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

ways exercising the greatest caution
that no one should learn OF the con-
ncction between as. To the world we
we're strangers mp 90 the time we met
Boyd's house. Fate favored us in the
matter OF weather. The day was
brigham ideal one for an enrraver
OF plates-and 7 felt that nothing
could prevent ms from catching Ben
Boyd dead 90 rights" I was 10 lead
entering the yard by the front gate
and going around 10 the rear OF the
house Brooks was 60 follow 20 feet
behind; while Mcdonald. 100 feet be-
hind Brooks. was TO make his way d.
rect 20 the front door BY this plan
/ designed 20 have each man at tho
right place at exactly the right time
found the back door open and en-
tered. No sooner had / stepped over
the threshold than Mrs. Boyd. her dark
eyes blazing, sprang acrcely at me and
grasped me by the coat collar.
Leave tins room instantly" she
screamed, az the same time Juggling
me toward the door with the unnat-
ural strength born OF freuzied fear. L
grappled with her and had her fairly
subdued by physical power when
Brooks stepped iu and took her in Gus
tody. We had known that Boyd did
his work in a room on the second floor
and started up the stairs When half
way up I met Boyd. in his shirt
sleeves. descending
Who are youg" he demanded.
Tyrrell OF the secret service" I an
Swered, and you are my prisoner"
Il have heard OF you" he said.
Great beads OF persp!rauon started
from his face and he became limp as
/ placed the handouts on him. Strong
man as he was. he displayed none OF
the ferocity Of his frail wife. who. in
the meantime. had stood. sullen and
apparently looking for a chance OF
escape. In the kitchen. a six-hour
search OF the house followed the ar
rest. With Brooks and Mcdonald in
charge Of the prisoners I undertook
the search, after telegraphing Chief
Washburn.
In a loose board IN box in the
front room upstairs / found a cleverly
mortised cavity containing the plate
OF the reverse side or the counterfeit
$50 note Of the State Bank of Ohio.
note that had been extensively
showed by the "coney men" as well
as the plate OF a $50 counterfeit bilL
OF the First national bank. OF DAYTON.
o. Mortised into the woodwork OF an
upholstered ottoman in the parlor
were the plates FOR the 800 Lincoln
head treasury note. the concealment
in each case being so cleverly accom-
plished that IL required the smashing
OF the wood almost into sDlinters to
find the plates. In the cleat on an
other box was found 1888 In good
currency; while wrapped in some old
clothes under a bed were found seven
sets Of blank plates, one set being OF
the size used in the CONTRIBUTING OF
United States bonds. The counter
letters workroom showed him TO have
been engaged in plate cutting at the
time We entered the house. IL was
learned later that Boyd had set a price
or $4,000 on the Lincoln head" plate.
Immediately on the receipt Of the
telegram from Fulton, Chief Wash
burn and his men moved on the briggs
house in First North street, Centralia.
and arrested Nicholas and Barbara
Stadueldt, Mrs. Nelson briggs. their
daughter, and Charles Stadtfeldt, their
son. briggs, the big prize. was not In
the house, but was arrested the same
day by Chief Washburn two miles
south OF Odin. ILL.,. in company with
Nicholas Korn, nephew of Mrs.
briggs, on whose person was found a
large sum OF counterfeit money. The
day following counterfeit money rep
resenting $117,437 was found hidden in
the heavy woods seven miles north OF
Centralia. where briggs had concealed
II just before being taken into custody.
Ben Boyd was tried before Judge
Blodgett In the United States district
court, in Chicago. aud was defended
by Judge Tuley. He was sentenced to
ten years In the Joliet penitentiary.
briggs was tried in Springfield before
Judge Treat and was sentenced to is
years In the penitentiary. The coun-
terfeitcrs' wives were released; Charles
stadtfeidt received an eight-year SEN