The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-12-25

New York agencies visited Morris
town a few days ago and succeeded in
working some OF the local merchants
into a state Of despair over fraud
that was supposed to have been COM
mitted on them. Happily it turned
out all right for the storekeepers.
They are happy, but the city sleuth is
correspondingly depressed.
The way it came about was this:
The New York police have been very
successful of late in unearthing a gang
of counterfeiters and supposed that
they had captured the whole gang,
but a little investigation convinced
them that they had only started on
their quest, and many more were
implicated in the counterfeiting
scheme than they had at first supposed.
The police ran across a clew that
pointed to Morristown as one Of the
strongholds of the counterfeiters and
they Immediately sent a man here to
ferret them out.
The detective registered at one of
the hotels and began his investiga
tions, but the result was not just
what he expected. He began by try
ing to get hold of some bad money
which was supposed to have been put
in circulation here and, not wishing
to make himself known, went about
buying all sorts of things from the
local merchants.
He called first on Parker & Van
cleve and priced all sorts Of jewelry,
cut glass and bronzes and finally
bought small gold ring. AS he was
looking at the articles he seemed to
give almost as much attention to the
clerks as they gave out change to
other custonersla as he did to his own
purchases, and his actions caused
some remark after he had left. At
NraCa-ap,.--s.-at-~ lssv4 CVe4.y vftiflg
and even went so far as to ask If they
gave stamps with blankets and rugs
There too he caused remark by look
ing at everything from carpets to
handllerchiefs, and finally wound up
by buying a paper of hairpins and care
fully looking at his change.
His next stop was at Carrell'S hat
store where, after carefully looking at
hats, gloves and ladies furs, seemingly
taking up as much time as possible in
making his purchases and all the
while watching other buyers, ne
invested in a necktie. After making
his purchase there he got into CON
verSation with Mr. Carrell and
casually spoke of counterfeits asking
if Mr.. Carrell had seen any in cir
AZ 4
intimation that he had given anyone
what his purpose was. From Carrell's
he went to Brink s harness store
where he looked at and priced many
articles in the harness line and after
expressing himself as surprised at the
large stock and the cheapness Of the
prices he brought up the subject of
bad banknotes and spurious coins
After short talk there he visited
several other places, among them
being Veidt's, Butera's and the
Candy Kitchen, at all of which
places me bought candies and, as was
afterward found, discussed the counter
felt business. So far as can be learned
his only subject of conversation was,
after eamplementing them on their
stock, eounterfeiting. The man
seemed to be well fixed for money and
spent it freely in all the places he
visited. At Peters art store he
bought handsome picture frame: at
the New York Crockery Store on
Speedwell avenue a set of dishes: at
Bowman'S, cigars; and at HOiton's
the South StIeet florist, bunch of
Christmas greens. At Stiner 30
Scheuer's he seemed quite taken uD
with the size OF the store and the
immense stock carried and the prices
at which they were sold. He also
called at the Coed Luck Shoe Ba-
zaSr and tried on some shoes, and did
the same at BockONen shore store.
eornor of Park and Washington
street. At Kronenberg's he bought
some fine oranges, and at Boniface's
he treated himself to some game
which he had sent over to Day S.
where be ordered it cooked and had
himself served with game dinner
In fact he sighted no one. He bought
books and toys at RunyOn's and a
kodak at Muchmore's. From the
Christmas shopping the man indulged
he must have prepared himself with
enough presents to make two or three
homes happy.
IN all his wanderings he never ex-
cited any suspicion as TO his real
purpose until he visited the First
National Bank. Many thought his |
actions strange and his conduct ex-
cited some comment, but his real
nnrnose was we'll concealed. After a
short talk at the bank he went to the |
Trust Company and there he revealed I
his real purpose. He asked for Mr.. /
VanGilder. the assistant cashier, and |
talking very contidentially told him |
that he had been in Norristown for
some days looking up a matter of
vital interest to Morristonians, and
after careful investigation was
thoroughly convinced that the ad-
vertisers in the local papers were
people that could be relied upon and
that for his part he could see no good /
reason why they should not be pat
ronized to the full extent of ones
pOcketbook Their goods were well
selected and the prices right and 1t
was pleasure to deal with them.
Our merchants are still doing busl-
ness at their old stands and ready to I
accommodate purchasing agents from
all the detective agencies located
between St. Petersburg and San
Francisco the more the merrier.