The Washington herald., 1909-07-11
BAND OF ITALIANS
HELD FOR FRAUD
Believed to Be international
COunterfeiteFS.
DETECTIVE LIVED WITH THEM
Secret Service Operative Worked
with Suspects for Four Years and
Finally Was shown Bogus BIIIs.
AZ Lease Fifty Thousand Dollars
Said 10 Have Been Circulated.

Chicago. July 10-United States Secret
Service Operative Lawrence Richey to-
night ran down the alleged members OF
a band Of international counterfeiters.
who are said 70 have opreated IN the
United States. Italy. and other countries
Tor FIVE years
II doing 50 Richey performed exploits
worthy Of the heroes OF detective fiction.
An American by birth. he learned Ital-
ian IN order 70 ingratiats himself with
the cOunterfeiters- he began 20 asscci-
ate with them as a fellow-crirninai four
7 years ago. IN order % deceive them
better he engaged in hard labor as a
street digger, although lznown as the
Beau Brummel OF the department
Scores OF times he slept among des-
perate italian criminals. any one OF
whom would have killed him 81 the
( slightest hint OF his real identity.
The prisoners whose characters brought
70 light the feats OF The detective are.
Antonio Di PalOto. Antonio Mecca, and
Ms Magdalena Contra RiceL Dorl-
nick Rice. the Woman's husband 8 IN
Italy. and the police there have been
asked 70 arrest him
Kept Bills in Mattress.
Paloto was arrested IN 8Irs. Riccrs
rooms by Richey and Secret Service o.
erative Peter Draugtesburg. who had also
assumed the role OF an Italian criminal
Paloto showed the men q package of his
counterfeit bills. which he took out OF a
mattress. He was overpowered after q
pistol fght
Mecca vas arrested at Argo. I'll
where. it Is said. he circulated bad money
among wOrkmen-
The prisoners were bound over 20 the
Federal grand jury. Before efectIng the
capture OF the prisoner. RIchey. repeated
" brought counterfeit $ bills OF the
Indian head issue OF lSo4 70 his su-
perior officer. Capt Porter. He reported
that Ricci and his wife were IN Itslv.
sending money 70 this country 10 PaIoto.
who was passing il throughout the United
States.
The bills first made their appearance
FIVE years ago. They are a fine imitation.
and only an expert can detect them.
Richey traced them 20 Ricci The de-
tective made a dozen unsuccessful at
tempts TO gain the confidence o.. RtccTs
associates. and then decided 70 learn
their language He adopted the garb OF
an Italian immigrant. Went 20 sea IN a
tug 20 meet an incoming vessel and ar
rived in New York with other i1nmi-
grants. At the dock he became acquaint-
ed with Italians who knew one Of Riccrs
intlmates
Lived Double Life.
For the last four years he has lived
alternately among the Italians and IN his
Official capacity st headquarters. and has
successfully avoided exposure. He pre-
vented two murders by warning the 20
Ice % Black Hand plots anonymously
over the telephone. He deferred making
the arrests until the alleged counterteiters
permitted evidence 20 be seized IN their
house. and then brought his long guest to
an end.
Richey was told by his Italian com
paniOns that Ricci IS one OF a gang OF
counterfeiters and Black Hand brigand
IN Italy Naples Is said 10 be the head
OF one Of the counSerfeiting organizations.
from where the notes are shipped 10 the
United States. Through Il the money IS
said to be circulated
Il Is declared that AZ least 5000 IN
spurious bills has been put in circula-
ton IN this country by the gang.