Show Y h j + i4t h1ST cX True Story of the Secret Service GIST BY HIS OWN PETARD COL H C Uy WHITLEY Former Chief U S Secret Service f UniNO tho sixties and i1I and tho early seventies f seven-ties of tho last century cen-tury counterfeiting IrTT into ono of tho fine arts and to such perfection was It brought that In many Instances It was exceedingly ex-ceedingly difficult to detect tho bogus stuff from the genuIne genu-ine WVAs Insidious enemies of tho people I In every walk of life counterfeiters may well be classed among tho most subtle and dangerous persons with whom officers of tho law have to cope Ever wide awake and on tho alert for treachery In their own ranks these ie crafty rogues can only bo captured and convicted by means of carefully Ir baited traps or by what Is generally 1t known as tho stoolpigeon system Counterfeiters aro divided Into six distinct classes First tho capitalist or procurer second tho engraver r third the printer fourth tho whole t sale dealer fifth tho retailer and ilith tho shover or circulator The ai capitalist Is tho most difficult man to of reach as ho seldom handles any of con the plates or spurious money Hence lie chief offender in this line may walk calmly about defying tho detective detec-tive each tacitly understanding tho other In his relative position one luspectlng and watching the other patiently and tirelessly picking up crunib by crumb convicting evidence ait The methods pursued by detectives to entrap counterfeiters are rarely e better Illustrated than In the following to account of the capture of William MIA M-IA gurney alias Dig Bill tho Konlnck wholesale tr ono of the foremost lealers In queer of his day He was born of respectable parentage reared In the quietude Incident to country life educated and supplied with a d itifflclent amount of money wherewith to live like a gentleman and strangely ft strange-ly enough he choso a path that led to his ultimate ruin in In tho excitement of those tumultu bus days the city of New York was r well stocked with men possessed of and concealing a genius for conceiving ing crime Perhaps no other city In the civilized world has ever afforded a better opportunity for fleecing the r public Gurney had been handling counterfeit money ftor several years but had managed to escape punish chief distributors ment He was ono of the I tributors for Joshua D Miner who was the head and front of a powerful power-ful octopus whose tentacles were stretched out In almost every section of the country Gurney was by no means unattractive and there were ive In appearance few men walking Broadway In his day whose physique could compare favorably with his He stood six feet two Inches In height and was correspondingly corre-spondingly well proportioned while iA his expansive chest and welldeveloped o limbs gave him the appearanco of a man possessing the muscular strength of n giant Ills black eyes were sharp to and severe or mild and pleasant suit occasions In conversation he was easy and Interesting and among strangers would readily havo passed for a gentleman of marked ability To be a leader among tho counterfeitIng counterfeit-Ing fraternity seemed to have been the crowning glory of his highest ambition b am-bition > In tho spring of 1869 I was appointed ap-pointed chief of tho government secret se-cret service and though I had had experience with General Butler in I New Orleans and later in the internal revenue service I was unknown among the counterfeiters Shortly after my appointment I received re-ceived information at my headquarters headquar-ters In Washington regarding a rather unique affair that had taken place atone at-one of the drinking resorts on Houston Hous-ton street in New York city William Wil-liam Gurney with his characteristic push and daring had Invited a party of queersruen to partake of a banquet ban-quet at this place There were 24 I persons present at this function three exdetectives being among the number num-ber On the following day I was furnished with the particulars of this remarkable remark-able assembly and tho exdetective who reported it also provided a list of the banqueters Among other things I learned that my appointment as chief of the secret service was discussed dis-cussed at the affair and pronounced a good joke upon the government Gurney addressed his guests boastfully I boast-fully declaring that tho new chief might do for a preacher or an Internal revenue clerk but that he could never capo with shrewd men like the quccrsmen I Now Is our opportunity ho said to reap a rich harvest At the same time he advised his friends that he was going to tako the now chief Into his confidence and keep him 1 well I stuffed with fictitious information S In the meantime ho continued I will draw out from him his plans