13. A NOTED COUNTERFEITER.
One of my companions in the mines, and with whom I worked a couple of
weeks, lying almost side by side with him as we dug coal in the same
room, was a noted counterfeiter. He had plied his trade for many years
successfully. Whisky finally sent him to the penitentiary. If
professional criminals would only let strong drink alone not half so
many of them would get caught. They get drunk, and in this condition
expose themselves. We don't mean to use this as an argument against the
prohibitory law! It is, perhaps, proper for them to drink. This
counterfeiter makes his dies out of plaster paris. They are very simple
and easy of construction. He explained to me the manner in which they
were made. I would give his method of making these dies
were it not for the fact that some smart boy getting hold of this book
and learning the method would undertake the business, and as a result
his good old mother would be going to the penitentiary to visit him.
When this counterfeiter would run short of funds he would purchase the
necessary material, go into the woods on a dark night, and in a very
short time would have plenty of bogus money. He taught the trade to his
brother and to some bosom friends, and it was not long until they had a
regular organized gang. Getting drunk one day one of them displayed too
many shining new pieces of money. He was "spotted." A detective was put
on his track. He was traced to the headquarters of the gang, and in a
few hours thereafter the entire posse were locked up in jail on a charge
of counterfeiting and passing "bogus money." They now formed plans for
their escape from jail. They adopted the plan of seizing the jailor, as
he brought in supper, thrusting him into a cell, locking him in, and
then making good their escape. They made the attempt. The jailor was
locked in the cell according to the programme, but so much noise was
made in the struggle that the sheriff put in an appearance with a loaded
revolver.
The prisoners made a dash for liberty. A brother of my informant was
killed; another of the gang was wounded and dragged back into his cell
in the jail; the others got away. It was in the winter time. The
succeeding night was extremely cold. Wandering about all night in the
snow, their feet were frozen, and they were easily recaptured the next
day. They had their trial, and all were sent to the penitentiary. They
got eight years apiece, three for counterfeiting and five for breaking
jail. In this manner was broken up one of the worst counterfeit gangs of
the West. Whisky has trapped many a criminal. There are but very few
that do not "indulge." In fact, I cannot now recall a single
professional criminal but would take a drop if he could get it. They
must have whisky to nerve them for their iniquitous business. When the
crime is committed they drink again to soothe their wounded
consciences."
