Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04

that they enter into the work. Former
~ at the discretion OF the Judge a COM
promise was made by which the pris-
oner was given his freedom after sur
rendering all counterfeiting materials and
all the imitation money in his possession.
But this is not customary now, for the
women as well as the men have become
more daring, and more severe punish
ment is deemed necessary to prevent an
increase of this phase of criminal work.
One of the women most prominent in
the history of counterfeiters for her dar-
ing and acumen Is Mrs. Mack, alias
Tinsa Macmillan. Mrs Mack. unlike
most woman counterfeiters. went volun-
tarily into the work. BY a plan of her
own and with the aid of a young news
paper artist, she succeeded in counter
feiting really clever postage stamps. Her
assistant made the plates and did the
actual work on the stamps. The ma
jority of counterfeiters work only with
notes and imitation silver money. be-
cause, although the stamps are easier to
make ii is difficult to find a market for
so large number of them without at
tracing suspicion. II was this problem
of the sale of the stamps that Mrs. Mack
had next to face.
An advertisement was sent to a num-
Der of the newspapers to the effect that
a large mail order house had received in
lieu OF cash 100000 postage stamps. Of
which they were anxious to dispose. Such
an unusual advertisement attracted the
attention of the secret service authori-
ties. An investigation was made. and
Mrs. Mack and her assistant were ar
rested 1t was clever fraud and one Ut
a series of crimes with which Mrs. Mack
had been connected.
Her arrest took place in the east and
for some reason IL was necessary to
bring her through Canada to reach the
place OF trial. At the first station in this
foreign territory she descended from the
train and declared herself exempt from
United States authority. She was forced
to remain in custody. however. and
finally through the operation OF the ex-
tradition law she was brought back 10
the United States But Mrs. Mack did
not give un easily, and when her picture
was taken for the rogues' gallery II took
five men To hold her in position.
"As a general thing we have very little
trouble with woman counterfeiters." said
Chief Wilkie. ''Our men are as courteous
as possible and it is seldom that they
find 1t necessary to use force. Although
these women are often rough and mascu-
line in manner. they surrender to the law
without much fight and their arrests are
seldom sensational. Even the Italian
women with their strong hates and loves
are not dangerous when they realize that
escape Is impossible. Rose Russo was
woman OF this type.
She was noted for her wonderful aid
and hdeliiy TO her husband In his crimi-
nal work. They were first arrested for
passing counterfeit silver dollar coins In
January, 1887, at Chelsea. Mass. They
were indicted and In April pleaded guilty.
The sentence was light-six months In
the East Cambridge Mass, house OF cor
rection, and. in accordance with the tech
nicality of the law. to pay a fine of 81.
They We're released from the Cambridge
jail In October. with about $1,000 of real
money in their possession
In November Of the same year they
went to London for the purpose OF coun-