Conclusion explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Crime and Punishment

  The chapter details the gang's elaborate counterfeiting scheme and the brutal murders of three women, culminating in their convictions and executions, illustrating the consequences of criminal activity.

• Greed and Exploitation

  The gang's motivation is purely financial, exploiting vulnerable women as dupes and murdering them when they become liabilities. Molly Moran's retention of her ill-gotten gains highlights the moral ambiguity of profit from crime.

• Justice and Morality

  French's methodical work leads to the gang's downfall, saving lives and removing a threat to society. However, Molly's escape from prosecution raises questions about the fairness of the justice system.

Characters to notice

• Inspector Joseph French

  French concludes his investigation, uncovering the full details of the coining scheme and securing convictions for the gang. He takes satisfaction in having saved Molly Moran's life and cleared out a nest of evildoers.

• Molly Moran

  Molly is rescued after being kidnapped by the gang. She is not prosecuted and retains nearly four hundred pounds from her involvement in the scheme.

• Curtice Welland

  Welland, also known as Hervey Westinghouse, is a key member of the gang who provided capital and orchestrated the coining operation. He is executed after confessing to the murders of three women.

• Mr. Style

  Style, originally named Webster, was coerced into the gang by Welland. He was responsible for obtaining machinery, buying silver, and shadowing the box office girls. He receives a life sentence.

• Gwen Lestrange

  Revealed as Mrs. James Sibley, Gwen helped manufacture counterfeit coins and was involved in the gang's activities. She surrenders after the gang's capture and receives a life sentence.

• Jim Sibley

  Sibley, a former Mint employee, conceived the coining scheme and led its execution. He is executed for his role in the murders.

Key passages

• “When Gwen Lestrange, to give her the name by which she had been known to French—she was really Mrs. James Sibley—saw from the cabin the turn affairs had taken, she surrendered at discretion.”

  Gwen Lestrange, whose real identity was Mrs. James Sibley, gave herself up when she realized the situation was hopeless.

  Gwen's surrender marks the end of the gang's resistance.

• “It seemed that Jim Sibley had long been convinced as to the possibility of profitably counterfeiting silver coins.”

  Jim Sibley had believed for a long time that counterfeiting silver coins could be profitable.

  Sibley's motivation for the scheme is revealed.

• “Welland instantly saw through the trick of the broken window and this convinced the gang that they were in dangerous waters.”

  Welland immediately realized the broken window was a ruse, alerting the gang to the danger.

  The gang's awareness of French's investigation escalates the tension.

• “Style instantly saw that if Molly were allowed to see French again they were done for.”

  Style realized that if Molly met French again, the gang would be caught.

  Molly's recognition of Style triggers the kidnapping.

• “Before his death Welland made a full confession. In it he admitted that he and Sibley had murdered all three girls in the horrible and revolting way with which Style had threatened Molly.”

  Before his execution, Welland confessed that he and Sibley had killed the three women in the same brutal manner Style had threatened Molly with.

  Welland's confession confirms the gang's guilt in the murders.