This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Erie Detective Tracks Old‑Time Thieving Ring
John Wilson Murray, a 26 year old United States secret service veteran, helps the Erie police unravel a wave of burglary and counterfeiting. He and Chief Crawley arrest George Knapp, his wife, and others after uncovering a buried wagon with plunder, a cat’s cradle of theft, a scrubwoman duo, and a counterfeit money operation led by “Poke” Sales and Tom Hale. The gang’s capture spans shelves of jewelry, silverware, clothing, and a trove of counterfeit notes, with Knapp sentenced to 16 years and others jailed or ferried to federal custody.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Wilson Murray
Sam
Aosra
United States
Wat Bo
Erie
Lakes
Thombs Crawley
Murray
Tolworthy
Crawley
Snyder
George Knapp
Knapp
Kuspp
Kanpy
Cme
Muray
Hils
Collins
Tmber
Alleghany Peniteonary
Daylum
Atresta
Tote
Police
Jimmy
Skinner
Bilas
Jolia Hall
Maggle Carroll
al Joghany Penitentiary
Mary Ann
Landers
Landora
Ehoyer
Ah En- Graver
Tom Hale
New York
Hale
Morton House
Sales
Mr. Sales
Hls
John Anthony
John
Poke
Pittsburg
Washington
Wood
Secret Service
Department
Col. Whiteley
Whiteley
Philadelphia
Omiuk