Anadarko Daily Democrat (Anadarko, Okla.), Vol. 8, No. 14, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 13, 1909 Page: 3 of 4
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! WILL GUIDE ROOSEVELT PARTY
R. J. Cunninghame Knows Welt In
trlor of Africa.
Ixjndon. It. .1. Cunnlnghamo lb
English professional huntci' who will
bo tliQ jsuljjq manager counsellor and
ft lend of Theodore UoohovoII nnd hlr
party on their African hunting tour
probably known moro about equatorial
Africa than nny other white man
Having spent mont of his Ufa tliorc ho
knew Africa before the Uganda rail-
way made traveling easy and sail'.
Mr Cunnlnghamo Is now organizing
A .
A COUNTERFEIT MILLION
s
By GEORGE T. PARDY
An Achievement of the Famous John Wilson Murray
fZmT
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.v.
. "W
J'
I
Noted Detective and
His Manner of Locat-
ing Plates Which
Manufactured Bogus
$1000000 Mur-
ray's System of Arriv-
ing at Hiding Place of
Etchings Story of Old
John Hill Is Told by
One of the Culprits
i "Who Are Implicated.
HE caso of tho mil-
lion dollar counter-
feiting stands in tho
anunls of crime as
a miracle of genius
and Httimps tho per
petrator of tho
fraud as a verltablo
king of his kind
whoso record of
clovor unscrupulous
workmanship never has been equalled.
This unique criminal managed his part
with such skill and address that ho suc-
ceeded in putting Into circulation
bogus money totalling over $1000000
on tho American continent many so
closely resembling the gcnulno cur-
rency that it deceived oven the most
experienced bank experts and somo of
which is still in circulation at tho
present day.
It was in 1880 during tho months of
March April and May that a great
number of dangerous counterfeit bills
mado tholr appearance in Canada.
Tho choice of Murray for tho work
in hand was very appropriate. During
flvo years of service with tho govern-
ment of Canada ho had figured in
many important cases and thoroughly
proved his resourcefulness and cun-
ning. Also the search for tho author
of tho bad money was ono that he was
peculiarly well fitted to conduct for
It should bo remomborcd that prior to
hla-connection -with the Canadian gov
ernment ho had distinguished himself
as an exceedingly actlvo member of
the United States secret sorvicc. Tho
instructions given him woro to appre-
hend tho maker or makers of tho bills
and above all to securo tho plates
from which tho falso notes were
printed thereby preventing any
further Ibsuo of tho forgeries. Murray's
first step was to oxamlno tho bad bills
already seized and ho found them to
bo as follows:
A $10 bill on tho Dank of Com
merce whoso head ofllco is in Toronto
with branches all over Canada.
A $5 bill on the Dank of Commerce.
A $5 bill on tho Dank of Drltlsh
North America with branches all over
tho country.
A $10 bill on tho Ontario bauk .
A $4 bill on tho Dominion bank.
A $1 bill Dominion of Canada gov-
ernment issue.
An ex-counterfeiter examined Mur-
ray's bills with an admiring eye.
"No doubt of it thoy'ro A. 1 first-
class beauties" ho said. "They might
bo tho work of old John Hill only ho
has been locked up since no got $10-
000 for making those last plates of his.
Still it looks like Hill's hand."
Tho mention of Hill's namo didn't
surprise Murray for ho had known of
him before. Ho was a crooked en-
gravor of great skill whoso homo was
In Now York and who had served two
terms for counterfeiting. Hill charged
a fco of $10000 for making plates for
bogus bills but would have nothing
to do with "shoving tho queer" that
is circulating tho money. Murray
wont to Albany and thenco to Troy
whoro he mot with another old
"coonoy" man who had also reform-
ed. This pan vlowed tho bills with
interest.
"That certainly looks llko Hill's
work" ho said "but I know for cer-
tain that in recont years Hill hasn't
been situated so that ho could turn
them out. Dut whoever it may bo
he's a gilt-edged artist all right."
"I'm half inclined to think that
Prussian Mark ULrlch and Teto Mc-
Carthy might have worked a combina-
tion stunt and mado them" remarked
Murray referring to two noted mas-
ters of tho illicit banknoto craft.