and J keep myself posted as to his proposed pro-posed movements This plan pleased tho fancy of the scoundrels and they agreed that Gurney Gur-ney was a great man They wore seated at tho tables Imbibing wine and they drank to Gurneys health while tho oxdetectives and counter felt rs Jostled elbows and handled Men goodnaturedly as they contem I Platrd tho easy times In store forth for-th m When sufficiently filled with win and inthuslasin they capped the tlltrix by hurrahing for his satanic mat ty Tho feast of Bolshazzar was a tame affair in comparison with tho Indulgence of theso men If thero were any letters of warning upon tho walls all Were too drunk to read them or they lacked a sober Daniel to in terpret them Under the circumstances It seemed advisable to allow these merry plot tors to pursue their way unmolested until sufficiently off their guard to per mit limo successful carrying out of a plan to entrap and apprehend tho en tire party Much of my time was now spent at my New York office In Bleeker street where in duo time Gurney called upon me for the purpose of paying his respects and tendering some In formation In regard to counterfeiters Tho artless appearing follow said that when quite young ho had been foolish enough to engage In counterfeiting but had long since abandoned It and was now ready to render the government govern-ment such assistance as bo could I affected to receive him with open arms and apparently gulped down as truth everything he had to bITer Gur plied Bower cautiously but I do not llko to take tho chances any moreOh Oh hI I replied Gurney Weve got everything our own way now Tho government detectives are all green men and theres no danger of getting caught unless a fellow goes and gives himself up Taking from his wallet wal-let a 20 counterfeit noto on the National Na-tional Shoo and Leather bank of Now York city ho added Heros something some-thing good enough to deceive the disciples dis-ciples After some parleying Bower accepted ac-cepted 300 of the queer for the diamond dia-mond and I now Instructed Bower to stay away from Gurney for a couple of weeks While Bower had been working Gurney that worthy had been coming to my office every few days to work me Ho imagined that I fully believed what he said and that ho was regarded regard-ed as a valuable ally I always received re-ceived him kindly and assured him that I had no desire to make arrests unless forced to do so and that I did v n I filn II U 1 YOU HRE fl OOD ON G I 4 ir I I ii 4Jf I I I I r i i l I I 1r 4 TNfNcYTERAL G 00ING fM Wiry A QUClHOIVEMENI SWAPp9D RNDCUJ7t ON CU YI 5 wRsr5 t TIYEDETECTYE STRETCNED oarr5EvERAz OPTEPELLOW6 ney was well fitted to deceive with a plausible story for he seemed candid In manner and well equipped In every way to impose upon the most incredulous incred-ulous Tho officers of the secret service all considered him a dangerous person per-son and none was anxious to encounter encoun-ter a man of such gigantic proportions and apparently desperate character My first move against Gurney was to send Mike Bower a newlyfledged government detective to form his acquaintance ac-quaintance Bower was selected because be-cause his appearance was anything but that of a detective Bower drifted into Gurneys boozingden on East Bleoker street where after loitering around drinking and smoking for a week or two ho one day called Gurney Gur-ney aside and told him ho was broke and must have a little money Ho drew from his Inside pocket a gold watch with a short piece of chain hanging from It giving it tho appearance appear-ance of having been nipped from the pocket of some unfortunate clten Gurney snapped at the bait at once and Intimated with a sly wink that the watch had boon stolen When Bower finally admitted as much Guf ney seemed pleased and bought tho watch at about onotblrd Its value remarking Youre all right my boy When you want anything come to mo After a few days Bower again approached ap-proached Gurney this tlmo with a diamond stud that had been slipped from Its fastenings I need some more money said Bower Gurnoy Inspected tho gem with an I appreciative eye and finally said You arc a good ono Did you ever I handle any of tho queer I took a little hand In it once ro not believe in using harsh measures unnecessarily Gurney fairly chuckled at this simplicity and was thrown completely off his guard He assumed an air of great mystery and spoke of the possible existence of counterfeit plates that might be reached for a reward He would not ho declared accept a dollar for his personal services but because of his great fancy for me was ready to assist as-sist In every way possible Ho was permitted to blarney along and play the game to his own liking secure In the belief that he was completely deceiving de-ceiving