New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-02
PRISON CONTEMPLATING.
DARING WORK BY CRIMINALS AND THE
SUCCESS WHICH ATTENDS 1T.

In the course Of an Investigation into the man
agement of the Eastern Pennsylvania Pen4ten-
tiary now being conducted at Philadelphia, II has
been developed that coin counterfeitins Is one OF
the Industries engaged in by some OF the prisoners
The amazement with which this information was
received by the prison investigators might nave
been less marked had they been familiar with the
prison history OF the country Despite the most
rigid regulations and extreme vigilance there Is
hardly a prison OF any size IN the United states
which has not been compelled to bear the record
OF at least one such case.
In most instances discovery and suppression
overlook the enterprise in its infancy, bringing
disaster only 10 the offenders. A few cases are
of record however. so cunningly planned and eau
tiousy carried out as 70 reach beyond the con-
hnes of the prison before detection
One Of the bo!dest attempts OF this character
occurred at the LeavenwOrth. Kan. Penttentiary-
In December. 1896 ]. C McESibbon. while serving a
sentence Of two years for making photographs
counterfeit notes. was assigned 10 work IN the
prison photograph gallery because OF his expert
ence in the art. In a short time he managed 10
exclude from his workroOm all others detailed 10
that department. Left alone. he Immediately re-
sumed the work he had been forced TO suspend
when arrested Enlisting the assistance or TWO
TRUSTEES" whose short time and good behavior
obtained for them the freedom of the prison yaEd
and buildings. he succeeded In obtaining heeueu
supplies When several FIVE dollar notes were COM
pleted he turned them over TO his confederates TO
be passed TO outside parties, but before doing so
they incautiously exhibited the notes TO another
prisoner. who straightway gave information to the
authorities which resulted in the seizure OF the con-
traband outfit At the expiration of his sentence
McKibbon was arrested for this. gave bond and
promntlv disappeared The ruling passion was
too strong in him. however. and 1t was not long
before his handiwork again led 20 his downf7N
after a chase that led through Mexico and b <
into Texas The evidence found in his posses
sion secured for him a return visit TO LeavenWorth
for five years but this time he was not detailed
TO work in the photograph gallery
Leavenworth prison was the scene of another
attempt at counterfeitng in 1885. In August OF
that year several convicts employed in the prison
coal mines engaged in desperate fight. in which
one of them narrowly escaped death II was
learned that the quarrel arose over a division OF
the proceeds from coin plant being operated IN
a secluded corner Of OF the mines. Again
"trusty" was responsible for securing the para
phernaIia. The outfit located and destroyed.
together with a number of spurious coins found
in the possession of the prisoners
In March. 1898. VIII Connors and Jack" Mon
roe while working their way from Colorado TO
their homes in Illinois formed the acquaintance.
at jefferson city. Mo. of Charles Lewis. negro.
who had just completed ten years term in the
prison there and was about 20 board a freight
train bound for ST. Louis The trio got into the
same car. Lewis had his pockets full OF counter
felt coins. He told his companions that for the
previous he had been a 'trusty. and during that
time at liberty to go 70 any part OF the prison.
and hauled the freight 20 and from the station
every day The tramps we're discovered and put
of the train az ChanOis, No. Here Lewis dis
carded the clothes furnished him by the prison
part payment some OF the counterfeit coins At
Hermann he sent a telegram 70 friend on Ran
box that he had sent by express until his arrival
there. At Washington, Mo. as was hts custom in
each place. he passed few of the bogus coins and
left town, followed by ConnOrs and Monroe. Some
OF his victims raised alarm. and the town mar
shall went in pursuit of the trio, capturing the
white men. but the negro escaped. When informed
OF the true situation and learning of the telegram
sent from Hermann. the marshal teleSraphed 20 St.
Louis and the officers captured Lewis az the Ran
jefferson City. finding several hundred counter
felt coins and complete outfit for their manu-
faeture. Lewis confessed TO having made the cOun-
While the authorities az jefferson City were busy
investigating Lews's statements, word was
ceived from Folsom. Cal, of the discovery OF a
coin mill in its prison, Two cOnvicts, Coyne and
Brown. were caught in the act OF making bad
nckels in the engine room OF the Institution. One
OF the guards supplied the plaster of paris with
which the mOulds were made, and the coins were
manufactured from Babbitt metal taken from the
The following winter two inmates OF the Mis-
A number OF moulds ana several cigar boxes full
OF counterfeits OF different denominations
found seereted about the place
The concluding chapter in the history OF the IA
nous Philadelphia Lancaster counterfetttng
spiracy, however, established record for Grim
inal operations within q crime furnishing insttu-
tion. This last act OF the principals in
fettins undertaking. the mammoth proportions Of
country's currency and promised IL successful TO
involve men high in the governments service was
more startling in daring than any before. /and
solution than any the Secret Service OF the govern
ment had 10 deal with before.
United States mole was discovered in remittance
az the Phtladephia Sub-Treasury and forwarded
~ mi s , ne Ser h, smsS az Upon
found 10 bear many OF the characteristics OF the