Evening star., 1936-12-20

lIlSCIlCo a0fCA tlSC
ments in the personal coll
Il y umns Of metropolitan news
papers. That was how he contacted
his paSSers-persons who put in cir
culation the pretty $40 and $40 bills
that Adams made.
These paSsers were usually women.
Only occasionally did Adams deal
with men, and then married men only.
There was q method in this. After
Secret Service agents knocked of the
male Of the species Adams enlisted
the services OF their wives. He had n
way with women.
Organized on = gigantic scale. the
Richard Adams menage-it was run
like q family atfair-operated all over
the United States Women from all
walks OF life were In on the game, even
y society matron.
In certain circles they called Adams
slippery Dick" because he evaded
the law so successfully. He escaped
three times from Federal penitentiaries
and made several spectacular daShes
for liberty just after arrest. Though
he travelled under plenty of aliases,
his real name was Richard Adams.
With Lucy Stone. ace woman sc-
complice, Adams arrived in Wauwas
tosa, Wis, one fine September day
in 1885 and prepared to set up house
keeping. That, in the Slippery Dick
Vernacular, meant TO unload 1.-The
plant" get out all the paraphernalia-
plates, presses. inks, paper-and 80 to
work housekeeping.
While he busted himself with the
task at hand, setting up the plant
Adams always had an automatic pis-
tol at hand. 1t SoOthed him. His hands
were steady as he put the final touches
to the array Of paper cut to the exact
size OF United States OF America cur
rency. Lucy was by his side They
had taken over q rooming house fol
headquarters
Adams raised his head as he heard
footsteps on a creaky stairway.
See who's there. Lucy" he said
The expert counterfeiter was visibly
irritated. He grabbed for his gun
Lucy opened the door that led to the
hallway Two Secret Service men
entered the room.
Put 'em up Adams!" one of the
agents ordered.
They had the drop on him. took him
! without the firing of q shot
That was the end Of the merriest
chase tracking down a counterfeiter
Secret Service agents had followed in q
number of years.
No newcomer in the scope Of Secret
Service operations, Adams had the
Treasury men baf1ied for years. They
had their hands on him several times
but he never remained long In custody
Always something happened to give
him freedom.
THIS time the Secret Service hat
Adams dead to rights. When
searched he had in his possession
| $l,575 In good money. He attempted
to bribe one OF the agents. Offered
81 500 for release. Promised to de-
liver IS 800 the next day. The of1eI
was Spurned.
Agents learned that Adams had O
travelling counterfeit plant. carried In
several suitcases and kit bags. They
discovered many copper plates, so OF
more negatives and paper cut the size
OF currency. Also ink, eraSers and
other necessary articles used in coun-
terfeiting.
The evidence was SO complete II
landed the old master in Leavenworth
On May 80, 1896, Adams was sent to
the penitentiary for ten years The
woman with him. Lucy Stone, got two
years in the Federal Reformstory for
Women at Anderson, w. Va.
In all his glamorous career Adams
never passed counterfeit note. He
left that detail for otherS-on q per-
centage basis. AS q result about SO
Of his passers preceded Adams behind
the bars.
When Adams originally established
himself as q first-claSs counterfeiter
ana had the Secret Service agents on
his trail his fair for making phony