Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-10-28

dence he hal I'm the colored man. From
Sullivan "Hoosier Bill" got several
packages of half dollars. 40 in a pack
age, and three rolls OF bills OF 800
representative money each. These he
showed" turning over the proper pro-
portion OF the good money received to
Sullivan. Thielen. Sullivan and Har-
gate, however. were not the only mem
bers OF the Biebush ring about whom
"Hoosier Bill" gave me information.
There were William Whalen and Harry
Wood, showers and John Evans and
Mrs. Annie WEIGH, also showers. but on
a smaller scale.
Bridges was willing TO go TO St. Louis
TO serve as a witness against Biehush
II the latter were tried: but in this we
seemed 10 be cut Oft squarely by the
Missouri statute previously referred TO
as one OF Biebush's chief sources OF
security. prohibiting convicts OF ex-
convicts from testifyiag.
"Hoosier Bits" information concern
ing Whalen and Woods merely con
firmed what we knew. This pair made
headquarters at Bosses saloon. as did
Thielen and Sullivan. Gallagher. ken
noch and had placed ourselves on
more or less friendly terms with Wha-
lea and Woods while we were trying
60 buy "coney" from Biebush. Tney
had told Gallagher in SO many words
that "Old Fred vas dealing extensive
iy In counterfeit money aud seemed
anxious 10 initiate Gallagher into the
secret ring, plan which had been
checked by Blebush himself.
While the Information | received
from Bridges was OF great value as in
dicatiEg the personnel OF the band and
the respective functions OF each mem
Der, it mad not given Us any positive
proof, and legal proof was all We want
ed. II still remained for US 10 find a
way to prove what We knew. In the
face OF our failure 10 rope" Biebush
up To that time il seemed like we
would have 10 start farther back and
get some OF his subordinates in such a
tight place that they would allow them
selves 10 be used as witnesses against
their chief in order 10 save themselves.
lnformers in criminal cases are OF two
".
Voluntary info-mers are usually
prompted by motives OF revenge or Pc
cuniary gain-more often the former.
Involuntary informers are usually the
smaller fry In criminal band who are
willing TO furnish evidence against the
leading criminals under promise they
will be leniently dealt with as a re-
ward, but they must first be caught 10
the tolls themselves. Because such
principals in big criminal conspiracies
at Fred Biebush. for their own safety.
turn ever 10 subordinates the perform
ance Of the tangible acts. the subordi-
mates in an extensive plot like a coun-
terfeiting job may be caught and con-
victed and their places always filled.
the execution OF the plot not being ma
terially interfered with. When IL is
recalled that the paramount function
OF the United States secret service is
TO protect the currency and bonds of
the government, Il viii be seen how
eminentiy proper II is to compromise
with petty crime by a subordinate. IL
by 30 doing the authorities can catch
the big fellows and stop the perpetra-
ton OF the one big crime. Therefore
an informer who was close enough TO
Biebush 10 be able to furnish convict
Ing evidence against him was what
we sadly needed.
And let me say now that most eNec-
tive detective work consists In heinz
able to flna the ri~',. iSIrd OF inforuars
know full wei ia-t Ge.eStises gen.