The Elbert County tribune., 1910-11-11

wine at the banquet on Houston
street Bower had completely won
Gurney's confidence. Telling him
that he was about to take trip to
Texas. he inquired II he could buy
$4,000 in counterfeit money at a whole
sale figure
"of course; any amount of it." an
swered Gurney.
A deal was arranged for its deliv-
| cry on the New York side OF Fulton
Ferry. Bower was to be at desig-
mated spot at a certain time. and Cur
ney was to pass along. hand over the
spurious and receive good money in
payment.
At the appointed time there was a
large crowd standing around the ferry
| landing waiting for the boat Bower
| was there. and few PAGES from him
stood seemingly honest tinsmith
| with joint of stove-pipe under his
arm and a pair of shippers in his
hand. His clothes and the SCOT upon
his hands and face bore unmistakabie
witness to his calling. Near by. look.
Ing In another direction. stood a stout
ly-built business man OF ample girth.
In one hand he carried hat box. in
the other valise. In the immediate
vicinity was a tall. reverential ap-
pearing gentleman. with neat side
whiskers. whose white tie and the
ministerial cut OF his coat were in
keeping with the sanctimonious ex-
preston of his face
When the ferry boat struck tho
dock Gurney stepped of. peered eau
tiously and carefully around. scanning
the faces of those who were standing
near Being satisfied that there were
no suspicious persons about, he drew
a package from under his coat and
stepped toward Bower to deliver it.
AT this instant the ministerial-look-
ing man raised his hand. The fat
man dropped his luggage and the tin
smith his tools. Both seized Gurney
by the arms and held him while the
tall brother. with a quick movement.
snapped handouts on his wrists.
Everything was done SO quickly that
Gurney did not have time to catch
his breath before he was securely
ironed.
The prisoner was taken to the secret
service office. | removed my side
whiskers and made some change in
my clothing, then entered the Office
and shook hands with the crestfallen
criminal.
During that day and evening the
government officers were engaged in
arresting the showers OF the gang,
against whom Butts had secured evil
dence. Two of the ex.detectives.
guests at Gurney's banquet. had al
ready been arrested for passing coun-
terfeit money-one at Pittsburg and
the other at Cincinnati by IL
o'clock that night the officers had ar
rested 20 of the gang. They were
arranged in a circle at the office, and
the right hand of one was hand
cuffed to the left hand of the next.
Gurney. appropriately. happened to be
the center-piece.
could not help a feeling of pity for
the unfortunates. but they had volun-
tarily preyed upon society and trans
gressed the laws OF their land. and the
common veal required that they be
punished. They were all tried and
convicted. most of them entering
plea OF guilty.
The boastful Gurney now fully real
lied the trap into which he had
fallen. He had been hoisted by his
own petard. circumstance that
seemed to humiliate him almost be-
yond measure. With little or no pres
sure he weakened and confessed that
he had received his counterfeit money
from Joshua d. Miner, who was the
capitalist that owned the plates upon
which the National Shoe and Leather
twenties were printed.
Among the secret service officers
Miner was known to be a counter
feiter. but on account of his great
wealth and political standing. he was
considered difficult man to grapple
with. He was large city contractor
at this time, and employed about one
hundred men opening up new road
at the end of Ninth avenue.
Gurney was altogether too timid to
make a deal with Miner in order to
give the officers an opportunity to cap
ture him red-handed. but he finally
agreed to go with me to see Miner
who. he believed. would surrender the
500 counterfeit plates for the purpose
of shortening his sentence.
Leaving a carriage on the boule-
ward, I walked with Gurney a short
distance on Sixty-ninth street toward
Miners house. We met Miner on the
sidewalk and l was introduced by
Gurney. who then explained the
trouble he had gotten himself into.
Miner said he could do nothing for
him and. as last resort. ! requested
Miner to step aside with me. where
told him that was convinced that he
| was the owner Of the counterfeit