The daily union., 1846-04-30
AN AMERICAN IN SCOTLAND.
From the New York Ne
FROM the New York News.
IMPORTANT ARBES T-LAR0E RECOVERY OF
| COUNTERFEIT BILLS AND PLATES

From the New York News
IMPORTANT ARREsT-LARoE RECOVERY OF
| COUNTERFEIT BILLS AND PLATES.
Some months ago, officers w. III. Stephens and
Gilbert F. Hays received information that there
would be in this city, in the early spring. an ndi-
vdual upon whom they would do well to keep an
eye, as he was probably person Of some conse-
quence in the commonwealth Of roguery. Accom-
panying the intelligence was a description of his
person. together with hint Of his probable where
| abouts at particular time. Acting upon this the
officers accordingly made preparations to secure the
gentleman; and on the 4th Of April instant officer
Stephens succeeded In arresting man named James
Fl. Newell alias Hewett, in the vicinity of the Full
ton ferry, he being about to to Brooklyn at the
time. Newell had small bundle with him, which,
on being searched, was found to contain a large
quantity Of bank-note paper, and beautifully exc
cuted copper plate, purporng to be IS note of the
Farmers and Panters' Bank of Baltimore Md
The prisoner was taken to the office of the chief of
police; and, concluding from certain circumstances
that Newell had at command quantity Of material
OF similar KIND TO that found upon his person, the
chief of police, Mr.. Matsel together with Stephens
and Hays, put in train series Of measures to secure
the remainder. We are now happy to announce
that, after three weeks Of unremitting industry their
abors have been rewarded with entire success, and
they have been enabled to lay their hands upon
probably the largest and most complete set of
counterfeitlng apparatus before seen in this
country, almost sufficient to stock an engraver's
shop. Many Of them are worked up in the
most mastery style, showing conclusvely that
no inferior artist has been at work in their pre-
paration. Besides these last, large amount of
counterfeit bank bills have been secured amounting
to some $4,000, which had previously been work.
ed from these plates nearly half Of which were
ready filled up, and in readiness for circulation
Among the plates, is splendid one for the issue
of $40 notes upon the Bank of Commerce, of New
York city, of which there were forty-fve bills
ready for issue. There were also counterfeit
plates Of the 'