The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-11-24


inc.
AS insidious enemies OF the peopie
in every walk of life, counterIeleefs
may well be classed among the nose
subtle and dangerous persons WIN
whom officers of the law have TO cope.
Ever wide awake and on the alert iol
treachery in Their own ranks, THESE
crafty rogues can only be captured
and convicted by means OF carefuiiy
baited traps, or by what Is generally
known as the stoolpigeon system.
Counterfeiters are divided into SIX
distinct classes: First, the capitailst
or procurer; second, the engraVef'
third, the printer: fourth. the "nole,
sale dealer; fifth, the retailer ana
sixtb. the shower or circulator me
canitaIist is the most difficult man 10
reach as he seldom handles any OF
the plates or spurious money. Hence
the chief offender in this line may
walk calmly about, defyins the oetec-
tive each tacitly understanding tne
other in his relative position; one
suspecting and watching, the other
natientlv and tirelessly picking up
crsmb by crumb, convicting eVioenoe
The methods pursued by detectives
to entrap counterfeiters are rarely
hottar Illustrated than in the following
account of the capture OF william M.
Quincy, alias big Bill the honiacA-
or 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
s,rficient amount of money whereWltn
IN live like 8 gentleman and, strahse-
Nv enough, he chose path tnat leu
to his ultimate ruin.
In the excitement of those tumuitu-
Gus days the city Of New YORK was
we'll stocked with men possessed OIL
a genius for conceiying and conceai-
1ne crime. Perhaps no other city III
the civilized world has ever aHoroeo
better opportunity for fleeing the
nuhlic. Quincy had been handllng
counterfeit money for severai years
but had managed to escape PUNISH
ment He was one of the cnleI ais
tributors for Joshua D. Miner, VINO
wos the head and front OF power
ful octopus whose tentacies were
.+ro+ohad out in almost every seo.lon
of the country.
Gurney was by no means unattract-
I've in appearance. and there were
fey men walking Broadway IN MS
dav whose physique could compare
fayorably with his. He STOOD SIX Ieee
two inches in height and was CORE
snondingly we'll proportioned, wnlle
his EXPANSIVE chest and well-developeo
limbs gave him the appearance OF
man possessing the muscular strengtn
of a giant. His black eyes were sharp
ond savere. or mild and pleasant 10
cp,+ occasions. In conversation ne
was easy and interesting and, among
strangers. would readily have passed
for a gentleman Of marked aDliity'
To be a leader among the counterfeit
ing fraternity seemed to nave Deen
the orowning glory of his hlgnest am-
bition
In the spring of 1869 l was ap-
pointed chief Of the government Sc
cret service and, though l had mad
exnereence with General Butler IN
New Orleans, and later in the Internal
revenue service, was unknown among
the ccunterfeiters.
Shortly after my appointment | re-
ceived information, at my headquar-
tiers in Washington, regarding rather
unique affair that had taken place at
one of the drinking resorts on Hous-
ton street, in New York CITY, Will
liam Quincy, with his characteristic
push and daring, had invited a party
of "queersmen" to partake of ban
uuet at this place. There were "A
persons present at this function, three
ex-detectives being among the num-
Der.
On the following day I was furnished
with the particulars of this remark
able assembly, and the ex-detective
who reported it also provided list
of the banqueters. Among other
things 1 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 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 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.
'In the meantime" he continued, Il
will draw out from him his plans and
keep myself posted as to his pro-
posed movements"
This plan pleased the fancy OF the
scoundrels, and they agreed that Cur
ney 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
letters jostled elbows and banded
Jokes good-naturedly as they contem-
plated the easy times in store for
them. When sufficiently filed with
wine and enthusiasm, they capped the
climax by hurrahing for his satanic
majesty. The feast of BelshazZar was