The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-11
A DYING COUNTERFEITER
John Alfred SkOog for the Third
Time Attempts His Life.
shoots Himself in the Head to Evnde
Arrest In New Yorlx-Famous as nm
International "Quecr" Maker and
nshoyer',-BaGIcd Secret Service.

| nshoyer,,-Baficd Secret Service
| In the person of alfred Jensen" now
| lying at the New York City Hospital ir
critical condition, suffering from a self
| inflicted pistol shot wound in the head
| officials of the Secret Service claim tC
recognize one of the most notorious coun-
terfeiters in the United States. John AL
fred Skoog is the true name OF the pa
tient. against whom are charges in hall
dozen States, and who has been hunted
the country over for three years past
1t is not considered probable that he will
live, but in case of recovery, Skoog will
be taken to Chicago. and arraigned on
charge of counterfeting.
With a record unsurpassed 10y 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-
viously attempted to end his life. when
in the hands of the law, and now lies
at the point of death from 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 confscated. 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 Skoog en-
tered the brokers' Office he handed the
cashier behind the counter Danish 109-
kroner note, asking exchange in United
States currency. While the clerks were
busy making change. a broker having an
Office across broadway ran into the Office
and impaired the information that he
had just accepted a similar kroner note,
only to find it a counterfeit.
Skoog had by this time received cur
rency for his note. however, and left the
office. but was standing in sight. appar-
entity awaiting a car. Because of doubt, a
clerk ran out to question Skoog. who de-
clined to give any information respecting
the note he had just given. The clerk then
called for the police and Skoog started to
run. 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
.5s-calibre revolver from his pocket and
shot himself through the head. He was
picked up and sent to the hospital
Years ago Skoog. IL is said. was n
counterfeiter in Sweden, and on getting
into trouble with the Swedish authorities.
escaped to America. His work as n
counterfeiter here began about January.
1897. when there appeared in circulation
in the West thousands Of $40 and $50 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.
y minute description of the false notes
WIS sent out by Chief Willxie and his
men. Principally these notes bore the
Manning" head in the s2e denomination.
One afternoon man went Into the
Hopkins Theatre. Chicago, where he
bought ticket giving one OF the Man
ming false notes in payment The CASH
Ter recognized the counterfeit, toId 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 Swede, a painter, and
lived in South Chicago. The day follow
ing Captain Porter. Secret Service agent
at Chicago, accompanied by several men,
searched the rooms of Skoog and found a
counterfeiting outfit. Besides,
several uncompleted plates for the manu-
facture of Danish 1e0-kroner notes were
unearthed.
While being examined under arrest
Skoog managed to swallow a big dose of
cyanide of potassium, which nearly caiis-
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
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 fairly good SO counter
felt, bearing the Hendricks" head, was
circulated largely In the far West. Dem
yer was flooded with the note, and nearly
$1,000 in the queer was sent into Sub 4
for redemption. A howl was |
ra ised from all over the West against the
and finally the issue Of false
notes ceased for time. |
1t became too hot for Skoog In the West, |
with hundred detectives at his back. 1
and he Jumped East year passed
About the middle of August, 1895. there |
appeared in New York City a good coun- |
.erfeit of the SO Sheridan" head Treas |
Iry note. which was soon followed by a |
Webster head note of the same de- |
nomination. These notes bore the ear
marks of Skoog's work. hut no clue to |
mis- whereabouts could he found.
During the year following the search |
FOR Skoog was prosecuted until in Sep |
ember. 1899. A. Lidberg. Swedish Minis |
er of Police. together with Chief of De- |
ectives Carlin. of Stockholm. Sweden, |
Sweden made the complaint that emf |
grants to Sweden from America carried |
With them thousands Of dollars of false
Swedish notes. besides many packages OF
Danish kroner notes. The in |
-estigation which followed showed that |
Skoog had passed the notes on many emf |
yrants sailing from New York.
About the same time Danish kroner
iotes to the amount of Sl0,0o0 were dis
covered in the stock OF many New York
brokers', from several of whom a descrip-
ion fitting Skoog as the one who showed |
he queer was obtained. A general look
,ut fer SBoog was then sent out all over |
he country. The false notes were confis-
;ated by tho Secret Service, and detec- |
ives everywhere started on a hunt for
he fugitive Swede.
Late in October 1899, a broker was talk
ng to @ woman in his office in New York
'ity. when a man answering the de |
cription of Skoog entered. The man Of
cred "A Danish kroner note for exchange. |
broker Thought recognized |
rom a photograph he had and declined
o receive the note. When Skoog left the |
lace the broker told the woman to fol- |
Dw him and call on policeman to make |