Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-22
Elaborate Counterfeiting Plant
Raided in New York.
MONEY NEARLY PERFECT
Three Men and Woman Are Under
Arrest.
HUMPTY IS LEADER OF GANG
Has Spent Half His Life in Prison.
Burglars Tools, Explosives and
Chemicals Are Located.

NEW YORK, August %. - Following
the arrest of two safe blowers in Newark
and a third man in Hoboken late last
night the police early today raided a
house in Brooklyn and there arrested a
woman after unearthing one Of the most
elaborate counterfeiting plants ever found
in New York. together with half ton
of burglar tools, chemicals and explosives
used for blowing safes open.
The detectives agree that not only will
one Of the most daring counterfeit gangs
that ever operated in the country be
broken up, but that the gang of safe rob-
bers who have been working through the
east during the past several months has
been run to earth.
Humpty Is Leader Of Gang.
The gang. according to the police, was
led by George Williams. a hunchback
known as "Humpty," he has spent seven
teen of his thirty-five years of life be-
hind bars.
He was a druggist in his youth. While
mixing prescriptions he learned the use
of explosives, and later he became a
maker of counterfeit money.
The names Of the others are Samuel
Tiffany and George Vaughan.
The woman who was caught in the
police net gave her name as Lizzie Jacob
SON. and says she Is the wife of Will
liams. She has been married twice be-
fore. but both former husbands are dead.
When the detectives entered the apart
ments occupied by the woman they came
upon the counterfeiting outfit. which in
cluded dark room and big camera and
a dozen plates from which counterfeit
bills could be printed. The bills were
then found They were as nearly per-
feet as any counterfeits yet discovered.
Woman Is Loyal.
The detectives then discovered the burg
lar tools and the explosives and called a
patrol wagon to haul them to police head
quarters in Manhattan. The woman was
also taken to headquarters and question
ed. She would tell nothing.
The detectives had found a list of ad-
dresses in the house which. they believe.
will furnish the homes of other members
feiters.
More arrests are expected to be made
today. 1t is probable that more counter
feiting plants and hiding places for burg
lar tools will be found. The detectives
believe also they may come upon the
have become active.
The men did not have time to secure
any booty in their job in Newark. They
had been followed by detectives and when
in the act of blowing the safe were
pounced upon and arrested.
Long List Of Robberies.
Police officials declare the gang is re-
sponsible for long list of the most dar-
ing and skillful robberies that have been
committed in this and neighboring cities
during the past spring and summer
Among these robberies are the theft of
$1,000 worth of gold leaf and gold pins
last June at the store of the Diamond
Penpoint Company. and jewelry, unset
diamonds and gold leaf, valued at $4,000.
from the Thomas J. Dunn jewelry estab-
lishment.
Other robberies with which the police
hope to connect Williams and his gang
are the entry of the establishment Of All.
vah johnson & Co., where 5000 was
taken, and the robbery Of Child's restau-
rant, near the Savoy Theater, where the
safe blowers took $500 in cash
The amount recently made away with
by the gang, whose methods, the police
say. seemed to bear all the evidence of
'Humpty" Williams work, is between
200 and $4,000.