Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-27

points toward q certain man or men when
offenses against the law are committed.
In this case suspicion had been directed to-
ward several men, No tangible evidence
against any of them. however. ever had
been secured. and little attempt made to
check their operations.
DR.. Charles T. Laur. proprietor of a drug
store IN East ST. Louis. and a practfcing
physician. who had formerly lived at Mount
Vernon. was believed 10 be the leader OF
the band, and to have been the man VINO
FIRST brought counterfeit money for circuia-
ton into the community. Laur was grad
uate of Rush Medical College, Chicago. and
was married. He was six feet and an inch
tall, with sandy hair and beard. and drew
a pension for injuries received during n $
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 high roll
err" Before my arrival in Mount vernon
DIR. Laur had removed to and established
himself in business in East st. Louis.
The other members of the band as asoer-
tanned later, were:
John Fairchilds. farmer in good cir
cumstances. living at ~rand Prairie, JET
ferson county, forty Eight years old and the
father of fourteen children.
Isaac Boswell, proprietor OF the hotet az
Ashley. Washington county. fifty years old.
He was a man of family and a partner with
DR. Laur In the East st. Louis drug store.
Smith 7. Conlee, farm owner and stock
raiser of Irvington, Washington county. a
man of good repute, and cousin of DIR.
Laur.
winfred s. Ingram. a married school
teacher, twenty-siX years old. or good re-
pute.
Thomas Rudisel of Mount Vernon. for
merly a railroad brakeman and stationary
engineer but at that time peddling notions
He was single and about twenty-one years
old.
Charles Williams. twenty-six years old, OF
Mount Vernon. married and bearing good
name, map and picture salesman.
Lewis Boswell. twenty-four years old. a
farmer living near Grand Prairie ana
nephew of Isaac Boswell.
Noble Schaffer. farmer. who also sold
notions and who enjoyed fair reputation
in the community.
Elijah Marteeny of Mount Vernon. twenty
years old. of highly respected family. but
inclined to be wild"
Edward Mecum. farmer of Williams
burg, Jefferson county. a single man WIFI
any bHtea good reputation
Henry Beasley. young farmer
1t will be noted that most of the members
OF the Laur band were farmers, and the
same fact was true in the instance of the
ma iority of other counterfeiting bands
Just why the making and passing of coun-
terfeit money should so strongly appeal te
tftdl cldSS VI Hleii WIZ, III iuoSt VI tiAC "a
fairs of life practice scrupufous honesty
always has remained a mystery to me
Such was the fact, however. Not only was
most of the counterfeit money during tbs
70s showed by farmers. but several of th'
most clever and dangerous engrayers in tht
| business were farmers.
In the meantime mad made the acquaint
ance of Mayor VarnelI of Mount Vernon, o.
xxyhn 7
DO you know a man In Mount Vernon O.
vicinity for whose honesty you can vouch
| and who has the confidence Of any Of thu
me n. bers Of Laur's crowdf
| Mayor Varnell mentioned painter namet
| James Stansbury. Stansbury was ap
| pros ched by Mayor Varnell. who explained
| what was wanted. The painter was WILLING
| to undertake the task of helping.
How well do you know these menu"
| asked.
| Some OF them / am intimately acquaint
| ed with--so well. in fact that they hav
dropped hints OF the operations in talkinI
with me, Through these we will have Il
| reach the Others"
| Have you heard any of them say wher
| the 'coney" comes from?'
mot definitely. but in talking with SOM
| of them got the impression that the suppl
| for this district was secured from Cincin
| Eati"
| This theory was entirely plausible, for a