The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-10

sworn a vendetta and who had shown q
marvellous degree of efficiency in carrying
it out but when people had dismissed the
barrel mystery from their minds or had be-
come convinced that the perpetrators had
made good their escape, in the winter OF
1909 10, there was launched "A series OF raids
in various parts of this city and the vicinity
which netted what are generally believed to
have been the remnant of the band, includ-
ing the leaders
This time the secret service agents had
perfect case against them for importing
counterfeit 81 and SIS bills from Italy I'm olive
oil cans and putting them into circulation
in various parts OF the metropolitan area.
When Chief Flynn personally arrested Giu-
seppe MOrello one OF the two 'eading Splits
of the band, he found under the pillow OF
the mans bed in which he was sleeping
when the door of the room was forced open.
a revolver loaded with buckshot, the only
one of the kind that the Chief had ever
seen.
Morelo tainted when sentence OF
twenty-five years i'm Atlanta Penitentiary
was imposed upon him In the United States
District Court here shortly afterward lg-
nazio Lupo, known as THE Wolf the other
leader of the hand, felt the hand of justice
descend upon him in the form of a prison
sentence of thirty years. Four of their fol-
prisonment each. one to seventeen years and
one to eighteen years. and so the Federal
Government had disposed Of as desperate
band of cutthroats as had ever disturbed the
peace of the community and had struck ter
ror to the Black Hand and counterfeitng
groups throughout the entire country.
John Schmitt's Downfall.
good example Of the manner i'm which
the Government agents keep check on sus-
poets may be found in the case of John
Schmitt, alias John Davis" who obtained
immunity at the hands OF the Scotland Yard
officials for furnishing evidence against the
other members of his band and who was
ousted from the British Empire with in
structions to remain out for the remainder
of his life.
Schmitt was too deep dyed q criminal to
forsake his career altogether He merely
took little vacation after his narrow es-
cape In England. and finally came to this
country with the idea of starting afresh
along the same old lines.
With two men and one woman to help him
he proceeded In the fall Of 1908 to fit out q
perfect counterfeitins plant in Revere. just
outside of Boston. He had camera plates,
acids and engraving tools shipped from New
York to his new address, and was evidently
upon doing very profitable bust
ness without the slightest disturbance.
He began work upon the first lot of
queer" currency in the kitchen OF his house
late one night but his feverish interest and
the enthusiasm of his assistants We're sud
denly changed To terror when they heard
a crash that could only mean that some
one had broken down the front door. The
assistants fed to the cellar and Schmitt
bottled frantically from the room. only to
be brought to an abrupt stop by something
hard and cold that was pressed against his
chest
II was revolver. and laughing over IL
was the face of Chief Flynn. why, John
Davis" said the Chief aren't you ashamed
Of yourself7' A few minutes later the as
sistants were dragged from the cellar In
and then batch OF very neat
ten dollar notes. the first and
only fruits OF Schmitt's American venture
was also dragged to view.
Schmitt was not successful In obtaining
Immunity this time. He went to Atlanta
with a sentence OF thirteen years nine
months, and his companions accompanied
him. Their terms expired some time ago,
but If they are still alive 1t IL quite certain
hat the secret service knows their where
y bouts and also has a very good idea at the
present time as to the manner In which each
Of them In behaving, And II Is equally GER
ain that the secret service will keep track
of all of these people throughout their lives
One man who was arrested after pursuit
Of ak years was II. r. Wlken. countsrfaiter