The times., 1901-04-11
A DYING COUNTERFEITER
John Alfred SkOog for the Third
Time Attempts His Life.
Shoots Himself in the Head to Eynde
Arrest in New XorIs-Famous as nm
international "Quecr'' Maker and
"Shoyeru-Bafied Secret Service.

4
In the person of alfred jensen now
| lying at the New York City Hospital in
critical condition, suffering from a self
| inflicted pistol shot wound in the head,
officials of the Secret Service claim to
recognize one Of the most notorious coun-
terfeiters in the United States. John Al
fred Szoog is the true name of the pa
tient against whom are charges in half
dozen States, and who has been hunted
the country over for three years past
1t is not considered probable that he VIII
live. but in case of recovery, Skoog will
be taken to Chicago. and arraigned on
a charge of counterfeiting.
With a record unsurpassed by the aver
age criminal. Skoog dared operatives of
the Secret Service, detectives and police
everywhere. He has been captured and
jailed. only to escape, and has made and
showed the queer all over the country.
besides circulating it in Norway and Swe-
den. his native land. He has twice pre-
viousy attempted to end his life, when
in the hands of the law, and now lies
at the point of death from a third self
inflicted wound.
Counterfeit notes, said to have been
made by Skoog. showed the finest work
manshlp. and frequently passed for gen
uine at banks and other financial institu-
tons and among brokers. Thousands of
dollars have been conflscated, and the be-
lief is general that more notes are yet
to come
The last attempt at suicide by Skoog
took place Tuesday afternoon in New
York City. at West and Morris Streets
About noon that day Skoog was at Bat
terry Park, and two hours later he entered
the office of a broker on Broadway. For
months his photograph has been in the
minds of all the principal brokers and
money lenders. because the Secret Serv-
ice had sent broadcast numerous warn
ings TO look out for him. AS Slloog en-
tered the brokers' Office he handed the
cashier behind the counter a Danish 100-
kroner note, asking exchange in United
States currency while the clerks were
busy making change. broker having an
office across Broadway ran into the Office
and impaired the information that he
had just accepted similar kroner note,
only to find il a counterfeit
Skoog had by this time received cur
rency for his note. however and left the
office. but was standing in sight. appar-
emily awaiting a car. Because of doubt, a
clerk ran out TO question Skoog. who de-
ciined to give any information respecting
the note he had just given The clerk then
called for the police and Skoog started to
ran. A crowd gathered in his wake, and
the chase grew hot. until Skoog turned
into Morris Street and then into West
Street There at the corner he drew a
.3s-calibre revolver from his pocket and
shot himself through the head He was
picked UP and sent to the hospital
Years ago Skoog, 1t is said, was
counterfeiter in Sweden, and on getting
into trouble with the Swedish authorities
escaped to America. His work as a
counterfeiter here began about January.
1897. when there appeared in circulation
in the West thousands Of so and $40 sill
Yer certificates Chicago was flooded
with the queer" and it was months be-
fore the Secret Service could learn any
thing of the maker of the notes.
4 minute description of the false notes
was sent out by Chief Wilkie and his /
men. Principally these notes bore the |
Manning" head I'm the s2e denomination. |
One afternoon a man went into the |
Hopkins Theatre Chicago, where he /
bought ticket giving one Of The Man /
ming" false notes ia payment. The cash |
ier recognized the counterfeit, told the |
customer TO take a seat while he procured |
change and sent for the police. The man
was arrested and gave his name as Skoog |
He said he was a Swede, a painter, and /
lived in South Chicago. The day follow |
ing Captain Porter, Secret Service agent |
at Chicago. accompanied by several men, |
the rooms of Skoog and found a
counterfeiting outfit. Besides, |
several uncompIeted plates for the manu-
facture Of Danish lc0-krener notes were
unearthed.
Skoog managed TO swallow a big dose of |
cyanide of potassium, which nearly caus-
ed his death He was hastened to a hos
pital and finally recovered. At that time
he swore to escape and never TO undergo
arrest again. Shortly afterward he was
sent TO Joliet, H.. and confined in the
VIII County Jail TO await trial. With
three others he planned and carried out a
bold jail breaking. The four men leaped
forty feet from the roof of the jail to
the ground and Skoog was not again seen
by the detectives until Tuesday. A price
was put upon his head. and he was hunt
ed all over the United States by Secret
Service men.
In June. 1897, a fairly good so counter
felt, bearing the Hendricks" head was
circulated largely in the far West. Den
yer was flooded with the note, and nearly
$4,000 in the queer was sent into Sub
Treasures for redemption A howl was
ra ised from all over the West against the |
and finally the issue of false
notes ceased for a time. |
1t became too hot for Skoog in the West, |
with II hundred detectives at his back,
and he jumped East. a year passed.
About the middle of August, iSaS. there |
appeared i'm New York City a good coun-
erfeit of the $40 Sheridan" head Treas
lry note, which was soon followed by a |
Webster head note of the same de-
nomination. These notes bore the ear |
marks of Skoogs work. but no clue to
ais whereabouts could he found.
During the year following the search |
or Skoog was prosecuted until in Sep
ernber, 1899 \. Iidberg Swedish Minis !
er of Police. together with Chief of De
ectiyes Carlin, of Stockholm, Sweden
,ame to America. Representatives of |
Sweden made the complaint that emf
,rants TO Sweden from America carried |
swedish notes. besides many packages Of | ]
ounterfet Danish kroner notes. The in
'estigation which followed showed that | (
,koog had passed the notes on many emf |
rants sailing from New York
About the same time Danish kroner |
Iotes to the amount of 900 were dis |
OVered in the stock Of many New York |
rolfers, from several of whom "a descrip-
ion fitting Skoog as the one who showed |
he queer" was obtained A general look
nit fer Skoog was then sent out all over |
he country. The false notes were confis-
ated by the Secret Service, and detec- |
ives everywhere started on a hunt for ,
he fugitive Swede.
Late i'm October. 1899 a broker was talk |
ng to 9 woman in his office in New York |
'ity. when man answering the de- |
cription of Skoog entered. The man of |
cred a Danish kroner note for exchange.
he broker thought he recognized Skoog |
rom "a photograph he had and declined
0 receive the note. When Skoog left the