Murray was well acquainted In In-
dianapolis and tblther ho went in an
endeavor to pick up tho JohnBon trail.
Ho called upon United States Sonator
McDonald and learned that a family
named Johnson had lived there about
six years before In elegant stylp in a
big mansion with horsos carriages
coachman footman and a largo re-
tinue of servants. They lived luxuri-
ously and spent money freely until
trouble camo in tho form of an accu-
sation that they wero counterfeiters.
Tho law firm of McDonald & Dutler
wero retained as counsel by tho John-
eons who wero said to havo paid the
attorneys a $2G000 fco and they man-
aged to get clear. Dut the scandal
affected their social position in In-
dianapolis and shortly afterward tho
whole family left the city.
fA?0 . fe - inffli LMWfir 9 rt
Pin OKfefl tat
i - i & Sews-. IPv Wymtik h jm0&
Johnson jpran&jbmardL
All I vCviv C w lw (
Murray went to Now York again and
called upon tho ex-countorfolter with
whom ho had conferred at tho com-
mencement of tho quest.
"Do you know old Johnson?" ho
inquired.
"Yes" replied tho former "cooney"
man; "but it is years sinco I last saw
him. Ho Is a mighty clover chap but
usod to 'go on somo terrific drunken
sprees and his family had troubles of
their own keeping track of him."
"Oct your magnifying glass" said
Murray "and tnko another good look
at theso phoney bills."
Tho cx-counterfeltcr complied. With
wrinkled brow ho pored carefully
through his glass over tho different
designs following tho twist of every
lino and letter. For three hours ho
conducted this painstaking examina-
tion whllo Murray watched him.
Finally the student laid his glass down
and pushed tho bills back to tho de-
tective. "Well" queried Murray "who do
you think it is? Mark Ulrich?"
"No sir" responded tho ex-counter-
fclter emphatically; "Ulrich had no
hand in that Job. Hill may havo dono
tho States $5 bill but Johnson did tho
Canada bills. I'm ns aura of that as
I would bo of my own work In tho
old days."
"And you can't figure out whero
Johnson may bo?" asked Murray.
"I haven't any Idea" was tho reply.
"I tried to find out something about
him last night but could only learn
that ho Is out of tho country perhaps
gono to England unloss there is
something doing on tho continent"
Murray took tho next train for To-
ronto reasoning that it the Johnsons
wero In Canada they would bo likely
to bo found In or about that city. Ar
riving In Toronto at night he entered
a saloon for the purpose of obtaining
a llttlo liquid refreshment and caught
sight of a figure at the far end of tho
bar that looked oddly familiar. The
figure turned and Murray was barely
ablo to check tho exclamation of de-
lighted surprlso that rose to his lips.
Aftor all his weary traveling and days
of baffled hopes chance had given
him tho opportunity so long desired.
For tho person was nono other than
Johnnie Johnson sov of tho much
sought for Edwin Johnson.
For two nights Murray strolled
around tho city watching for his man
and on tho third caught sight of him
slipping out of Mitchell & Ryan's
saloon on Kink Btrect. Johnson walk-
ed quickly away and as before
Jumped into a cab but this tlmo Mur-
ray had taken tho precaution of having
a vchlclo handy and as the counter-
feiter drove along his NomcBls was fol-
lowing in another cab. Johnson drovo
north to Dloor street and at tho cor-
ner of Dloor and Avenue Road got out
of tho cab paid tho man and walked
away. Murray also deserted his cab
and followed on foot Johnson went
i-f-idUF "&
$rt?'
CvkW
around six blocks to Hazelton avenue
turned into that street unlocked tho
door of a comfortable brick houso and
went inside.
Satsflcd that he had found tho home
of the Johnson family but not wishing
to bo seen by nny of them lest ho
should be recognized Murray mado ar-
rangements with tho occupants of an
adjacent house to keep tho Johnson
resldenco under surveillance. For flvo
days after Johnnlo Johnson entered
the houso no ono passed In or out ex-
cept tho butcher baker and milkman
Murray interviewed tho baker and ask-
ed who lived there.
