The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-09-07

THE GREAT GOLD COIN COUNTER
TERFEITING CASE.

THE GREAT GOLD COIN COUNTER
TERFEITING CASE.
- OUNTERFEITING is prac-
N.S tically a lost art in Amer
nXtE ca. William J. Flynn. head
N.Y. of the United States Sc
NJ cret Service in New York.
declares that not a sim
gle gang whose work is compar-
able to that Of Andy Bliss and his
crowd, the Boscobel coiners. or any
one of a dozen gangs that fiourished a
generation ago, is operating in the
country today.
Chief Flynn declares that he does
not know Of single spurious
gold coin in circulation in the east.
In the far west, where gold is more
active circulating medium, some at
tempts may be made to counterfeit
it. but none important enough to
cause the secret service more than
passing annoyance.
with this introduction I will let
Andy Bliss, the king of the gold coin
ere, tell his story. just as he told 1t
to me.
STATEMENT OF ANDY BLISS.
No man of sense, said Andy.
would ever become a thief, if he
would stop for moment and think.
will admit that there is fascina-
ton in thievery, which grows upon
what 1t feeds, until it is overpowering.
and stealing then becomes a habit.
the same as tobacco smoking and
drinking rum, and it is very hard to
break on.
But the practical lesson of my life
Is very clear. / have been thief for
forty years, spent twenty years in
Jail, made over 100000 in forgeries,
counterfeiting schemes and bank rob-
berries. and today have not dollar
to my name. It's the old story over
again-easy come, easy go.
1 viii tell you about the counterfeit
ing scheme, which gave me reputa-
ton among crooks and honest men as
well, of being star performer in my
line. It all grew out of a little trip
which 1 made to Washington to meet
Tom Cannon, an old friend of mine.
who had planted a place near the
White House which promised re-
ward Of about $4,000. would have
gone anywhere for a lump of money
half that size in those days. Well.
looked over the scheme and saw that
1t was very dangerous, but Cannon
would not give up the idea. did not
want to be looked upon as fellow
without nerve, SO / consented to go
into the job, which was to rob the safe
Of paymaster.
The paymaster-I think his name
was Hoffman-drank pretty Hard, and
slept near the safe, but the plan was
to attack the strong box while the pay
master was in a drunken stupor.
We got to the safe without much
trouble. The box was an old-fash-
toned affair, and we got to the bills
by simply knocking out the spindle in
the handle.
few open. and started away. Cannon
was behind me. The paymaster was
aroused, and instantly fired a shot
from his revolver. The ball went
through Cannon's neck and struck me
in the shoulder. Cannon was killed.
but the ball did not stop me. ran
and got away with the Doodle.
Z knew that 1t would be unsafe for
me to try and get out Of Washington
then. for the alarm was promptly CIV
en-, and every street and outlet was
guarded by Uncle Sans men, as we'll
as the local police. went directly to
the home Of Big Jim Farrell. He was
an old-time thief, and then was run
ming faro bank to win the soldier
money with crooked dials. 1 told Jim
was hunted. and he put me away in
the care of Louise Jordan, who after
ward shot Farrell in Chicago. through
jealousy. I kept under cover in the
Jordan house for about two weeks,
and then Darby Jones and his gang,
consisting of Billy Wallace, Frenchy
Kline, George Keene and Wary Nc
Gee, turned up. They had come to
Washington to do business with me-
I left Washington with the gang dis
guised as a negro. There was a re-
ward of $4,000 for my scalp, but 1
won out easily.
left the train IN Newark and drove
to New York in cab. I kept under
cover for a few days in New York,
and then moved over to one Of the old
houses In Ravenswood. L. l., which
had been practically deserted for sew