The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-27
MAKERS OF ''QUEER'
MONEY IN PRISON
Two Men and Woman, Charged
With Counterfeiting, Are
Placed Under Arrest.
PORTION OF PLANT FOUND
ON SECOND AVENUE
One of Trio Makes Partial Con-
fession, in Which He I'M
plicates Partner.

GpT IDdkl1IS anu pdSSlhE N'Nl'"i i'''
money. Detectives Ripley. Curran and
Chase placed under arrest Wednesday
afternoon Frank Sprague, William
Morgan and Mrs. Frank Sprague, all Of
whom were taken TO the police station
and are being held for the government
authorities. A number OF clever coun-
terfeit 81 and o0-cent pieces were found
in various stores about the city. and the
remains of countcrfctinG plant found
at the residence OF the SpraGucS, 62i
Second avenue. Spraguc made a
partial confession to the police. which
duplicates Morgan and Mrs. Sprague
The arrests followed the work OF the
detectives. who have been detailed on
tho case for the past two weeks Ihdt
clever counterfeitcrs were at work IN
the city, first came TO the knowledge OF
the police department. two weeks ago
when complaint was received from the
Iowa bakery at 271 West Second South
a counterfeit half-dollar; in payment for
somo cakes, The proprietor Of tho balS-
cry was puzzled for awhile as to wheth-
er the coin was queer but finally de-
where it was readily detected No clue
could be given as to who had passed the
coin, and for some time the members OF
the department were unable TO get any
Information OF value TO them
Pass Coins at Theaters.
theatcr. the Luna, the Majestic and the
Empire, and other places OF amusement
throughout the city. These were fol-
lowed by complaints from some of the
smaller stores Confident that the men
who had passed the coins would return
to the theaters. detectives were detailed
TO watch the various places of amusc-
ment. Suspicion was aroused by the ac-
tions OF Sprague when heNwas seen
coming out OF one of the thcatcrs, and
he was followed TO his residence.
,..1.ay
learped that he had been living with
Minnie kooyman. who was known as
Mrs. Minnie Spraguc. When all of the
Inmates Of the house bad left, dcteS. g..
Sprague, and found the remains OF q
counterfeitIng plant Lying in the dust
of the coal bucket WIS poorly made
halfdollar. which doubtlessly had been
thrown aside and forgotten, y portion
OF silver cake dish was also found,
the remaining edges OF which were par
TALLY melted. ladle. with portion OF
hard. white metal clinglnG to 1t. was
also found.
Woman Taken to Station.
g The detectives Immediately Left men
OH guard at the house and started out
after the suspects. Mrs. Sprague was
found at the corner of Third South and
Main streets by Detective Ripley and
taken to the police station. When told
that she was under arrest. she tore the
sleeve out OF her garment in her at
templS 10 release ncrSelL from lHe grasp
OF the detective and called upon the by
ISLANDERS TO help .her escape. When De
tective Ripley threatened TO call the
police patrol the woman subsided and
walked to the police station.
Frank Spraeue was arrested at the
Lincoln house, whore nc had gone TO get
some of his clothing. The police had
been there before him and bad brought
his effects to the police station While
he was being placed under arrest. VII
liam Morgan, his partner, came into the
room. and was also placed under arrest.
On the way TO the station Morgan asked
Detective Ripley TO allow him 10 go some
place and deposit what money be had
in his pockets. The police assert that he
was afraid that some OF the counterfeit
money would be found In his pockets,
as he insisted on taking out what change
he had, as though he wanted TO count IL.
"Queer' Money Passed.
Both Morgan and Sprague went TO Og-
den. Tuesday night, where a number OF
the queer dollars and alf-dollars were
Wednesday morning. Sprague. when first
arrested and questioned al the station,
made a partial confession. duplicating
Morgan. and telling OF Morgan being
avenue when the coins were being made,
when confronted In Chief Shcets's Of
flee by Morgan, Sprague at first started
to tell OF making the coins. He was
watched closely by Morgan. and finally
he refused to answer any more ques-
tions,
None OF the government officials was
aware of the fact that counterfciters
were operating in this city, and the story
of the coins has been kept secret by
lives George sheets. Lieutenant Shan
non and the detectives who were
signed to the work, until the arrests
were made.