"An old lady and gentleman tv.o
nlco looking girls and a couplo of
bons" said ho.
While sure that he had run Ed
Johnson to earth and that ho and no
other was tho chief mover In the
counterfeiting plot Murray pos'scssed
no posltlvo ovldcnco against tho man.
In the hopo of obtulnlng some proof
of wrongdoing ho kept constant watch
on the house. Days and nights passed
without any of the occupants emerg-
ing from their shelter. It might havo
been a deserted house for all tho signs
of llfo thoso within its portals made.
Dut ono night lights burned in the
parlor and tho piano was played vig-
orously until an early hour of tho
morning and at soven o'clock tho
front door opened and old man John-
son himself Edwin Johnson tho king
of counterfeiters appeared and walked
Jauntily down tho street
Tho detective saw and recognized
him Instantly and proceeded to
shadow him. Johnson stopped In sev-
eral saloons on his way down town
and Murray entering .each ono as soon
as tho counterfeiter had loft found
that he had paid for whatever drinks
ho consumed in genuine money. Mr.
Johnson's frequent thirst-quenchers
had a noticeable effect upon him and
finally he went to the railway station
nd bought a ticket for Markham.
When he boarded the train his patient
follower took up a position six seats
behind him. At Markham Johnson
left tho train and tho first placo ho
visited was n saloon. When he camo
out Murray went in and Induced tho
proprietor to exchange the $1 bill
with which Johnson had paid for his
drink for its equivalent in silver. Also
ho had tho saloonkeeper write his Ini-
tials on thp bill for identification pur-
poses. Murray's eyes glistened as ho
slipped tho bank noto in bis pocket
for It was a newly forged Dominion
$1 bill and the proof ho required was
In his hands at last.
The sportive Mr. Johnson visited
saloon after saloon buying drinks and
cigars and paying in bad bills. Close
on bis bcols trailed tho persistent
shadower buying up tho Johnson
money as fast as Johnson spent it.
The latter kept busy until train time
when ho went back to Toronto. Ab ho
topped on to the station platform
f
s
Si
Murray walked upland tnpped him on
tho shoulder.
"Ho do you do Mr. Johnson" ho
said.
Tho gray-haired dapper old gentle-
man thus addressed stared In polite
surprise.
"You have tho advantngo of mo
sir" ho ropllod. "I do not know you."
"Dut I happen to know you" return-
ed tho ofllcer quietly. "I am Detec-
tive Murray and you aro my prisoner
on a chargo of counterfeiting. I havo
In my pocket tho bogus money you
passed at Markham."
Although In a nono too sober condi-
tion tho shock of this announcement
wa3 enough to mako Mr. Johnson look
unnaturnlly gravo.
"Isn't thcro anyway of nrranglng
tho matter?" ho queried. "It appears to
bo serious."
"We'll talk If over at tho Jnll" said
Muray as ho hailed a cab.
Arrived at tho Jail Murray searched
his prisoner nnd found mure bad bills
on him. Telling tho Jailer to treat
tho old gentleman well nnd leaving
Johnson well provided with cigars and
other comforts Murray tinned to him
Just before making his exit from tho
cell.
"I'll drop In to see you tomorrow
Johnson" lie said "when you'll bo In a
little better shape to discuss matters.
Dut I may us well tell you that tho
only arrangement you can mako with
mo Is to deliver up tho plates and
whole paraphornalla of counterfeiting.
On the following morning Juno 12
1880 Johnson made earnest proposi-
tions to Murray regarding a ransom to
bo paid for his freedom. Ho implored
tho dotcctlvo to namo any amount
saying that ho himself was wealthy
and possessed friends to whom money
was no object.
Muray smiled grimly. "Neither Is
money nny object to mo In the form
of a" bribe Johnson" ho said." Nothing
goes for mo except those platcB."
Johnson sighed. "I think you are
acting foolishly" ho remarked. "Dut
let mo tell you one thing Murray. If
over you go Into this line of business
don't drink. A man docs things when
ho Is drunk that he would never dream
of doing when sober. If I had not
been under tho Influence of liquor thlB
would never havo happened.
