The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-03


& counterfeit Of the Traders National
of Chicago were the principal notes in
circulation. The latter plate had been
manipulated Ia such a way that the,
names Of other banks could be easily
inserted instead Of the Traders and
the notes most frequently found in this
district were those Of the banks ar
Peru Peoria, Paxton and Canton III.
Besides these notes there was IN daily
use an almost incredibly large amount
Of scrip made from plates that had
been engraved by Ben Boyd. With
these facts ascertained I made my
plans for the "rounding-up" of the
band which had been circulating the
counterfeits, a process that consumed
in all six years, and which resulted in
the killing of one of the principal MEM
beers of the ''cOney" organization of
Jefferson county.
In communities no larger than Mount
Vernon and vicinity suspicion naturally
points toward a certain man Or men
when Offenses against the law are COM
mttted. The affairs of men living in
small communities are generally pretty
well known to their neighbOrs and each
individuals mode of life. morals money
income and general character are diff
cult 10 hide from the prying eye of the
community. In this case suspicion had
been directed toward several men. No
tangible evidence against any of them,
however, ever had been secured, and
little attempt made to check their oper-
atoms. One of them had been arrested
two years before for passing a counter
felt SO note. but the Indictment against
him in the state court had been
quashed. My observation in this case,
corrobOrated by my experience in pre-
ViOus cases, showed me there was
compact organization among the con
eymen."
Dr.. Charles 4. Laur, proprietor of
drug store IN East St. Louis, and a
practicing physician, and whose father
was a well-to-d0 farmer near there,
was believed 10 be the leader OF the
band, and to have been the man who
first brought counterfeit money for cir
culatiOn into the community. Laur
was a graduate of Rush Medical col
lege, Chicago, and was married. He
was six feet and an inch tall. with
sandy hair and beard, and drew a pen
sion for injuries received during his
service in the union army during the
civil war He dressed well, being in
the Mount Vernon community that
which is commonly referred to in larger
cities as a high roller" Before my
arrival in Mount Vernon, DR.. Laur had
moved to and established himself in
business in East St. Louis.
For the convenience of my readers, /
here will name the other members of
The band, as ascertained later:
John Fairchilds, a farmer in good
circumstances living at Grand Prairie,
Jefferson county, IS years Old and the
father OF fourteen children. He was
ga I'D
withai the most desperate man of the
band.
Isaac Boswell, proprietor OF the hotel
at Ashley, Washington county, 80 years
old. He was a man of family and
partner with DR.. Laur in the East st.
Louis drug store.
Smith T. Conlee, a farm owner and
stock raiser of IrvingtOn Washington
county, man of good repute, and
cousin of Dr.. Laur.
Winfred :. ingram, a married school
teacher, &c years old, of good repute.
Thomas RudiSel of Mount Vernon,
formerly q railroad brakeman and sta
tionary engineer, but at that time
peddling notions. He was single and
about p years old.
Charles Williams, 26 years old. of
Mount Vernon. married and bearing
good name, a man and picture sales
man.
Lewis Boswell, "A years old, a farmer
living near Grand Prairie and a
nephew of Isaac Boswell,
Noble Schaffrr. a farmer. who also
sold notions and who enjoyed ID fair
reputation in the community.
Elijah MaTteeny of Mount Vernon. 20
years old, OF a highly respected family
but inclined TO be wild"
Edward Mecum, a farmer OF VIII
liamsbuTg. jefferson county, a single
man with any but good reputation.
Henry Beasley. young farmer.
1t will be noted that most of the
members Of the Laur band We're farm
ers, and the same fact was true in the
instance of the majority OF other
couuterfeiting bands. Just why the
making and passing of counterfeit
money should so strongly appeal TO
that class Of men who, ia most of the
affairs of life, practice scrupulous hon.
esty and whose very vocation, IL is TO
be supposed, would UNIT them for the
nefarlOus trade of cOuuterfeiting. al
ways has remained a mystery 10 me.
Such was the fact, however. Not only
was most of the counterfeit money
during the '70s showed by farmers,
but several of the most clever and
dangerous engrayers- In the business
were farmers.
In the meantime l had made . the
acquaintance of Mayor NarHell of
Mount Vernon, of whom / asked this
question
DO you know man in Mount Yer
non or vicinity for whose honesty you
can vouch and who has the confidence
Of any Of the members OF Laurs
crowd"
Mayor Varnens after some min
utes' thought, said:
There lives here a painter named
James Stansbury. and I believe he
knows some of these men well enough
10 have himself made a member of the
band If he tried. l have the greatest
confidence in his keeping his word,
once ne gives it."
sFansDuTsI was Approached by Mayor
Narneli. who explained what Nas