Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-07-19
The Great Lancaster COultGrtatilg Conspiracy.
Narrative of Truth That is Stranger Than
Fiction.

place-a hirelins named Burns, an eX-
policeman, acting as their picket
guard.
y hitch occurred at this stage. TO I'M
derstand which we must so over for a
little into the camp of the malefactors.
The collector Of internal revenue for
the Lancaster district had assigned
his deputy. one Downey. to inspect
the Jacobs and KenGig factories. Sus-
ricion had been aroused by the TACT
that Jacobs, though apparently doing
n larger business than ever was buy
ing fewer stamps. Suddenly the col
lector, after a visit to Washington,
called nowney off the scent. and babe
him make his examination merely per-
fCnctory. No explanations we're given:
but Downey. who was short of money
and had borrowed 500 of Jacobs.
proved his gratitude for the loan by
telling his hcnefactor of the strange
incident. Jacobs and Kendig took
fright at this, and did the worst thing
possible for themselves by carrying
all their incuipating material off 10
all unfrequented spot near the city and
burying il; for two detectives followed
them on bicycles and made careful
note of the hiding place.
The more Jacobs pondered the hint
given him by Downey. the more con-
WINGED he became that the secret SER
vice hal got wind OF his operations.
How TO avert this peril was the cues
t:on. The whole gang lay quiet from
September iii January. Then Kendig
suggested that there was lawyer in
Philadelphia. one Harvey hewitt. VINO,
having been United States district at
torney under previous administra-
ton, was probably we'll acquainted
with the personnel and methods of
tle Secret Service. Why not retain
him to find ont what was afoot. and
hold the detectives in check if need
be?
To return to the watchers in Phila-
delpaia. They observed that the gang
had struck up relations with some one
in the Franklin building. where sew
eTal lawyers hal their offices. For
discover whom they visited there. bg.
one day the riddle solved itself. Now
lit. who. with his partner. Ellerv Ing
ham. was chartered in the Franklin
building. CHANGED to meet William ].
McManus. oIe OF the watchers. with
whom he had some previous acquaint-
ance. In the course of Il short con-
versation the lawyer remarked. siynifi-
oantly. There rs a man in my office
who would give $500 for a little in
formation about the Secret Service"
Negotiations thus opened. McManus
was soon il the pay Of the gang. dol
ing ont Information carefully SHAPED
according 10 instructions of Chief Will
kie. TO whom he turned over his bride
money as fast as received.
The information which Newitt's
client was willing TO buy so freely
must have had a most reassuring ef-
feet. for the whole gang wore beaming
faces thereafter. The engravers went
again into retirement. One day
camera was carried into their rooms.
and the next Photographic printing
frame was summing itself on a frees
cape outside of their windows. Stimuli
taneously. the material buried near
Lancaster was dug up and carried
back 10 Kendig's shop. where work
was apparently resumed
Taylor and Bredell went to luncheon
as usual on April IS. 1899. When they
returned Two Secret Service men. who
hal been lying in wait. entered their
rooms with them. The two counter
feitors were quietly warned that they
must make no disturbance. and that
their wisest policy would be TO confess
in full and surrender the plates on
which they were then at work. They
yielded gracefully, and the party fin
ished plates of fine $50 note passed
into the hands of the government.
That evening Chief Wiikie and a
handful of men ran over TO Lancaster
on late train. Going directly to Ken
digs shop. they let themselves in with
duplicate key, and sat down in an
inner room to wait for morning. About
: Q 'clcck Burns came. and was hand
cuffed before he realized what had
happened. Twenty minutes later the
door opened and the proprietor stood
in their presence.
'Good-!norning, Mr.. Kendig,'' was
his greeting. in chorus.
He was too dumbfounded to re-
sponi, but bowed to acknowledge that
the jig was up. On receiving the
same warning as the engravers, he
surrendered his plates. his press. and
nike tens of paper for bogus stamp
printing. The party then went after
Jacobs. and captured him without iron
bic, confsoating his factory and stock.
levying upon his balance in bank. and
generally providing for the recoup-
ment OF the governments losses from
his frauds.
Meanwhile. by instructions of the
chief. McManus had proceeded to the
office of hewitt in Philadelphia. and
taken him into custody on charge of
attempting to bride government off,
Ger. Everything had been TO timed
that no one of the conspirators had
had chance 10 warn any of the 9th.
ers. and il was supposed now that the
last depth Of the plot had been sound
ed. hewitt. in his negotiations with