The Washington times., 1904-01-26
BROCKNAY ALONE
IN HIS CLASS
StupendOus Schemes to De-
fraud Government.
EN- ROUTE TO WASHINGTON
Released From Trenton Prison, "King
Of Counterfeiters" Will Visit
the Capital.

William Brockway, king Of Counter
feiters,' just released from Trenton
prison by the expiration of a ten-year
sentence, is on his way to Washing
ton, according TO dispatches. The OBJ
Ject OF his mission is a mystery so far
as anyone here IS concerned, but the
knowledge that he plans a trip to Wash
ington has revived interest among Sc
cret Service officials In his remarkable
career
1t is acknowledged that Brockway
stands In a class by himself so far as
counterfeiting IS concerned. He is given
credit for having planned schemes OF
the most stupendous sort for defraud-
ing the Government. He Is now eighty
three years old. but is well preserved
for a man Of his years. Tall and Puri-
tan syisaged with an intellectual fore
head clothes Of severe black and a
prirn white tie about a high and i'm
maculate collar. he resembles a New
England Sunday school superintendent,
rather than a cool, shrewd criminal
Little is known of his early history,
save that he came from a Massachu-
sets town. where he was known as
Colonel Spencer. and where he passed
as quiet and dignified citizen.
"a. His Skill Amazing.
- As far back as the records of the Sc
cret Service Bureau run Brockway has
been engaged in counterfeiting The
records go only TO the early eos. and
II Is entirely possible he may have fol-
lowed the business before that. In two
features. at least. his operations have
T. been notable. In the first place. the
work has been done with amazing skill.
and In the second place the plans have
--oeen laid on a scale of extraordinary
magnitude It has been the rule fol-
lowed oy Brockway to have nothing to
90 with notes OF small denominations
ana he has never counterfefted any.
thing under $50
The crime for which Brockwav has
terfeiting of 500 gold certifcaies and
slv0 notes OF the Bank OF Montreal In
august, 1888. Secret Service officers cap
tured his plant at West Hoboken. n I
and secured three-quarters OF a million
IN spurious notes that were nearly ready
Tor circulation. None OF them had been
noated up. tosthe time OF the arrest.
es Dentist His Financier.
Back of the scheme, and financing II.
was DR.. o. Z. Bradford a dentist. Of
New York city, who had met Brockwav
IN Sing Sing prison about ten years be-
fore. when both were doing time.
Z there. Bradford was convicted and died
later in Sing Sing. Brockway was given
ten years in prison at Trenton and a
1900 fine. Because Of allowance Of good
time. Brockway's term expired a month
ago, but be had to serve thirty days
more Because OF the fine.
While Brock way has given out a state
ment at Trenton that he Is not coun-
terteiter. IL is said by Secret Service
men that he is responsible for the most
dangerous cOunterfeits ever circulated
In this country. He counterfeited two
Government bonds, both remarka bly
correct. One was a thousand dollar Z 80
ana the other a thousand dollar 6 per
cent bond. Some Of the 1905 were put
In circulation, but none Of the others.
Redeemed Bonds.
1t is said the Government redeemed
: about 70 Of the 1908 held by the banking
firm of Jay Cooke & Co. and then
brought suit against the bank to recov-
er. AS The firm failed. nothing came Of
the suit or the per cent bonds. the
entire output. 26 in number. was cap
tured from James =. Doyle in Novem-
Der, 1850. Doyle had gone to Chicago 10
float the bonds Doyle was followed.
not because IL was known he had the
bonds. but because Il was thought he
had taken West With him some of the
500 national bank notes which the
Brockway gang was circulating about
New York city at the time.
Back IN the early 10s Brockway circtl-
lated a $500 legal tender note that was
= extremely dangerous. II was so perfect
that experts differed as 70 whether Il
was counterfeit or whether an i'm
preston had been stolen from the Gov
eminent plates. IT was, in fact q coun-
terfeit. prepared by an engraver Of great
skill who worked for Brockway. Brock
way has recently said he was not an en-
graver. This is true. He is not an en-
graver. but he was an expert trans
ferrer and electrotyper- He has a proc
--ess OF his own for transfer to copper by
means OF the battery that produces mar
Vicious results.