Monte W. Brockman, master criminal, 1903

(Articles transcribed from the Adair County News.)

Wednesday, April 15, 1903, page 3

(no headline)

Mr. Mont W. Brockman and Miss Mary L. Hovious were married in the court-house last Saturday by Judge A.T. Murrell.

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Wednesday, June 10, 1903, page 3 (next three articles)

Grip Full of Spurious Notes.

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They Were Made Out on a Kentucky Bank,

and Couple Under Arrest Charged

with Counterfeiting.

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Hot Springs, Ark., June 3.--What seems to be an important catch was made here yesterday in the arrest of Wm. Brooks and his wife and the capture of a complete set of dies and $50,000 of spurious $5 national bank notes, on the Marion National Bank, of Lebanon, Ky. The money was of the 1882 series, signed by John G. Carlisle, vice president, and O.D. Thomas, assistant cashier. It was the Garfield note, and seems to be remarkably clever. The issue is of May 26, 1894.

When deputy sheriff Will Estell detected Brooks in the act of passing one of the bills, he promptly arrested him, and after a short strug-gle relieved him of a large pistol. In his pocket was letter from the Seventh Avenue, Louisville, addressed to Wm. Brooks, care of the Bruns-wick Hotel, 310 Park avenue, Hot Springs.

After landing his man in the county jail Estell, with the sheriff, quickly repaired to the number in Park avenue and through a ruse induced Mrs. Brooks to turn over three grips full of money, with the dies and a companion to the gun taken from the man.

The Secret Service Department at Washington was promptly notified, as was the bank at Lebanon.

The couple were to have left town last evening, but Brooks came downtown and began drinking. His wife knew he was drinking and was greatly annoyed over the fact. She is about 20 years old and says they have been married about five weeks. She is completely prostrated in the city jail, while her husband is in the county jail, swearing vengeance against the officers. it is known at least five others are implicated with the pair.

Brooks is an assumed name. The party in custody is Mont W. Brockman, an Adair County man, whose home is near Tarter. He was married in the court-house at Columbia six weeks ago to a Miss Hovious, daughter of a good citizen, who resides on Green river. Brockman has been suspected for some time as dealer in counterfeit money. The wife of the accused man is also in jail and says that five or six other persons are implicated with her husband. Brockman and his wife will probably be brought to Columbia for examining trial. There is evidently a band of counterfeiters in Adair and Russell counties and the authorities are determined to run them down. [Another article in the same edition,

same page, stated that a number of counterfeit silver dollars had been received by merchants in Russell and Adair counties.]

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(no headline)

A few days before Mont Brockman was arrested in Hot Springs, Ark., charged with counterfeiting, his brother in this county received a letter from him, asking for the loan of fifty dollars; that he was out of money and that he and his wife desired to return home. The money was forwarded and his brother was in Campbellsville last Wednesday to meet him. The brother came to Columbia Thursday and learned the particulars of the arrest of Mont and his wife.

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(no headline)

Mont Brockman and wife arrested at Hot Springs, Ark. for handling counterfeit money, have confessed. A dispatch from that city states that they will be conveyed to Little Rock jail and there kept until October term of Federal Court. Brockman in his confession, stated that he got the money from a stranger, near the 7th Avenue Hotel, Louisville, but his story is not believed. It is rumored here that the money was made and purchased in Massachusetts.

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Wednesday, June 17, 1903, page 3

(no headline)

It is said that Mont Brockman of Adair county, arrested in Hot Springs, Ark., for dealing in counterfeit money, will not be returned to Kentucky; that he will confess and ask for the shortest term. The trial of the White boys*, at this place, arrested upon the same charge, has again been put off until next week. [This article appeared again, verbatim, in the June 24, 1903 edition of the News. * The July 1, 1903 edition stated that Frank and Owen, the brothers White, had been charged with counterfeiting; that in a examining trial held "last Friday" (June 26th), sufficient evidence was found to hold Frank on $500 bond, "which he readily gave;" and that the charge against Owen was dropped. No disposition of the case found in the News, but the Webb's Cross Roads community newsletter in the March 24, 1903 edition noted that "Mr. Frank White, of Tarter, left last week for Illinois."]

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Wednesday, November 4, 1903, page 3

(no headline)

Mont Brockman, it is reported, who was arrested in Arkansas, some time ago, charged with passing or attempting to pass counterfeit money, has been released. We take it that Mr. Brockman is now with his family in this county.

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