Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-16

taken to Madison on the next train. The
men pleaded guilty and were sentenced TO
serve seven years each in the penitentiary.
Mrs. Robinson was givn her liberty.
Well satisfied with the results of the Wis
consln Job l returned to Chicago and
dropped into the routine of my work, little
thinking that the events Immediately {"
follow would neceSstate my return to the
badger state. But no sooner had | re-
turned than a 500 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 b,ii. in my opinion, was
unquestionably counterfeit. A few days
ter 500 bill of the same issue. but bear
ing the name of another bank offered
at the Chicago post office. Then to the
Traders National Bank there came 500
bill from the bank at Shelbyville, H. This
was also of the same issue, but bore the
name of still another bank. My collection
was soon further increased by 500 bill
from Parsons, Kan, following which came
the information from secret service head
quarters 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 Bank of Boston,
Second National of Wilkesbarre, Fa.. and
the Merchants National of New Bedford.
Mass, having been filed in by the skeleton
process. At the United States subtreasury
the cashier insisted the bills were genuine.
The cashiers OF five out of eight banks to
which they were submitted also held tnem
to be good. Thomas p. Tallman, cashier
of the Traders National, and / insisted
they were counterfeit.
| found al the post office that the bill Of
fered there had been sent by the postmas-
ter at Cambridge, H., to whom l imme-
diately sent telegram in the name of ].
w. Palmer. the Chicago postmaster. The
Cambridge postmaster answered that he
had received the bill in question from the
Cambridge bank and that no accurate de-
scription of the man who had passed 1t
could be obtained. The cashier of the bank
at Portage wrote that he had received the
bill from man about forty-fiyc years old,
nearly six feet tall and with dark, full
beard He looked like well-to-do farm
err the cashier wrote. somewhat SINH
lar general description, except as to the
color of the beard, and altogether more def
mite came from Parsons. l sent Operative
Kennech to st. Louis and Louisiana to pur-
sue the investigation there.
While these things were happening I re-
ceived word through the United States
marshal at Springfield III, to the effect
that deputy sheriff al Vandalia, H., had
arrested man for trying to pass 500
counterfeit bill at the Farmers and Mer-
chants National Bank in the latter city.
This bit of news, considered in connection
with the rapidly occurring events of the
days previous, was decidedly important, and
l lost no time in getting to Vandala. /
found that tall bearded farmer looking
man of about fifty had rendered a 800 bill
to David Palmer of the local bank, and that
Palmer had declined to accept it, reporting
the matter to Deputy Sheriff CluXton, who
had arrested the stranger at the railroad
station he was about to leave Vandalia.
He gave the name of Levi Logan and
said he had received the bill from one
Charles Scott of Fond du Lac, Wis., in
horse trade. When arrested he had in his
possession another counterfeit bill of the
same kind as he tried to pass and 1854 in
good money.
| questioned the prisoner, but made little
progress with him, but decided from his
manner that he was not Levi Logan"
Who he really was remained to be found
prisoner into my custody, but Deputy Sheriff
Cluxton declined to turn him over to me- l
appealed to a prominent local attorney who
had influence with the deputy sheriff and
in this way finally secured custody OF the
prisoner and took him to Springfield Had
he persisted in retaining custody of Levi
Logan IL is likely that one of the most
important bands of koniackers" in the
country would have enjoyed their liberty
much longer than they did.
The only clues ! had TO work on in
tabshing the Identity OF Levi Logan
were his story that he had come from Wis
consin and description of the man. The
first clue was strengthened by the fact
that the bills that had found their way into
Chicago evidently had been passed by a
man travelling from north to south. / was
convinced that Logan was an adept in
the Showing of counterfeits. and il this
were true and he hailed from Wisconsin
there was little probability that he was not