Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-06-11

cret service. It was concerned with
the appearance of number of coun-
terfeit $40 bills in Erie financial cir
cles during the winters of 1869 and
1870. A man by the name of Fred
Landers kept restaurant in the
town, and one day when the detective
dropped in the proprietor told him Of
fellow who had ordered light
lunch, paid for it with $40 bill,
bought drink as he went out and
offered a second $40 bill to the bar
tender who said he could not change
1t.
Murray looked at the bill Landers
had accepted. 1t was cleverly de-
signed but not well enough to de-
ceive the practiced eye of man
trained to detect such forgeries. Lam
ders described the fellow and Murray
caught him at the railroad station.
but did not find any of the counter
felt money in his possession. He was
merely shower of the queer" one
who passes the bad money and re-
ceives only couple of phoney bills
at time.
In no other line of criminal work
is there such scientific organization
shown as in that of counterfelting.
The men who pass the money never
do business with the man who makes
the plates. The plate maker is an en-
graver who usually receives a lump
sum for his work. Those who print
the money are the manufacturers and
they dispose of the queer in whole
sale quantities to dealers, who sell to
retail dealers, who have, in turn,
their Showers out" passing the
money. The man who fell into Muir
rays hands was a shower. Having
made the arrest and searched him, he
found on a piece of paper in the pris.
oner's coat pocket the name, Tom
Hale, New York" Murray at once
sent a telegram addressed to Hale as
follows:
Come on. am sick. Stopping at
Morton house. Room S4."
Murray made arrangements with
the clerk of the Morton house to keep
track of any person who called and
asked for the guest in room "a. No
body came. The shower, who was
known as Poke" Sales, stayed in Jail,
having been identified by Landers
and the bartender. A week passed
without any fresh developments. A
heavy snowstorm had been raging for
several days, the trains were block
AIDED and all traffic delayed. But on
the ninth day there was a new ar
rival at the Morton house. Although
it was an excessively cold day he
wore no overcoat. He inquired for
Mr.. Sales in room S4 and was instant
ly pounced upon by Murray who was
close at hand. Upon being taken to
headquarters and searched several
hundred dollars was found upon him,
but nothing in the way of counterfeit
money. Still, Murray detained him
with the intention of hunting for his
baggage, for it was obvious that a
man wearing such expensive clothes
as adorned the person of the prisoner
would be likely to have an overcoat in
the vicinity somewhere.
On the following morning Murray
began a systematic hunt for the miss.
ing overcoat. During the course OF
his search he stepped into a saloon
kept by man named John Anthony.
Here's a curious thing happened
yesterday" he said. There was a
wcll-dressed chap came in here,
washed his hands and walked out
again leaving his oyercoat behind him.
You'd think that would be about the
last thing he'd leave on a bitter cold
day"
Seems funny" responded Murray.
Let me look at that coat John"
The overcoat was produced and in
the first pocket Murray examined he
found 1000 in counterfeit $40 and
800 bills wrapped up in handker-
chief. They were such excellent coun-
terfeits that they actually deceived
the eyes of several bank experts to
whom they were shown. Murray went
back to the jail and approached his
prisoner.
Hello. Hale, here's your coat" he
said.
"All right, thank you," said the
stranger.
"Then 1t is your coat, Tom?'
queried Murray.
why. certainly" replied the pris
oner.
Murray produced the counterfeit
money from the pocket and Hale, re
alizing what a grave mistake he had
made. denied that the garment was
his property. Murray compelled him
to don it and the fit was perfect The
saloon-keeper identified him as the
, stranger who had left the coat in his
, place.
, Poke" Sales pleaded guilty to pass
, ing counterfeit money and received q
flve-year sentence. Hale was taken by
the United States authorities to Pitts
burg, then to New York and finally tc
, Washington. He was a smooth talk
ing fellow and made the government
, officials believe he would be of great
Il.