Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-01
MOULD AND METHOD
FOR COUNTERFEITING
LAND YOUTH IN JAIL
P. StringfeIIow, Aged 22r
Caught at 48 Carnegie Way
With Tools, Melted Metal
and Book of Directions

'watchful waiting" on the part of GER
tain members of the Atlanta police and
detective departments had beneficial re-
suits sunday morning when p. String
fellow. 80 years old. who is thought to
be a counterfeiter of exceptional clever
ness. was arrested in his room at IS
Carnegie Way.
The youthful offender is now in cell
at police headquarters charged with
suspicion" and will be turned over to
the federal authorities Monday, accord &.
ing to Detectives Cowan and Gillespie.
who made the arrest.
The capture of Stringfellow rivals any
detective film ever shown on the screen
According to Mrs. f. w. Moran. wife
OF the proprietor of the Carnegie Way
rooming house. Stringfellow, neatly
dressed and affable, applied for a room
week ago. He was making a special
study of chemistry, he said, and also
intended cooking coffee in his room.
HOUSE WAS SHADOWED.
For several days the rooming house
has been Swallowed by both uniformed
and plain clothes men. On Thursday
Call Officers Barfield and Anderson
spent hungry twelve hours in an effort
to land their man, after getting a tip
that Stringfellow was a counterfeiter.
Mr.. Moran. the proprietor. also be-
came SUSPICIOUS anu nOlAlAeu the leu
eral authorities. who, in turn, reported
the matter to the city detectives. De-
tectives Moon and waggoner were put
10 work on the case Friday. They were
in no hurry and wanted to catch the al
legged counterfeiter at work.
Sunday morning the telephone in the
station sergeant's office at headqua rters
rang long and hard. Information came
over the wire that smoke was issuing
idly from a certain room in the house
at IS Carnegie Way-the very room
which Stringfellow was thought to have
rented for the purpose of making spu-
rious coins.
Detectives Cowan and Gillespie were
rushed to the scene. They raped on
Stringfellow's door and found it lock-
ed. They asked to be admitted. The
man inside hesitated, then mumbled
something, crashed something else and
opened the door.
CAUGHT WITH GOODS"
Occording to Detectives Cowan and
Gillespie, Stringfellow was caught with
the goods-he was nabbcd "red-handed."
You've got me, boys" he said coolly, as
he caught glimpse of the badge worn
by Detective Gillespie.
The crash that was so distinctively
heard by the officers just before String
fellow opened the door proved to be the
mold OF plaster of paris which was
found broken and stuffed in a pillow
case With il We're three silver dollars
and one paper dollar. 1t is not believed
that this is counterfeit money. On the
floor was a bucket half filled with burn
ing charcoal and a frying pan, which
belonged to Mrs. Moran and which con-
tanned the melted metal used in making
the coins. was found lying up-side-down
in the wash basin.
In the broken mold. the detectives de-
clare. was discovered silver quarter.
book containing information valuable
to a maker of counterfeit coins was
found by the officers on a table in the
room.
Stringfellow is clean-looking, we'll
dressed and appears TO be cultured Mr..
Moran declares that he is one Of the
most gentlemenly roOmers he has ever
had, while Mrs. Moran speaks highly of
his manners except for his one act in
pouring hot metal in her perfectly
good frying pan.
DENIES PASSING MONEY.
Stringfellow showed no inclination to
be loquacious when seen by a Journal
reporter He admitted. however, that
the detectives had caught him at work
but declared that he was experiment
ing" He denied ever having passed
any bad money.
Il said 1 was studying chemistry to
keep people from being suspicious" said
Stringfellow. 1T was that smoke that
ruined me. / should have been more
careful"
Stringfellow says he is a telegraph
operator and has been in Atlanta for
about three months. He said his home
IS I'm Philadelphia. II have been mar
ried but I'm not now he stated. But
that's all I care to say about 1t"
1t is believed by the detectives that
Stringfellow has a pal" Stringfellow
admitted that he has served a term in
the Federal prison but refused to state
why he was sent there.