The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-06
MOST STUPENDOUS COUNTER
FEITING SCHEME OF THE AGE

a separate building in which the cigar
business was carried on merely as
blind Here, in addition to the nine tons
of paper and the unsuccessful paper ma
chine were discovered, at the raid, the
front, back, seal plate and numbering
machine of the 500 Monroe silver GER
tificate; plates for a $50 silver certificate;
a partly finished plate of 500 Lincoln
certificate, and three cigar plates. Ken
dig was caught with a stamp plate in his
possession, while Taylor and Breden
were found at work, in Philadelphia, on
a new plate for $50 certificate
Working Up the Clews.
Two separate cIews led up to the SIM
ultaneous arrest of the entire gang AT
first the Secret Service men did not as
sociate Taylor and Bredell with kendig
and Jacobs. They knew that the latter
were using counterfeit cigar labels, but
they did not suspect-until it was learned
that the machinery had been shipped to
Lancaster by Taylor and Bredell-that
they were implicated in the gigantic cigar
swindle. Taylor and Bredell had been
under surveillance for a year or more,
but under the suspicion of being the
counterfeiters of the 800 Monroe" note,
The Famous 500 Certificate.
When Chief Wilkie had assumed the
reins of management Of the Secret Ser
vice. little more than year previous
ly, the great question confronting him
was the mysterious 800 counterfeit note.
This counterfeit, discovered in Philadel-
phia, was declared by experts to be the
finest imitation of a government note
ever produced. There was no cleW, and
there were no ear marks of old timers
work. According to Chief Wilkes opin-
ion, the note was a combination of the
photo-engraving process and the most
delicate hand work. 1t was the work of
new men and new methods.
Secret Service operatives Burns and
McManus were detailed to the task of
ferreting out the counterfeiters. The
plan was to make an expert investiga-
ton of all the photo etchers and engrav-
ers in the country; the idea being that
by working among that class they would
finally strike some fellow whose unusual
aff1uence would indicate that he had
something else besides his regular income
In a short time Burns wired to WASH
ington: Have located our people, but
it was many months afterward BEFORE
enough evidence was collected to spring
the trap. When the trap was hnally
sprung 1t not only disclosed the Two
counterfeiters neatly caught, but IL also
brought to light Jacobs, kendlg, 1hshani'
hewitt and a bunch of lesser stars winch
had family glimmered for a snort time
in the criminal armament.
The part played by Ellery r. lngnam
and Harvey X. hewitt as counsel lot ia
cobs and Kendig, and the $1,000 bride Of
ferod bv them to Secret Service Opera
tive McManus form another chapter to
the thrilling story. McManus accepted
$500 of the proffered bride as ruse, ana
renorted at once to his chlef, leaving the
counterfeiters to believe that they had
purchased his silence. The magnitude and
daring of the plot can best be appreci-
ated nv the final coup of the leading con-
sDirators, who endeavored to impltcate
the entire Secret Service on an entirely
unfounded charge of corruption by brib-
cry This himsy scheme. ostensihly work.
ed on the strength of the McManus bride
money, Immediately fell through. much
10 the chagrin of the plotters.
Taylor, .Bredell and Kendig turned
States evidence and the two former Sc
cured leniency by the surrender of addi-
tional counterfeit plates held in their
possession.
While in the Eastern pententiary Tay-
lor and Bredell since succeeded in en-
craving another plate for a certificate OF
high value. This they did in the hopes
that once getting the plates outside or
the prison. the government would oner a
reward for their recovery, and that the
reward would be in the shape of par
don for themselves. The plot lell
through, however. and the two men
were several weeks .ago removed to At
lanta in the custody of a deputy mar
shall. Jacobs and Kendig were sent TO
Atlanta last March; they will serve nine
years longer Bredell and Taylor NAYS
four years each yet to serve. mgr am
and hewitt sentenced to two years SIX
months. each, were released from tho
Eastern penitentiary last December.
Others of the famous gang. including
accomplices and jury fxers," are at
present released, or in various stages OF
their terms.
And this is the way the gigantic bub-
BILE burst Not a man prohted ny the
scheme; thousands of dollars were spent
b, the plotters and by the government.
and the lives of some half dozen men
were ruined by the transaction.