Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-09-23

the stairs led to the second floor. Re-
volver in one hand and dark lantern in
the other. ran softly up the stairs.
The door Of the room In which the 9TH
er two counterfeiters slept was ajar.
Throwing the flare of the bull's-eye
into the room, | saw Ellis and Brown
In bed, but each reaching for his re-
volver, one OF the weapons being un-
der the pillow and the other on small
stand at the head Of the bed. Coving
them with my own weapon before they
had time to lay hands on their revolvers,
l shouted:
''Lie back, or I'll kill you"
Both lay on the pillows.
'"The first that moves will be shot"
I commanded.
Cautiously and with my revolver and
lantern still trained on the counter
feiters, l backed to the front window
and raped on the pane. This vas the
signal that had been arranged for two
men to come to my assistance Under
the cover Of three revolvers Ellis and
Brown were doggedly obedient and put
on their clothes. The other two men
had by this time entered the house and
gone to the relief of the deputy who en-.
tered with me in caring for Robinson
and his wife.
In the room across the hall from the
sleeping-room of Ellis and Brown
found the printing press and materials
they had been using, $4,000 in 5O-cent
scrip, together with the same plates
Kale Ellis had dropped In the Pecatonica
river, in making his daring escape from
Operative Drummond long before.
The three cursing counterfeiters. Mrs.
Robinson and the "koniacking' outfit
were taken to Madison on the next train.
The men pleaded guilty and were SEN
fenced to serve seven years in the penl-
Tertiary. Mrs. Robinson was given her
liberty.
Well satisfied with the results of the
Wisconsin job, | returned to Chicago
and dropped into the routine of my
work, little thinking that the events
Immediately to follow would necessi-
tate my return to the Badger state. But
no sooner had / returned than a $1OO
note was brought to my attention which
had been sent to the Union national
bank from the City bank of Portage, Wis.
correspondent of the Chicago bank.
The bill, in my opinion, was unquestion-
ably counterfeit. A few days later a.
500 bill of the same issue, but bearing
the name of another bank, was offered
at the Chicago post Office. Then to the
Traders national bank there came a
500 bill from the bank at Shelbyville.
Ill. This was also of the same issue,
but bore the name of still another bank.
My collection was soon further in
creased by a 500 bill from Parsons,
Kan, following which came the infor-
nation from secret service headquar-
tiers that 500 note had been passed at
Louisiana, Mo.
Here was an unexpected shower.
The bills were apparently all off the
same plate, which had been a skeleton
plate, the names of the Revere national
oanK or Boston, Second national of
WiIkesbarre, Pa, and the Merchants
national OF New Bedford, Mass, having
been filled in by the skeleton process.
At the United States subtreasury Fred
NJ Blount, the cashier insisted the bills
were genuine. The cashiers of Eve ont
of eight banks to which they we're sub
mitted also held them to be good
Thomas P. Tallman, cashier of the Trad
ers' national, and insisted they were
counterfeit
| found at the post Office that the bill
offered there had been sent by the post
master at Cambridge, ILL.,, to whom I
Immediately sent a telegram in the
name of ]. w. Palmer, the Chicago post.
master. The Cambridge postmaster an
swered that he had received the bill in
question from the Cambridge bank and