Gunnison news-champion. [volume] (Gunnison, Colo.) 1905-1932, 1923-05-04
True
Detective Stories
THE FINAL DETAIL

Lex spent months or even years in
building up the superstructurr OF his
--aeEs makes a fatal blund.r In con-
re~-iau with some apparently unin-
pa-raHt details blunder which
Hra-ks his entire plan and brings his
ul"-afions TO tire attention OI the
butterflies.
For example, the chances were more
than a Thousand 10 one that William
E-0ekEuy. ouuntsrfeIter, being DESTROYS
= securing = proof Of 4 plate on
which he vas working. would select
a printer who was not personal
friend o. prominent detective. But
chance, which - often plays a leading
role even In true detective stories.
directed him 10 man who knew A
l. Drummoud. Of the United States
Secret Service. well enough to call
him by his FIRST name.
This man came into my place yes
to-day afternoon" reported the pr!n-
ter. and wanted some proofs pulled
@, plate which be had with him.
took one look at the plate and told
him TO come back today-said my ma
rhluery was out Of order. He didn't
leave the plate but he didn't have TO.
/ saw what II was-the figure 81 coo
surrounded by lot o, scroll work.
II he returns today" directed
p-Immond, pull bis proofs for him
and hold one Of them for me A couple
u my men will be outside your shop.
SO signal them and they will follow
pour customer"
The plan worked according TO
.rhelule aud. shortly after receiving
proof OF the mysterious plate Drum
wuui got word from his operatives
HAT they had truIled the suspect 10
house on Greenwich street. In ad-
d.tlUH. one Of the government agents
had recognized him ms william F.
EroCEway known TO be the most eS-
pert couuterfelter In the country and
The man who had achieved fame by
manufacturing 500 600 worth Of bonds
which the Treasury department had
accepted rs genuIne-only TO reverse
IFS opinion some weeks later.
Drummond accordingly made n re-
port OF the entire matter to WASH
lngton, and forwarded n proof Of the
plate which Brockway had In his
possession. To his amazement, the
treasury officials stated that the
figures and the scroll did not form
a part OF any government currency or
bond Issue and that, ms federal funds
could not be used except In the search
for counterfeitcrs OF money or govern
mcnt bonds. Drummond could not be
permitted to handle the case.
Accordingly, all the data was tur nd
over to the New York police. and
Brockway dropped out OF sight for
nearly year. until rumor was
passed along from Washington that
the master counterfeiter was working
on some coup which would be the big
gest Of his career
Drummond knew where to ind
Brockway. but the secret service men
had to work under a handicap, be-
cause the en-convict appeared to have
an uncanny way OF knowing just when
he was being followed. Then he would
slip and twist and turn and lose him.
self. no matter how many men were
trailing him.
As last resort Drummond enlisted
the services of his son. boy OF ten,
whom he sent to the elevated station
At Twenty-eiehth and Sixth avenue.
with instruction TO play around there
until he received a signal from two Of
the operatives. Brockway, not dream
Ing that the secret service had be-
gun 10 use children as detectives. was
unsuspicious and the boy followed him
until he entered the ST. James. hotel.
at the corner OF Twenty-sixth and
Broadway. With that much of the
trail already blazed. II was easy to
pick up the rest, and within few
days Drummond was notified that the
counterfeiter divided his time between
the st. James and house on Iexing-
ton avenue. His associates were two
men OF about his own age. men whom
Drummond recognized as Lewis Mar
tin and Nathan Foster both Of them
proficient In all branches OF the work
connected with the manufacture and
passing Of counterfeit money.
But even then Chief Brookes Of the
secret service declined to allow Drum
mond TO handle the case officially. be-
cause all the indications pointed to q
plot to counterfeit railroad bonds.
rather than United States currency.
II was only when Inspector Byrnes
Of the New York police force. asked
permission to use Drummond as q
private agent that Washington per-
mitted him to continue with the case.
Using the proof OF the Isl 600
scroll as a foundation. Drummond
searched through all the prominent
bond issues listed on Wall street, until
he found Its counterpart-the central
portion OF the bonds Of the Central
Pacific railroad. Armed with this In
formation, which was essential to the
securing of a definite and specific
warrant, Drummond raided the house