Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-04-12

count ont the money TO a purchaser who will
not take a closed box, on the strength Of
their word At such times "1om Bogus"
counts out the genuine coin; the victim and
his partner start for home, aud on their vay
stop at a tavern to drink or feed, and while
IN the house the box mySteriously disappears
from their wagon, leaving the victim minus
his cash paid, without even the poor privi-
lege Of grumbling aloud
have learned many good anecdotes
growing out Of those queer operations, Of
the truth Of which there can be no question
Last fall victim in Cortland county. bought.
in company with one Of the gang, one thou
sand of these pretended counterfeit dollars,
all counted ont in his presence, for which he
paid $500 down. On going home they
stopped at public house few minutes, and
while there the box stepped out of the wag-
on. A few nights afterwards the same VIC
tim, with the same accomplish, bought of
the same "Tom Bogus" another box in the
same manner as before, and on their way
homeward, were overtaken by man on
horseback, who said that he had warrant
for them for having counterfeit coin in their
possession. The purchasers pushed ahead
with the utmost speed, with the officer in
pursuit, yelling out every moment. "stop the
counterfeters." The victim, knowing he
must be overtaken, and that the coin, if
found on him, would insure his conviction,
threw the box overheard and made his es-
cape but he has not TO this day again seen
the box, or heard who was the officer, or
who the magistrate that issued the warrant
Every one of these thousand dollars was in
fact legal issue from the mint Of the United
States.
On the Unadilla river, a short time since,
person designing to purchase S400 of that
coin, was determined not TO take sealed
box without knowing its contents. He took
with him an auger, and before he paid his
money bored through the top Of the box
The auger struck silver coins which he
could see glitter and shine. He was salts
fed that he, at least, was not gammoned he
paid his money as per agreement, and de.
parted Alas for him When he opened il
he found nine dollars and fifty cents in good
silver on the top, and underneath the ever.
lasting sand and pot metal. What adds to
the romance Of this case is, that the victim
expressed his fears, on'taking the box, tina,
he might be robbed on his way home. To
quiet his alarm, "Tom Bogus" furnished
him with loaded pistol. His modification
and despair, on finding how grossly he had
been duped, were so great that he seized the
pistol to snoot himself With. BE-, tho pi,, ol
to his horror, like the box, was loaded onl,
with the same harmless sand.
Again: about two months ago, in a vii
l. NQ.l A
rdtor, stopped at the tavern, an soon Incl
dentaHy, If not accidentally, exhibited two
Gold Eagles. In the course Of long talk
the operator said these eagles were counter
felt gold, which he had bought at about five
dollars apiece, as curiosities, and that theil
real value was about four dollars each thai
they we're so we'll counterfeited but few gold
smiths could detect them, and if any gentle
man wished them as pocket or fancy piece.
they might have them at FIVE dollars each
as be knew where he could buy two more
like them With his consent, two person.
present took them to goldsmith to he test
ed, by whom they were pronounced to be
good gold coin. The operator said thai
doubtless the goldsmith thought so, but he
was mistaken; that they could only be de
tected by weighing them in water by thei
specific gravity The two men bought tn,
pieces, and paid ten dollars, the stranger as
surfing them again they must not pass them
as they we're counterfeiis. He left the inn
and within mile was overtaken by the sale
two men, who con6dentially informed hin
they wished to buy $500 worth of the arti
Gle. The stranger told them where the maj
with that kind of money would be in the
next night, and that they could probabI,
purchase Of him; but cautioned them agar
strongly against it, as an attempt 10 pass i
would bring them up at State Prison. Not
withstanding this solemn warning, the two
innocenis repaired to the place of assigna
ton the very next night. and in the depth o
woods, with every precauton of secrecy anC
confidence, received from Thomas Bogus
Esquire" specie box comprising within it,
strong board three thousand dollars in gold
for which they forked over fifteen hundred
dollars in current bank notes, and went theil
way rejoicing. When the light of day broke
upon the 'insides," the Eagles and Hal
Eagles, where we're they? The sand, tn,
shot and the pot metal had taken their place
could multiply these anecdotes ad ipfn
itum, and add Others showing the way il
which they manage to negotiate the notes
taken in payment fof the Bogus, but this
must suffice.
You must not deem these stories ncredi
BILE. They are true. 1t is painful TO hea
how many men, heretofore considered repu
table, have been stripped Of their money ane
reputation by this gided bait of two dollars
for one, so temptingly placed before them
Their names are freely given here, and ar,
in every body's mouth. Very strangely
these facts have not, before, been given t.
the public in the papers. Will you not b.
contributing to the preservation ofsome wh'
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