Gilpin observer., 1911-01-05

der any further assistance. We we're
about to give up in despair and leave
the house when one of the detectives,
more suspicious and hopeful than any
of the others, remarked: There is
only one place left. Let us try that
hanging lamp"
Taking 1t down, we unscrewed the
top. Here to our great relief we
found several thousand dollars In
counterfeit SO bills. They were newly
printed. The old man now broke down
and the woman began to cry. She said
she had been working under orders
from her father, but knew little of
what was going on. She was sure that
counterfeit money was being made
there. but she did not know what was
done with 1t. She was also aware that
her lover was mixed up in the scheme.
She was between the devil and the
deep sea and was at loss what
course to take, but had finally con-
cluded to become an informer.
was satisfied l had obtained the
bottom facts so far as the woman was
concerned and that Sheldon, who was
expected there that evening, would
bring the back Of the counterfeit. The
father and brother had been doing the
printing. II the old man now told me
the truth. they had never been en-.
gagged in selling or passing the bogus
stun. They were not trusted with
both of the counterfeit $40 plates at
the same time. When the face of the
note was finished the plate for print
Ing the back was brought and the face
plate taken away. Sheldon was the
man that brought the plates and took
away the counterfeits. The young
woman had assisted in these opera
tions to certain extent, but she had
been doing this under pressure. She
had now informed the officers and
chanced the result.
The door bell was rung promptly at
nine o'clock and Sheldon was admit
ted. When he was confronted with
the situation. he wilted and staggered
to a seat. His every faculty seemed
paralyzed with blank despair. The
woman threw her arms about him and
pleaded with him to tell the truth He
now became greatly excited and de-
clared in trembling voice that he
| would make a clean breast of the
whole affair and take what was. coming
to him. listened to the recital of his
story. 1t was the counterpart of the
| others. He hoped for wealth and
life Of ease. 1t was an unhealthy long
Ing. but the opportunity was so plaus-
IDLY presented to him by the oily
J ~
manhood and yielded to the tempter.
Once within the hypnotic influence Of
this great procurer he was compelled
| to do his bidding Now that he knew
the worst he felt relieved. With curl
OF his lip and sudden elevation of his
| head his eyes met mine as he gave me
| his promise to surrender the counter
felt plates and to aid the government
by every means within his power.
All classes Of confederated criminals
fear the squealer more than they do
| the detectives. In fact, 1t would be
quite impossible to destroy a well-or
Eganized gang of counterfeiters without
using one man against the other. For
this reason l never hesitated while
chief of the government secret service
to act upon my own judgment. We ar
, rested the counterfeiters without proc.
ess Of law. and used them to the best
possible advantage to the government
The records of the secret service of
the treasury department, will, If ex-
amined, show that the system Of using
one counterfeiter against another was
successful. When a confederate who
has for years been associated with
! others In crime. is made to confess
| and assist the government, he Is more
dreaded by his associates than any
other force that can be employed
Counterfeiting combines the worst
features of fraud interviewer with the
most cunningly devised modes Of es-
cape. The confederate is better
booked and more fully equipped to un-
| dertake the unearthing Of gang Of
counterfeiters than the best trained
detective.
mention these facts that the read.
er may better understand the object
l had in view In this case as In most
others. Young Rhetschlag plead
guilty and was sentenced to the peni.
tentiary. His father was old and fee
BILE. Upon his promise that he would
never again engage In counterfeiting.
l paroled him. The young woman had
rendered good service and I did not
attempt to hold her or to use her as
a witness. Sheldon made important
disclosures that enabled me to arrest
several dangerous counterfeiters. He
was weak and easily persuaded. but
after using him on the witness stand
against his confederates I did not
think him dangerous to go at large.
The bank note company was only too
glad to employ him Notwithstanding
the fact he had been engaged In coun.
terfeiting. Besides. Miss Rhetschlag.
who had been SO prominent In assist
ing in bringing young Sheldon upon
the stool OF repentance, and putting