The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-29
present at my trial, were alluded to by
Mr.. Kellogg.

present at my trial, were alluded to by
Mr.. Kellogg.
He was right when he said tha, "the
experienced counterfeiter knew full well
who to offer his money to, and to whom
10 throw out his lure. 1t is not for the
man of experience or Of business, but it is
for the youth who knows little of the
world or its dangers that he sets his
trap"
Before | left Canton, Perry Curtis
wanted me TO take some of the gold to
Atwood and sell to him, but | deoliued
as | regarded it unsafe to have any thing
TO DO with so great numbskull as knew
him to be: Curtis however did not think
as did, but made a trade with him; he
had occasion to rue it, for afterwards
Atwood turned States evidence.
Leaving Perry Curtis st Canton, Tru-
man and myself returned to Mercer coun-
ty. Truman and Uriah Stephens then
took a team and went back TO Canton,
and got some liquor and other things
which he had bought there, and brought
them on to Mercer. When they got
back, Truman and myself took trip to
| Black Hawk, Iowa, to see DR.. Abstain
and VIM. Searls. We took 500 in gold
with us. With $3.50 of it we bought a
horse; Curtis took the horse and returned
to Mercer, and | went ont to pay my old
friend, and friend of counterleters gener-
ally, John Caruthers, a visit. On my
return to Mercer, heard that Perry
Curtis and Stephens had been arrested
at Canton. 5000 of the gold now re-
NAMED; | and Mansfield started for Aus
tin Williams to dispose Of it. This was
Mansied's dcjW. lie had known that
was in business for months, but this
was the first venture and reckon he will
find SO little sport in it, that 1t will be his
last! but as | was saying we went TO
! Williams. Austin was not at home but
his brother was--we set upon the fence
and had a long talk together; | wanted
him to take the gold had, and give me
a receipt for it, but he said he was afraid
to do it, for that nowadays he hardly
knew his friends. He spoke of the Com
manche robbery, aud sand they had been
suspected of having the stolen goods in
their possession and he knew not what
moment the officers Of Justice would be
upon them to search their premises and
if, said he, we should be found with this
gold upon us, it would be rather bilious
case for us, aud we might not easily get
away from it; taking all the circumslan-
ccs into consideration, we concluded we
would not leave the money, but come OF
down the river taking it with US. We
stopped at Brandcnburgh's under the
prctence of getting drink; and we felt
at first that we were suspected, but from
the way Mr.. Brandcnburgh talked with
us, we afterwards came to the conclusion
that our fears were groundless; and so
we came coolv down the river to Mr..
Bcals who lives on MIR. Causes farm.
| do not think Mr.. BcaIs suspected Us for
countcrlctcrs We said with him over
night, and here we were ovcrtaken the
next morning by Mr.. Atkinson and his
company of "Rcgulators," who took us
into custody and brought US 10 Rock Is
land. have been tried, found guilty,
and sentenced to the PcnItcntiary for four
years, and having given up all hopes OF
. | N q IptV Iptr9 bn GDtH-