Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-04-12
lNET BIG BOGUS COIN GANG|
Police Make Greatest Raid Of
Modern Times.
PLANT FOUND IN BROOKLYN.
n Fla tes of Swedish and Scotch Currency
Arc Revealed--Notes OF 100 Kroner
and 20 Pounds the Principal g. unter-
feits-Big Gamo III Tolls.

New lOrk, April I.-IHe uiSeo'Si'
$of host of counterfeiting molds
sought all over the world and the
bringing to light of the greatest and
most complete plant for making spurl-
GUS money ever discovered was the re-
suit of a raid made on building In
Grand avenue, Brooklyn, consequent
upon the capture of John A. Spoog.
Chief Hazen regards the raid as the
most important made since the origin
of the secret service and says that IN
three European countries at least the
results will be matter Of relief to the
authorities. The long sought for plates
for the 50-kroner notes Of the Bank OF
Sweden and the 100-kroner notes OF
the Bank of Copenhagen were among
those found, and the plates for the less
famous $50 note of the Bank OF Scot
land are at last in the hands OF the
authorities.
Contents OF Big Plant
The plant which was raided con-
tanned several heavy stamping ma
chimes, being very nearly as large ana
valuable as those of the United States
mint. Extensive warehouses were IN
connection with the esta blishment CIV
,en over apparently to legitimate pur-
poses. but in reality stocked with all
the appliances which the counterfeit
ers needed in their work. The greater
part of the plant was given to the coun-
terfeiting of notes rather than coin,
but several molds were found for the
smaller gold pieces and 25-cent pieces.
The authorities affirm that at least
fourteen important plates, all OF which
nre such good impressions 2s to be
constant source of danger, have been
recovered, and the danger which is
abolished by the capture Of these rem
ders the work of the secret service
markedly less difficult
VIII Check Much Counterfeit.
Nearly half of the important bills
against which the secret service men
have directed their efforts in the past
decade are now out of harms way, and
the federal authorities are well pleased
that they have been of so signal assls-
lance to the revenue guardians of 9TH
er countries.
Skoos's Illinois Record.
Chicago, April 12.-John A. Skoog.
after escaping from the county Jail at
Joliet, eluled the secret service officers
of the country for more than four
years. He is reputed to be one of the
most notorious counterfeiters in the
country. So dangerous is Skoog con-
sidered by the government officials that
they have persistently kept up the
search for him ever since he sawed his
way to liberty and have declared that
: frey would rather capture Skoog than
any other escaped prisoner now at
large After his arrest Skoog attempt
ed suicide and is now under doctors
care Skoog was arrested on Jan. rs,
1897. at Hopkins theater in this city.
At the box Office he rendered one of the
$50 Manning head counterfeit silver
certificates of which the secret service
ynen say he had made specially. The
bill was accepted and, pocketing his
change. Skoog walked into the play
house. The manager detected the coun-
verfeit a few minutes later. however,
and Skoog was arrested as he sat in his
seat watching the play. TO Secret
Service Operatives Porter and Gallaher
Skoog made a confession which led to
the finding of his plant. AT his house
near Fifty-flrst and Justine streets they
discovered a complete outfit for maxi
ing the bogus bills. Besides they found
.eighty-fve $40 bills and more than
5000 worth of bogus Swedish kroner
notes. AS the Cook county Jail was
being reconstructed at the time or
:Skoog's arrest he was taken to the
county jail at Joliet to await action On
his case by the United States grand
jury. Early in the morning OF March
22, 1897, he made his escape, with two
other NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Foley and
Jacob Johnson. The latter two sawed
the window bars of the Jail while
Skoog smothered the sounds by playing
AN accordion.
leaves Creditors In Lurcl.