Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-27
himself unwavering in his allegiance to

himself unwavering in his allegiance TO
me-
Laur took stanssury to smith Coniee.
from whom was purchased two $40 notes
In all these deals Il was necessary to have
corrohorative evidence, and this necessity
created a good deal OF trouble and delay
after ! was thoroughly satisfied of the
Identity Of each member OF the crowd and
OF the part each was playing In the gen
eral circulation of the counterfeits. These
obstacles were overcome In the course of
went to Mount Vernon. and then was be-
gun the most difficult part of the case-the
capture and conviction OF so large a num-
Der of men at once.
4
With the exception of I.aur the counter
feiters all lived within a radius OF about
dozen miles from Mount Vernon. but at
the same time were so close together that
the news of the arrest of one could easily
be learned by the others II the arrests
were not made simultaneously. or nearly
50. There were thirteen men to be gath
cred IN. 1t was manifestly impossible for
one or two men to accomplish the task. and
l wrote to Chief washburn asking for as
sistance. As result the following were
assigned to help; Estes G. Rathbone. then
an operative in the secret service. with
headquarters in Cincinnati and who since
acquired considerable notoriety in postal
| matters: @. w. Reardon. a secret service
operative In St Louis. and Robert Higgins.
N. e. Prettyman. ]. (. Hill. w. + Dunbar
and Frank Norval, deputy United States
marshals. Higgins. Dunbar and Norval be-
ing made deputies for the occasion.
On June went to Springfield and swore
out warrants in the United States court
for the arrest of the thirteen men. The
following night the arresting party went to
st. Louis At daybreak we crossed the
don ban gfN.,
DR.. Laur, the leader of the band. first.
Laur lived with his wife in cottage almost
under the Eads bridge and the second house
from the waters edge. II my memory serves
me right.
Leaving all the members OF our party but
one at the railroad station. I went directly
! to the Laur cottage. Laur was powerful
man physically and was reputed to possess
considerable daring and determination.
raped at the door of his cottage. and be-
! fore answering the summons he arose and
! came to the door. evidently believing the
| call was one for medical aid.
Whats wanted?' he asked
! II want YOU said I, crowd!ng my way
! into the room.
He started. but instantly recovered his
! composure.
at certainly does
While he was dressing l searched his
! clothing, but found no weapons and lit
| tie good money. which he was allowed to
| without resistance, and In q few minutes
| We had him at the station. where l turned
| him over to Deputy Norval to be taken 10
| Springfield. Before leaving the doctor in
| charge Of one deputy. however. took the
| precaution to place irons on his ankles also
for Notwithstanding his. apparent dociity
| under arrest. I feared an attempt to escape
before reaching Springfield.
|
| X
| The arrest of Laur but started the work
| of the day. From East ST Louis our party
| took train for Mount Vernon. reaching that
| place at noon. At Ashley, Deputy Pretty
man had left the train to get a team and
| drive to Irvington to arrest Smith Conlee.
| and was to send me cipher message as
| soon as his man was secured. At Mount
| Vernon l secured the services OF Sheriff
| Yearwood. as he was thoroughly familiar
| with the home location of each OF the men
| wanted, and l dared take no chances OF
| wasting time in taking wrong roads Me-
cum and Williams had been in Mount Yer
| non that day and were expected to return
| in the evening. City Marshal Cooper was
| deputiZed to take these men into custody
| when they returned, and Sheriff YearwoOd
| Deputy Hill and | went for Marteeny whom
| we found in a c0rnfied two miles from
| town. Then with two good teams we start
ed to swing In semi-circie around Mount