the government officials In the meantime the services of an old counterfeiter fresh from the penitentiary peni-tentiary had been secured Many of his old confederates were now operating opera-ting with the Gurney gang and through him Bill Butts a freshlook ing detective irom ono 01 the western states was Introduced to several of the men who made their headquarters at a saloon on the Bowery Butts Informed In-formed the barkeeper of the saloon that he had just served a term for shoving tho queer At first tho counterfeiters and thieves hanging around tho place appeared ap-peared to be suspicious of Butts One day however whim these vllllans wero drinking beer In the back room of the place a fight arose The do tectlvo went In with the rest and stretched out several l of tho fellows though ho was badly beaten up In the end and In addition was robbed of his pocketbook and watch The ethics of tho criminal profession profes-sion are peculiar When a crowd of crooks light they frequently rob ono another and If the victim calls In tho police to recover his property he lOBes tho confidence of tho rogues T who took part In the fray But If ho I keeps silent It is conclusive evidence In their minds that ho cannot stand Investigation and this establishes his character beyond doubt It Is accepted ac-cepted by them as sufficient voucher that ho Is a member in good standing In the brotherhood of crooks and ho Is then admitted into full fellowship Shortly after the melee ono of the crowd suggested to Butts that ho call in tho police Ho promptly replied No police for me and tho detective was thereupon received without hesitation hesi-tation or mental reservation During the next seven or eight months Butts worked with this gang of counterfeiters counter-feiters as a shover of queer Counterfeit shovers as they are I called usually travel in pairs Ono fellow carries tho bogus money and remains outside while the other takes ana bill enters a place of business busi-ness purchases some trifle tenders the counterfeit noto In payment and receives change in good money If this precaution wero not observed the possession of other counterfeit money In case of detection and arrest would Indicate guilt and lend almost Inevitably to conviction Detective Butts however did not pass any counterfeit money but used Instead a good bill In tho place of tho one ho received from tho carrier That was kept for evidence and In this way ho deceived the qucersmcn for months and secured evidence to convict about twenty of the Gurney party While Butts had been busy with the gang of shovers Bower had been do voting his time to Gurney and the other leaders On one occasion Bower purchased 500 of counterfeit money from Gurney and this ho handed to mo as I was on my way to dinner at the St Clair house As I entered the restaurant I met Gurney looking as cheerful and Innocent as a Raphael cherub The rascal appeared with a bland smile and Informed me that ho had como there especially to see me about counterfeiting transatclons out west I took him by the hand thanked him and Invited him to dine We selected a table where Gurney could talk without being overheard His information as usual was Indefinite In-definite hearsay with no particular point to It Ho told me that my policy pol-icy of being easy with the counterfeiters counter-feiters was working like a charm that there was no counterfeit money In circulation In tho castIn fact ho had not seen a bad dollar In six months At that very moment my hand was resting on the package of counterfeit money that had Just been purchased from him by Bower A few days later Gurney told Bower In a boasting way of this fn tervlcw and In a burst of enthusiasm declared that everything about tho government detective headquarters was known to him before It transpired trans-pired Ho asserted that he was one of my assistants and was so puffed up over his Imaginary success that ho really believed he know what was going go-Ing on In my office The time now seemed ripe for tho arrest of the entire party who bad 1 I 1 j discussed my qualifications over their wino nt tho banquet on Houston street Bower had completely won Gurneys confidence Telling him that ho was about to take a trip to Texas ho Inquired If ho could buy 3000 In counterfeit money at a wholesale whole-sale figure Of course any amount of It answered an-swered Gurnoy A deal was arranged for Its delivery deliv-ery on the New York side of Fulton Ferry Bower was to be at n designated desig-nated spot at a certain time and Gurney Gur-ney was to pass along hand over tho spurious and receive good money in payment At tho appointed time there was n largo crowd standing around tho ferry landing waiting for the boat Bower was there and a few paces from him stood a seemingly honest