Page:Memoirs of the United States Secret Service.djvu/113

96 dollar Waltham Watch in Bill Dow's possession. He seized it, took it to the Company, sought for the notes, but could not trace them; and was actually compelled to return the watch to Dow, as his property! Bill told the details of this story himself, and the tale was subsequently confirmed by Detective Newcomb, as above, in all particulars. Sixteen more of these same $50 notes were "shoved" in one day, in New York city, by Tom Hale and his "moll," at the dry goods stores. And Bill Gurney also (about the same time) bought jewelry largely in Philadelphia, C. O. D., with these same notes, and with similar success.

But Bill Dow found this counterfeit, though it was so finely got up, of too large a denomination for his New England trade. He therefore continued his practices there with the smaller ones. He had made a pile of money, and he went to Mike O'Brien's place at High Bridge, N. Y., to rusticate a while. But he soon moved off again, quietly, and undertook the cracking of the Bank at Wolfboro', N. H.

He rarely dealt in bogus coins. This stuff was too cumbersome to transport. But he came and went to and from New York, and procured his paper "stock" at East and West Houston Street, (where it was openly sold in large packages to him and others.) These places were well known as the coneymens' head-quarters. "Deals" by tens of thousands were made there, daily. A loaded revolver lay upon the table at the dealer's right hand (between him and his customer) as a reminder that during the transfer, good faith must be observed in these transactions between buyer and seller. This was the only precaution used. Once the "stock" was out of the dealer's hands, he had no concern about it. But among these thieves in council, honor was observed; or an explosion followed suspicion of an attempt to play false with the providers of the stuff.