The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1902-03-21

ttihdNh tue most pdullns Joo
ever undertook" said the old secret
service man. was running to earth
what was known as the Hamilton
gang
For several months the states OF
the middle west had been flooded with
counterfeit five. ten and twenty dollar
bills OF most ingenious make. So
nearly perfect were they that they
were considered exceedingly danger
Gus. and 10 myself aud three assistants
was assigned the task OF capturing
the gang.
"Woll, we finally succeeded In trac-
ing the counterfolts to the village OF
Hamilton. I'm ono OF the states border
ing on Che Mississippi river. We also
learned that the gang consisted OF at
least three men. and obtained very
accurate description OF one. n partial
description Of another. and an exceed
ing vague and unsatisfactory descrip-
ton OF the third. However. we felt
confident OF their capture. having once
traced them Go Hamilton. but We soon
found we had congratulated ourselves
too soon.
I'VE had been In Hamilton but n
few hours when we became convinced
that the place was what we termed a
pious town'-that Is. that the citizens
were law-abiding and honest and that
II a mint was operated In their midst
Il was probably without their knowl-
edge. certainly without their assist
ancc.
when this tact became clear to us,
! called upon the village constable, the
only officer of which the town boosted,
and questioned him closely relative 20
any men answering the descriptions
in my possession. tie was certain he
had never seen any such individuals
in the town. although he had heard OF
the counterfoits which I mentioned
in fact. he had seen several OF them
But ne felt positive they were not
manufactured In or near Hamilton.
Il was. OF course. positive they were.
and with the constable's assistance,
began most careful ana systematic
search for the men wanted or any clew
that might enable us TO locate their
den
Three months passed without re-
suit. although | was notified that a
new batch OF the counterfelts had been
'floated.' I began 10 fear / had made
n mistake and that the bogus did not
eminate from Hamilton after ALL So
/ went carefully over my work. only
20 reach the same conclusion: the
couutoriciters must have their head
quarters In Hamilton. But who were
they?
THE town was literally flooded with
bad money. I'm fact. IL seemed 20 be
the only currency OF those demonina-
tons I'm circulation In the village.
was puzzled. Either the entire popu-
lation of the town was In league with
the gang. or else
Then an inspiration struck me.
called upon the several storekeepers In
the village.
who Is your best cash customer?
asked.
"One and all made the same reply
without hesitation:
Widow Bartlett
who Is the Widow Bartlett?'
% She Is the wealthiest woman in the
county they said. Her husband has
been dead twenty years. lie left her
n big estate. She keeps here money In
the bank. and resides In that big brick
house on the hill She IS n recluse:
no one ever visits her.
Does she make her purchases in
person or through servant / asked.
In person. they said.
Pay with currency or checks?
In currency. always
Il went 60 the bank.
How much money has the Widow
Bartlett on deposit here?' asked.
about ten thousand dollars. was
the answer.
Docs she draw out much?'
Hasn't drawn out any for several
rnouthg-ugariv n war