Tho dotectlve smiled at this bit of
moral philosophy. Ha knew what tho
prisoner referred to. Except when
drunk Johnson never shaved or passed
bad bills. Tho shavers and middle-
men did not know tho clover engraver
at all. His identity was a secret ox
cept to tho wholesalo dealers.
On tho following Monday Johtyson
Bont for Murray.
"I've thought it over and havo mado
up my mind to turn everything over
to you" said tho elderly counterfeiter.
"I sent for no lawyer and didn't oven
send word homo. We'll go out and
got tho stuff bow if you like."
Bad Bills Are Seized
and Then Long Probe
to Unearth Spurious
Coiners Is Started with
Results as Chronicled
-The Work of Arrest-
ing the Guilty Parties
How It Was Ac-
complished by the
Sleuth Who Never
Tired Story Like a
Romance. v
Murray sent for Dotcctlvo John
Hodglns of Toronto police headquar-
ters' and accompanied by tho two of-
ficers JohnBon entered n cnV in re-
sponse to thu counterfeiter's directions
tho Jehu drovo tho party out to Wells
Hill Into a clump of woods above To-1
ronto wliero they all got out. The old
man took n careful observation nnd
pointed to tho foot of an old elm tree.
"Thnt's whero they aro" ho an-
nounced. Tho two ofllcers removed their coats
and proceeded to dig but found noth-
ing. "This Is a poor tlmo for Joking"
Bald Murray whon they dually do-
Blstcd looking sternly at tho prisoner.
"I'm not Joking" Insisted Johnson
"but I may bo mistaken. Walt a mo-
ment." After deliberating ho pointed out an-
other treo and the officers resumed
their labors. Presently a spado struck
something hard and Johnson sprang
forward with outstretched hand.
"Go easy go easy" ho Implored.
"Thoso plates aro not hard to damago
Remember they took years to mako
and aro worth over $10000."
Johnson lifted tho plates out of their
resting place with Inllnttc caro. They
wpic wrapped In oild cloth and en-
cased In solid coverings of beeswax.
"Here they are Murray" ho said
mournfully bnudlng them to his cap-
tor "1 don't on it thorn all. A party on
thu other side has an Interest in
them."
Tho plntc-s made a packago the bIzo
of two lnrgo bricks and woro very
heavy. Murray took Johnson back to
Jail and then drovo to tho attornoy
general's department with his treas-
ures. Upon examining thorn tho ex-
perts conceded that they woro tho best
thoy had ever seen. Thoy wero re-
markable for tho fineness and precis-
ion of the strokes tho authority of tho
signatures the beauty of tho vignettes
and medallions tho accuracy of fol-
lowing all tho little whims of tho en-
gravers of tho original plates. For
each bill thero wero thrco copper
plutcs one for tho front ono for tho
back and ono for thu wedge. Each
platu was about a quarter of an Inch
In thickness. Thcro wero 21 separata
copper pieces or plates thrco each for
tho Dunk of Commerce $10 tuo Dank
of Commerca $5 tho Ontario bank $10
the Dominion bank $4 tho govern-
ment Issuo $1 and tho United States $5.
Johnson confessed that Hill mado
the Statcrt $S and that tho remainder
was his work. He mado tho plates In
tho States and his daughters forged
tho signatures. They had beon trained
In forging or duplicating signatures
since childhood Thoy would spend
hours a day duplicating a single sig-
nature and work at tho ono name for
months writing it thousands of times.
Jesslo was better at largo and Annie
at small handwriting. Tho boys wero
learning to bo engravers and wero so
proficient than thero father was wont
to boast proudly of their skill.
On August 10 1880 Murray went to
Washington nnd called on John Sher-
man secretary of the treasury told
him the story und showed him tho $5
plato of the United States Issue. Sher-
man congratulated the dotectlvo heart-
ily remarking that It was ono of tho
most vuluable seizures of counterfeit
plates ever made. Murray turned
over to tho United 8tntos secret serv-
ice tho names of tho parties Implicated
by Johnson's confession and theso
people were afterward arrested.
