The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-12-17

- ceedingly difficult to
detect the bogus stuff from the genu'
inc.
AS tnsidious .enemies of the people
in every walk of life, counterfe1ters
may well be classed among the most
subtle and dangerous persons with
whom officers of the law have to cope.
Ever wide awake and on the alert FOR
treachery in their own ranks, these
crafty rogues can only be captured
and convicted by means Of carefully
baited traps, or by what is generally
known as the stool-pigeon system.
Counterfeiters are divided into six
distinct classes: First the capitalist
or procurer; second. the engraver;
third, the printer; fourth, the whole
sale dealer; fifth, the retailer, and
sixth, the shower or circulator. me
capitalist is the most difficult man to
reach as he seldom handles any OF
Tie Plates or spurious money hence
the chief offender in this line may
walk calmly about, defying the detec-
tive, each tacitly understanding the
OLuGI III HIS iS16t4fC POSASAo41
suspecting and watching, the other
patiently and tirelessly picking up
crumb by crumb, convicting evidence.
The methods pursued by detectives
to entrap counterfeiters are rarely
better illustrated than in the following
account of the capture of William M.
Quincy, alias big Bill" the konlack-
er. one of the foremost wholesale
dealers in queer" of his day. He was
born of respectable parentage, reared
in the quietude incident to country
life. educated and supplied with q
sufficient amount of money whereWitn
to i've like a gentleman and, strange
~ enough, he chose a path tnat leu
to his ultimate ruin.
In the excitement of those tumultu-
GUS days the city of New YORK was
well stocked with men possessed OF
a genius for conceiving and conceal
ing crime. Perhaps no other city Ia
the civilized world has ever afforded
better opportunity for deec1ng the
nublic. Quincy had been handing
counterfeit money for several years
but had managed to escape punish
ment. He was one Of the chlef as
trIhutors for Joshua D. Miner, who
was the head and front OF a power
ful octopus whose tentacies were
stretched out in almost every secuon
of the country.
Quincy was by no means unattract-
i've in appearance, and there were
few men walking Broadway III MS
day whose physique could compare
savorably with his. He stood SIX rect
two inches in height and was CORE
spondingly well proportoned, Wnlie
his expansive chest and well-deVeloped
limbs gave him the appearance OF
man possessing the muscular strengtn
nj a giant. His black eyes were sharp
and severe, or mild and pleasant, TO
s,,it occasions. In conversation ne
was easy and interesting, and, among
strangers would readily have passed
for a gentleman of marked aolllty.
To be a leader among the counterfeit
ing fraternity seemed to have been
the GROWING glory of his highest am
bition.
In the spring of 1859 / was ap-
pointed chief of the government Sc
cret service and, though had mad
experience with General Butler in
New Orleans, and later In the internal
revenue service, ] was unknown among
the counterfeiters.
shortly after my appointment ! re
ceived information, at my headquar-
ters in Washington, regarding rather
unioue affair that had taken place at
one of the drinking resorts on Hous-
ton street, In New York city. VIII
liam Quincy, with his characteristic
push and daring, had invited party
of suueersmen" to partake Of q ban
ouet at this place. There were "a
persons present at this function, three
ex-detectiVes being among the num-
Der.
On the following day was furnished
with the particulars of this remark
able assembly, and the ex-detective
who reported it also provided lishI
of the banqueters. Among other
things / learned that my appointment |
as chief of the secret service was dis |
cussed at the affair, and pronounced |
a good joke upon the government. |
Quincy addressed his guests, boast |
fully declaring that ''the new chief |
might do for a preacher or an internal
revenue clerk, but that he could |
never cope with shrewd men like the
queersmen."
'Now is our opportunity" he said.
"to reap a rich harvest" At the same
time he advised his friends that he
was going to take the new chief into
his confidence and keep him well
stuffed with fictitious information.
SIN the meantime" he continued, 7
win draw out from him his plans and
keen myself posted as to his pro-
posed movements"
This plan pleased the fancy of the
and they agreed that Cur
new was a great man. They were
seated at the tables imbibing wine,
and they drank to Gurney's health
while the ex-detectives and counter
49, jor+Ia5 elbows and handled |