Page:Memoirs of the United States Secret Service.djvu/114

Rh The "coney" team was as common at one period for years, in New England, as was the peddler's cart; and it was looked for in its rounds quite as regularly and much more anxiously, in certain quarters. These "shovers of the queer" put forth myriads of counterfeit notes, and the whole country was surfeited with them, while Dow was rioting over his gains, and pushing things to extremities. Though he did not realize it, he was hastening to ruin, "with a flowing sail." His last big "deal" at Springfield (where he shoved over $10,000 in bogus bank bills,) did his business for him, effectually.

Bill had long been watched by the police, and the U. S. Detectives got upon his track at length, in earnest. He had studiously "kept his eye peeled," nevertheless; and, like other of his accomplished pals, he had so managed as to elude detection, with great adroitness. But, during the rebellion, he run a new rig, furiously, and at last a snare was deliberately laid by Col. Whitley, for his capture, which was carried out to successful conclusion as follows.

Wm. W. Kennock, one of Chief Whitley's Detectives, went forth, under instructions from head-quarters, to hunt this offender down. Upon tracking Dow, after careful search, he "lighted" on him at the town of Hookset, N. H. Kennock directly assumed to represent the professional "cracksman" and upon getting into communication with Dow, he pretended that he had himself just made a good thing upon a distant country bank, and had come to New Hampshire to lie by a while, until the affair should cease to be talked about. He soon contrived to ingratiate himself into Bill's affections and confidence, and by dint of careful conduct, and the information he possessed regarding the ways and manners of both the queersman and the burglar, the disguised official got a hold upon Dow's "tender spot," and they quickly affiliated.