Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-06-27
From the New York Express.

u ~ .
--Some few days sircc the marshais OF
this court succeeded in arrcsting the
major portion Of most extended gang
of coners. Their head quarters were
in New York, but they had ramifcaton.
spreading over several Of the states, and
even in Canada. The names of the
coiners arrested arc Jonathan and Lem
nel RUSSELL james Kidder, Silenns
Stephens, Joe Crane, and William and
Russell Moore, Slenus Stephens and
Russell Moore, as the heads Of the gang,
will alone be proceeded against The
others will be employed as Witnesses
against these two. Yesterday The tcsti-
mony Of james Kidder and Lemuel
Russell was given, and it exposed a
wide and extended system of fraud that
has been perpelratcd over the whole
country.
kIdder's deposition went to show that
he was well acquainted with the coming
trade, and had done some matter in that
way himself. He used to perambulate
the states as clock pcdlar, and pushed
his excursions in that line as far as
Canada, selling his tickcrs, and invari.
ably passing off his counterfeit coin in
giving change. VIM. and Russell
Moore, some time between Dec and
Feb. last, offered him share in a coin
ing apparatus. They stated to kidder
that they had every thing ready except
a machine for milling the edges Of the
coin, which was in progress Of manu-
iacture. The witness at that time had
not put of any tinkers, counterfeit half
dollars lie was shown a counterfeit
half dollar manufactured by Stephens,
and expressed an opinion that Stephens
"could do the thing" The Moores had
Il house out of the city where tho coin
ing press was deposited. First saw the
brothers Moore at the foot of Courtland-
st. The interview was in December
They informed the witness that they had
then made about 5000 (in half dollars)
of spurious coin. The coin was base
mixture Of German silver and other alloy
In February kidder left New-York and
proceeded to New Bedford. lie there
undertook the coming business on his
own account. lie was arrested for
coming. Ills arrest took place last
April. kidder furthermore stated that
he had also been 10 house in Dey-st
where coming apparatus was in opera.
ton. lie was there shown a die for
iabrica,ing French crowns.
The evidence of Lemuel Russell was
IN corroborailon Of the testimony Of Kid
der. Ii did not embrace any particular
fact that had not been communicated by
kidder. IL showed, however, that Kid
der had laid a plot TO bctray his conied.
crates, and had written a letter purport-
ing to come from Philadelphia, when in
reality he was in New Bedford
il is supposed that more than twenty
persons, men and women, are connected
with Stephens and Moore in this .peia.
rious traffic, either as countcrfeiters or
middle men, (scllcrs of counterfeit coin
tn the uiterers Of it, and that quantities
of their spurious coin have been and are
now circulating in the United States and
Canada. The pieces are admirably
executed, and require great attention to
detect them as countcricits.
Judge Belts said such an extensive
ramiicaiion of fraud as the prisoners
were apparently concerned in demanded
heavy security. lie should therefore
mold the prisoners, Stephens and Rus
sei', " bail IN the sum VI s., goo each,