Edwin Johnson was placod on trial
at tho Fall Assizes In 1880 In To-
ronto before Chief Justice Hogarty.
Seven indictments wore read and
Johnson pleaded guilty to every one.
Tho counsel for tho crown naked tho
court to suspend sentonco and this
was done Johnson was released and
Murray escorted him and IiIb daugh-
ters to tho United Statos whero tho
authorities desired to mako uso of
them.
In 189C old Hill the maker of tho
States $5 Issue was still in u United
States Jail under the name of John
Murphy. Several of tho Johnson fam-
ily aro In prison several out and tbclr
whoroabouts unknown. Old man John-
son tho genius of tho aggregation
died in 1898. Tho capturo of tho
plates put a stop to the issuo of any
moro bills and tho case of the coun-
terfeit million came to an end
(Copyright 1909 by W. a. Chapman.)
(Copyright In Great BrlUUk)
2B. JCUWllNGfflffi
tho Roosevelt caravan and gathering
materials nnd supplies.
Deslden being n hunter nnd guldo
Mr. Cunnlnghamo In an expert col
lector of natural history specimens
having mado Important collections for
tho DrltlHh museum both in Norwny
and Africa.
Ho has guided numerous hunting
partlcb In Afrlcn und for a tlmo was
chief hunter for thu Field Columbian
museum.
NEW GETTYSBURG MONUMENT.
Will B Erected on Dattlcfleld at Cost
of $150000.
Philadelphia. This Is u model of tho
magnificent Pennsylvania state mon-
ument to bo erected nt Outtysburg at
a cost of $1(30000. Around the para-
pet will bo bronzo panels on which
will bo Inscribed about 22000 nainen
of ofllcers nnd privates who took part
in tho battle of Gettysburg. The com-
mission wishes to mention every Penn-
sylvania soldier who participated in
tho battle. Figures of Abraham Un-
coin and Andrew C. Curtln in bronzo
will flank one of tho arches. The pedi-
ment of tho monument will contain
four largo has reliefs emblematic of
tho artlllory cavalry infantry ami
8lgnnl corps tho whole granlto monu-
ment being crowned by a bronzo sto-
New Pennsylvania. Gettysburg Monu-
ment. tuo of victory. Tho monument will be
erected on tho battlefield of Gettys-
burg in July 1010.
Girl's Dally Walk of Ten Miles.
Miss Frances Champion of San
Diego who Ib hero visiting her brother
F. R. Champion of Locust avenue
walks ten miles every day for exorcise.
She has continued thin daily walk for
nearly ten months and saya eho would
not give it up for anything Rfaln or
shine Miss Champion starts out every
morning at eight o'clock and walks
until 11 o'clock in which time she
walks about seven miles. This consti-
tutes her morning exercise. In the
afternoon sho starts at two o'clock and!
finishes nt 3:30.
Miss Champion 1b tho picture or
health. She is flvo feet tall aaA
weighs about 130 pounds She say
that about a year ago her nerves be-
camo shattered. Willing to do any-
thing to regain her health she decided
to try tho walking euro. Sbo began
gradually walking at first not more
than half a mile. Sho experimented
for two months increasing the distance
as her health would pormlt until she
finally docldod to walk ten mllea dally.
Los Angeles Times
Francis Scott Key Memorial.
Dy an act of congress Daltlmore is
to havo at last a memorial to Francis
Scott Key a Mnrylandcr and the au-
thor of the "Star-Spangled Danner" a
handsome tablot having been ordered
to bo put on tho flagstaff at Fort Mc-
Hcnry. The tablot will be in the
Bhapo of a shield nud made of bronze.
It will bo suitably Inscribed and will
constitute tho only memorial of Key
that has ever bean put up lx DalU-mure
.ii. "i
Jft""" " T
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Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Roberts, A. S. Anadarko Daily Democrat (Anadarko, Okla.), Vol. 8, No. 14, Ed. 1, Saturday, February 13, 1909, newspaper, February 13, 1909; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc82088/m1/3/: accessed April 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.