Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-10-07

AAVAtgs ENt nAl RttOiut "a or
bogus money for her husband, and
was an important member OF the con-
spiracy.
The ostablish-ent OF the facts rela-
tive to the Sts5tfeldt family and the
clinching OF the Identities OF briggs
and Boyd hal made the future Of the
case much clearer. During the months
under which tae principals to the
manufacture OF the Traders national
fves and other important counterfeits
were under surveillance at Clinton
and La Clare / was convinced, both
from theory and observation, that
neither Drigss nor Boyd was actively
engaged In the commission of any
overt counterfeiting act; but I was
equally certain that the Stadtfeldts
had been running their mill and
grinding out bogus bills for circula-
ton among the unwary. and the sub
sequent fact was developed as pre-
viously told that they had run on
from their press $4,000 OF the Trad
ers' national fves for Pete Mozart
ney.
Aside from any specific information
on the subject however, / would have
been firmly convinced that neither
briggs nor Boyd was at that time &C
lively cutting plates or Showing"
bogus money. for this reason: II had
been my observation and that Of every
other secret service man who had had
to do with counterfeiting cases that
professionals in the fine art Of max
ing and passing counterfeit money
never held any communication with
one another during the time they were
actively engaged in their work The
different processes of labor through
which a counterfeit bill passed be-
tween the cutting OF the plate to its
actual unloading on the public were
devised purely for purposes OF safety
lin order 20 break the chain by which
secret service operatives might follow
them. In addition to this division of
the work the universal custom pre-
vailed for the men engaged ia the is.
sue Of queer" money TO place long
distances between each other after the
plan was arranged. They made
rendezvous in one town or city. per
fected the details OF the plot. and
then scattered as a pun Of wind would
scatter the down of the dande.
lion, to meet again at place agreed
on three, six or more months after, as
the extent of the Job dictated.
In the case in hand / knew that the
principals were men versed in an tho
approved methods OF the "conev
men" and that IL was extremely un-
likely that the conferences between
briggs and Boyd were for any purpose
other than the arrangement OF the de
tails OF some big job 20 be done
Therefore. in addition 20 maintaining
strict surveillance. the principal task
before me was 90 watch for the pun
Of wind that was 10 scatter the
''konisckers' to their respective places
for work
While affairs stood thus. one OF my
assistants. during the course OF his
daily report 20 nae on the movements
OF briggs. said.
"Mr Demarest. this Is a big thing
briggs has lots OF money. and I am
satisfied you could make $4,000 by
losing him"
I had been somewhat doubtful OF
the Integrity OF this assistant FOR some
time, but up 90 this point had had no
tangible reason for thinking that he
would do anything traitorous toward
the secret service. I asked him how,
he knew the money could be made.
and he explained the circumstances
that led him TO estimate the probable
reward OF treachery on our part at
$4,000. ! then said 10 him:
Il am here to get these men. and
am going 20 do t. II you make one
move that spOils our game I shall Kill
you as I would dog"
He seemed convinced that I meant
what 7 said for there was nothing in
his actions or conversation after that
time 10 indicate that he had not done
his fun duty.
IL may Sven strange that when we
knew S95.0C0 OF counterfeit money
was being made in the Stadtfeldt
house we ala not descend on the es-
adjustment arrest the inmates and
conhsca,e re plant. but IL must be re-
mem bered that the Stadtfeldts we're
actors OF secondary Importance in the
drama that was being played. Boyd.
as the cutter Of plates. was tbs man
Oh whom the operations OF all the
others depended. and Dri ~gs. as man
OF great shrewdness and large means.
was the most dangerous dealer In the
country. Besides striving primarily
for the capture Of these TWO had
hoped to be able 20 land Pete Nc
CARNEY, whose standing in his chosen
profession was so high that he was
known as the King Of the KOniack-
ers,' and who was closely in league
with briggs. Boyd and the Stadtfeldts
To have raided the Stadtfeldt plant.
therefore, would have flushed the big
game and made them the more wary
in klture chase.
The capture OF the plates in the pos
session OF Boyd and briggs was OF
almost as much importance as the cap
ture OF the men themselves. and b.
sides, in order TO convict and i'm
prison the principals. it was neces-
sary 10 catch them in the act they
were charged with committing. These