Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-05-12


cite Tile adn,.ra,ion Of the most skilfu encra-
yer OF coiner. They were married--faiher's
OF fafniiiesall bauGSd together, and all of CIV
cry age busy Several attempts had been
made. nj different times 10 arrest these wretch
es' Bun 10 consequence ofthcir ws:rhfulness,
uie extensive ranIiiicatons Of their brsisess,
OF Then ability 10 corrupt the ageats of JUS
'ice,--in word Of the perfection 10 which
They bad brought their neiarious pursuit, and
the means of toncealing il these at.mt had
iil{uetlp ptoted unsuccessful They had uni
intQly succceded in causing the proofs Of
he1st fffnsAo disappear. The women pariic-
Justly snswed Themselves active In this way
ana mad eiten destroyed thousands of the bills
VI inc moment of a visit by the officers of JUS
'ice' An arrest or conviction of the offenders
was consequently out OF the question. They
lived IN style, revealing upon the products of
their ill-goiten wealth. When they crossed
the line, they usually assumed the character Of
patriots, and the sympathy of our neighbors
was oiien lavished upon persons whose trade
was oil this pernicious character.
lhey had dialect Of their own, like the
language OF thieves in which they com,nun-
Gated with each other, while no one else
could understand it. For five dollars of good
money, they would sell hundred dollars of
bills of the banks of the United States, adrni-
rably initiated. The thieves and robbers OF
the United States brought their stolen goods
and sold them for this counterfeit paper, which
was TINS taken into the States for circulation.
The bills were SO we'll executed. that an ex-
perencedeye was necessary for their detec-
uon. The banks themselves were OCCASION
ally deceived, and took these bills for genu-
inc.
An official application was made by Gov
IkCfCt MaSSprhuSptfa In Ina. 4
General of the Provinces TO obtain the sup
preston OF this pcrnicious branch OF business.
IL. Col Gugy was charged by the Governor
General with this important duty. 1t was no
ordinary affair. Ii was necessary not only to
get possession of persons dispersed over an
extent OF thirty leagues, but also To secure tie
proofs OF their criminal enterprise, M. Gugy
made his arrangements in the most judicious
manner, and their success went beyend his
hopes. Thirty-6ve persons from the rural po-
lice, under chief constables Graves. Lehevre,
aud Bryson, were ordered along the line, and
Col. Gugy himself repaired to the spot wi ich
was supposed to be the head quarters of the
ring-leaders. The officers of the police had
each their part to play, in order 10 prevent
suspicion. and they seem to have acquitted
themselves with rare talent. Some were sol
diers who had deserted; some were lugi,ives
beasts; some were political malconteuis, and
some assumed the character of countercters
pursued by the officers of justice. Col. Gu
Ry was a purchaser of horses and did e.
vince much keenness either in the price or
quality of the animals. The slpendiary mag
istrate, w. Il. Coffin, was to act in his cir
cult, and was ordered TO make the arrest there
on Tuesday. The officers of the police re-
paired to the scene of action by unusual
routes, over frighful roads, and came together
at night in the depth Of the woods, under
driving icy rain, to arrange their parts and to
communicate their discoveries. They could
not recognise each other before the counter
letters in the day time, as the least mark OF
intelligence would have awakened suspicion.
On one occasion two men had nearly betray-
ed themselves, oat Cc.. G"sy, with a1mira-
bic presence Of mind, collarcd them, all pre-
tending that they were deserters, made the
counterleltors themselves assist il arres,ing
them.
Fearing that the expedition would miscar-
ry, Col. Gugy determined to hasten the mo-
ment OF action, and TO make the general ar
rest OF Monday morning; stationing tho mem
bers of volunteer corps as far as magistrate
Collins circuit, TO prevent the alarm from
spreading there. Ga Monday morning all the
forgers were arrested in their dwelling, which
had been surrounded They were almos, all
III bed This prevented bloodshed, for most
of them went armed, and had given out, that
they would die sooner than allow themselves
to be seized
Twenty six couniorleiers thus fell into the
hands of justice, and the season Of rettibution
has oyeriaken them. A par, of them have
been placed in the prison al SHERLOCK, the
residue carriel 10 Mpnreal.-Nearly &c
teen thousand pounds in bills were seized;
but good deal more was no doubt destroyed
by the conledcraies OF the band. A consid-
cradle quaniity of counterfeit coin, both gold
and silver, copperpates, dies, scales, and
tools belonging 10 this nelarious pursuit, were
alec seized.
The Rrertsr i,sss OF .s'ss srif'vtsi,sfy sod
other magistrates of the Fast co-operaied
with zeal ia this undertaking, but we ought
particularly to name ". Baker, Esq, Stephen
Baker, Mr. Selby, Onn Kemyt, Austin kempt,
aud Captain Stark and his company OF yolun-
teorS. Others whose names have not reach
ed us rendered essential aid. One Of the
counierieliers, who hs1 been given IN charge
To one of Capt, Stark's company, made has
escape, but was recaptured by the same po-
lice officer who had arrested him at first.
In geacral this expedition reflects high
credit on the activity of the rural police and
we have no doubt viii be gratefully acknowl-
edged by our neiahbors in the States, thus de-
livered from band Of fnanciers, whose OPP
eraiions were OF so destructive character.
AnIsrAp CAsE.-Thc Circuit Court
n, No,Y Uovap have affirmed the IL.