkie, n
newspapermar of Chicago, who was
known to have done some very clever
detective work. was sent for and placed
in charge OF the secret service bureau
He completed his plans and on Febru-
ary J.. 1895, found the clue which result
ed In yesterdays and to-day's import
ant captures. From the very first ap-
pearaEce of the notes Secretary Gage
and Assistant Secretary Vanderlip have
taken great interest In the capture Of
the culprits and during the last four
teen months have been In close touch
with every move that has been made
and have materially assisted Chief WILL
kie in his long hunt