River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-11-10

INSTANCES IL ""9
A---s---- ceedingly difficult to
detect the bogus stuff from the genu-
ine
AS fnsidious enemies Of the people
in every walk Of life, counterfeiteTs
may well be classed among the most
subtle and dangerous persons VIII
whom officers of the law have to cope.
Ever wide awake and on the alert lor
treachery in their own ranks, these
crafty rogues can only be captured
and convicted by means OF careluIly
baited traps, or by what is generalIy
known as the stool-pigeon SYSTEM
Counterfeiters are divided into six
distinct classes: First, the capltallsC
or procurer; second, the engraVef'
third. the printer; fourth, the Wnole-
sale dealer; fifth, the retainer anu
sixth. the shower or circulator. Inc
capitalist is the most difficult man 10
reach as he seldom handles any Oh
the pIa ces or spurious money. Hence
the chief offender in this line may
walk calmly about, defying the detec-
tive, each tacitly understanding tne
other in his relative position; one
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 1ollo"lns
account of the capture of William M.
Quincy. alias "Big Bill the KonlacK-
or one Of the foremost wholesale
dealers in queer" Of his day. lie was
horn OF respectable parentage, reared
in the olietude incident TO country
life. educated and supplied WIN d
sufficient amount Of money WhereWltn
to live like a gentleman and stranse,
" enough, he chose path that leu
to his ultimate ruin.
In the excitement of those tumultu-
ous days the city of New YORK was
we'll stocked with men possessed Oh
q genius for conceiving and conceal
inc crime. Perhaps no other city IN
the civilized world has ever aHorded
better opportunity for teeclng the
n,bIic Quincy had been handling
counterfeit money for several years
hit had managed to escape PUNISH
ment. He was one of the chleI as
4ributors for Joshua d. Miner, VINO
wae the head and front OF a power
FIJI octoDus whose tentacles were
stretched out in almost every section
of the country.
Quincy was by no means unattracI-
i've in appearance, and there were
few men walking Broadway III MS
day whose physique could compare
favorably with his. He stood SIX 1eeC
two inches in height and was CORE
spondingly well proportioned' WINE
HE exhaustive chest and well-deVelopeo
limbs gave him the appearance Oh
man possessing the muscular strengtn
of a giant. His black eyes were SHARP
and severe, or mild and pleasant "
s,i+ occasions. In conversation ne
was easy and interesting and, among
strangers. would readily have passed
for a gentleman of marked aplllty.
To he a leader among the counterfeit
ing fraternity seemed to nave Deen
the browning glory of his hlghest am
bition.
In the spring of 1869 I was ap-
nointed chief of the government Sc
cret service and, though | had had
exnerience with General Butler IN
New Orleans, and later in the Internal
revenue service, | was unknown among
the counterfeiters.
Shortly after my appointment I re-
ceiyed information, at my headqnar-
tiers in Washington, regarding rather
unioue 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 party
of "queersmen" to partake of a 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 | was furnished
with the particulars of this remark
able assembly, and the eX-detective
who reported it also provided a 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 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,
ito 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.
''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 great man. They were
seated at the tables imbibing wine,
and they drank to Gurney's health
while the ex-detectives and counter
feiters jostled elbows and banded
jokes good-naturedly as they contem-
plated the easy times in store for
them. When sufficiently filled with
wine and enthusiasm, they capped the
climax by hurrahing for his satanic
majesty. The feast of Belshazzar was