Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-16
Turns Up in Big Cities


ations of $40, $40 and $50 and during
the late summer and fall of last year
pieces of it began to turn up in
Philadelphia, New York and Reading
$40 note was passed in Reading and
later the $40 and $50 notes began
to show themselves in Philadelphia
and New York. Secret service men
got on the job Immediately. Matthew
j. Griffin and John McTammey, of
Philadelphia; p. J. Ahern and Ga
briel DiFfore, of Pittsburgh; C. w.
Schroeder, of Scranton and Morris
Manasse and Frank Burke, of New
York, were assigned to the case.
Trails led through Reading and the
services of Detective Peter McGarvin,
of that city were enlisted. He fol-
lowed out some of the clues in the
county seat of Berks and the other
men scattered to the other sections of
the State in search of the mint"
Woman in the Case?
Although the Secret Service men
the actual arrests, they do say that
1t was through a woman that Ferry
and Hornberger got together in the
illegal business.
Five years ago Hiram Griffith, of
Mohnton, BerkS county, was arrested
by Federal agents on charge of MAX
ing and passing counterfeit money. A
years in the Federal Penitentiary at
Atlanta and is still in prison. At the
time of his arrest Hornberger was
under suspicion of having been asso-
ciated with his uncle in circulating the
money, but despite the fact that sew
eral times in one day counterfeit pieces
were passed in Philadelphia witnesses
were unable to positively identify
Hornberger as the man who passed
the money"
He remained in Reading and on and
off has worked in gents furnishing
stores in that city. The Federal agents
claim he is very clever--too clever, in
fact, to be arrested with any of the
bogus notes in his possession. Accord
ing to the Federal agents, he admits
his part in the crime and they also say
that Ferry admits his guilt.
Where Plates Were Planted
When Ferry was arrested this morn
ing the Secret Service men immedi-
ately began search for the plates
from which the money was printed
and it is stated that Ferry pointed out
the spot in the ground under his
garage where the plates were plant
ed These were taken by Secret Serv-
ice men and Ferry was taken to Com
missioner Wolfes office by Deputy
United States Marshal Harvey T.
Smith
1t was originally planned to give
Ferry and Hornberger immediate
hearings and then hold them for the
action of the Federal court in Scran-
ton, but when Ferry was brought in
the Secret Service men decided that in
fairness to the defendants the hearing
should be postponed so that the men
could have an opportunity to prepare
their cases. Ferry told Commissioner
Wolfe that he did not think it was
necessary for him to get counsel and
Hornberger also stated that he did not
want an attorney. 1t is cutie likely
that if Balmer, the third man, is
brought to this city to-d day, his hearing
will also be fixed for Monday. 1t is
understood that some other arrests are
to be made because it is said that some
others are implicated.
Made "Qucer" Here For Months
According to the Secret Service men,
counterfeit money has been produced
in this vicinity for many months.
When Ferry rented the old building
in Cameron street, he stated that he
wanted it for the purpose of storing
when his own place of
business became crowded. But i'm
after renting it, it is said,
he began to make the changes for the
counterfeiting. 1t is also understood
that it was shortly before this that
Ferry and Hornberger were intro
1uCeu ana lne teQeral men say the
was brought about by a
Burned $4,000 of Notes
Following the completion of the i'm
provements in the old foundry build
ing Hornberger came here and started
to work. He continued operations un-
til $4,000 in notes had been printed
and then stopped. He is said to have
gone back to Reading and at intervals
he worked in furnishing stores, in the
meanwhile passing the bad notes.
When one of the notes was discov-
cred in this city a local paper printed
a story to the effect that it was be-
lieved the money" was made in Har-
risburg and the Federal agents say
that Ferry admitted becoming
scared" at the story and burned
$4,000 worth of the notes. 1t is not
believed that any more was printed
and that the men spent their spare
time trying to pass what they had on
hand.
Ferry Well Known
j. ID. Ferry was well known in Har-
risburg business circles. He was one
of the first to take up the automobile
business in Harrisburg and has been
the head of the Ferry garage and
in South Cameron street.
Some time ago he added a repair plant
to his business. He was active in the
promotion of auto runs and contests.