Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-06
- HERE vas a lIme durIng lhe


carried on to a greater extent
than now. In fact Il became u
very serious menace to the circulation
OF tho country. Numerous bogus oills
Of all kinds and denominations were
floating around the United States ana
many a time 1t was a toss up as 20
whether or not bill was good or bad,
30 rerfect were the limitations.
The secret service at this time was
not In the best of shape; It was openly
bruited about that many OF the OPP
eratives were In sympathy with the
gang OF countcrfelters. Evidently this
gang had a central or national organi-
zation. because every time counter
feiter was arrested the best legal talent
IN the country was employed TO defend
him, Bail to the extent Of $4,000 or
$4,000 was readily furnished many
times for men totally unknown IN mo
city wherein they were caught 1hen
when tho Gaze was called the accused
would not appear; bail would be declar-
ed forfeited. and Immediately paid
without waiting for IFS collection to be
enforced by the slow process OF law.
The gang was strongly fortified with
two kinds Of money--"green goods or
counterfeit. which was circulated
among the dear public. and shake
down" or real money, which was used
IN the defense Of those unfortunate
enough 10 he caught.
Finally. go bold and general did the
gang become. that the entire subject
was laid before cabinet meeting H.
Washington and drastic measures de-
termined upon. IT was Secretary
poutelle who recommended that Col.
w. c. whitley be appointed chief OF
the secret service and given spe 'lal
instructions 10 stop the counterfeting,
Whitley was consulted and, after
much deliberatlon. agreed to accept
the position, provided he was given n
free hand MS 10 men and expense.
Politics and pull we're to be eschewed
he was to choose his own operatives
and run the department. as his judy
ment dictated.
whitley obtained the desired re-
suits. The gang was broken up. ana
many OF its members sent to Jail or
compelled to remain In hiding. There
were, OF course, n great many curious
and exciting cases which were carried
10 a successful conclusion. but one Of
the most interesting was that of the
Trades Fives," so-called because Of
counterfeit s5 bill OF the Traders Ma
tional bank OF Chicago, Tho spurious
bill was well-nigh perfect, but. as ia
usually the case, there was a slight
difference in the details Of the bill. The
cashiers signature had curve TO the
letter J made slightly unlike the orig
inal. the letter Of Traders barely
crossed given line, taking almost
microscope 10 detect II.
AS soon as Its existence became
known the secret service men in Chi
cago were placed at work on the case
No Roadway was made. Outside help
waa called In; still no clew as to the
identity Of the gang uttering this bill
Chief Whitley, at Washington, was
chsgrined and at long distance began
10 direct the case. The Chicago opera.
tlves had about given up In despair
when, one day, Charles Mason IN
charge Of the local office. received an
order from Whitley directing him
tMason) and one other man TO be at
Shenandoah. Ia, two days hence. They
were TO arrive after dark, and al
o'clock the same evening they were
10 board train leaving Shenandoah
for st. Joseph. Mo. At the first yta-
tlon south OF Shenandoah two strange |
men, one carrying a sole leather vallse, |
were to board the train. These two |
men Mason and his partner were to
watch-not for one instant were they |
TO lose sight OF them. At st. Joseph the !,
two strangers would leave the train
and be Joined by a third party, who |
would be awaiting them at the station.
As soon as this meeting took place all
three or them were to be arrested, and
q full report made by wire to WASH
"A |
taken to get the leather valise.
Mason studied these instructions very
carefully. They were specific and to
the point, He WAS somewhat puzzled
as to who to take with him. Most OF
his men were busy on important cases
ann TO take any one OF them off at this
time might work hard Col. Jack
Cheney was a warm personal friend OF
his; they had worked on many case
together; perhaps he would 60. True
Cheney was the head OF a big detective
service company and could command
big prices for his service, but there ran
IN his veins that always unsatisaed
longing for action and excitement. IL
he could take Cheney. Mason felt
assured OF success, and he wanted sue
cess for two reasons: he admired Whit
ley and then, too, he was ambitious and
aspired to a higher position in the SER
vice.
When Mason's name was brought in
to Cheney by the faithful Jeff he was
quite busy, but he put everything aside
and bade his old friend welcome. Ma
son explained his mission and added:
That's the whole story Cheney, ana
ia like TO have You go II YOU can"
All right. Mason. I'll do It. 1t will
only take two or three days time at
haa nd n
portant on hand now"
Mason handed Cheney his chiefs let
ter and together they studied its con-
tents carefully.
mo mistaking the chiefs intent; Is
there. Chuck" said Cheney.
That's true replied Mason "rhe
old man appears 10 have II all worked
out like chess problem. II doesn't
look like 8 very pleasant job, though,
That train leaving Shenandoah at
p. m. reaches St Joe at IN the morn
ing, There the two men are TO be
Joined by third party, and We are to
pinch the whole crowd. our work h
cut out all right
Well did CHIEF Whitley know the cal
iber OF the man he had so wisely
chosen. Mason did not know the mean
Ing OF the word fear: he had been In
many a hard-fought scrap with moon
sinners, smuggers and counterfelters,
and carried scars OF more than one bull ,
let wound IL his chief had ordered him
10 arrest dozen men he would have
made the attempt. Truly did he pos
sess the Balaklaya spirit:
Theirs not 20 reason why:
Theirs bur to do and die"
What case do YOU reckon this is,
Mason2"
Hanged II know, Cheney. There's
a whole slew of them on now. You
can bet the old man knows what he's
talking about He's the best long
distance detective / know"
Two days later thaY took a train and [