tinsmith with a Joint of stovepipe under his arm and a pair of snippers In his hand Ills clothes and the soot upon his hands and face bore unmistakable witness to his calling Near by looking look-ing In another direction stood a stout lybullt business man of ample girth In one hand ho carried a hat box In the other a valise In tho Immediate vicinity was a tall reverential appearing i ap-pearing gentleman with neat side whiskers whoso white tie and the ministerial cut of his coat wero In keeping with the sanctimonious expression ex-pression of his face uu When the ferry boat struck the dock Gurnoy stepped off peered cautiously cau-tiously and carefully around scanning tho faces of tboso who were standing near Being satisfied that there were no suspicious persons about ho drew a package from under his coat and stepped toward Bower to deliver It At this Instant the ministeriallook Ing man raised his hand Tho fat man dropped his luggngo and tho tinsmith tin-smith his tools Both seized Gurney by the arms and held him whllq the tall brother with a quick movement snapped handcuffs on his wrists Everything was done so quickly that Gurney did not linvo tlmo to catch his breath before ho was securely ironed The prisoner was taken to tho secret service office I removed my side whiskers and mado some change In my clothing then entered the office and shook hands with the crestfallen criminal During that day nnd evening the government officers were engaged In arresting the shovers of tho gang against whom Butts had secured evidence evi-dence Two of tho exdetectives guests at Gurneys banquot had already al-ready been arrested for passing counterfeit coun-terfeit money opo at Plttsburg and the other at Cincinnati By 11 oclock that night the officers had arrested ar-rested 20 of the gang They were arranged In a circle at the office and the right hand of one was handcuffed hand-cuffed to tho left hand of tho next Gurney appropriately happened to be the centerpiece I could not help n feeling of pity fat the unfortunates but they had volun tartly preyed upon society and transgressed trans-gressed the laws of their land and the common weal required that they be punished They were all tried and convicted most of them entering s plea of guilty The boastful Gurney now fully realIzed real-Ized the trap Into which he had fallen He had been hoisted by his own petard a circumstance thai seemed to humiliate him almost beyond be-yond measure With little or rio pressure pres-sure he weakened and confessed thai he had received his counterfeit money from Joshua D Miner who was the capitalist that owned the plates upon which the National Shoo and Leathei twenties were printed Among the secret service officers Minor was known to bo a counter felter but on account of his great wealth and political standing he was considered a difficult man to grapple with Ho was a largo city contractor at this time and employed about one hundred men opening up a new road at the end of Ninth avenue Gurney was altogether too timid to make a deal with Miner In order to give the officers an opportunity to capture cap-ture him redhanded but ho finally agreed to go with mo to see Miner who he believed would surrender tho 20 counterfeit plates for tho purpose of shortening his sentence Leaving a carriage on tho boulevard boule-vard I walked with Gurney a short distance on Sixtyninth street toward Miners house Wo met Miner on the sidewalk and I was Introduced by Gurney who then explained the trouble ho had gotten himself Into Miner said ho could do nothing for him and as a last resort 1 requested Miner to step aside with me where 1 told him that I was convinced that ho was the owner of the counterfeit plates of the National Shoo and Leather bank This he firmly denied but I insisted and threatened to arrest ar-rest him Ho finally said that he would make an effort to secure tho plates I knew what this meant and upon his promlso to meet mo tho following fol-lowing day I left him Miner appeared on time but was still doubtful In regard to his ability to make the surrender demanded Ho was a hard nut to crack but before be-fore we parted I succeeded In convincing con-vincing him by the use of language not less threatening than It was forcible that It was for his Interest to surrender the plates This he now promised to do and shortly after another i an-other Interview at his homo I received re-ceived a check for n piece of baggago at tho Grand Central depot A detective de-tective wont to the baggage room at this depot and obtained an old hair trunk In which wero found tho plates According to promise Gurney through my Intercession and explanation explana-tion was given a sentence of seven Instead of the years maximum sun tenco of fifteen lOUHI11 I ll IV 1v IJ Ill 11 M lI11 |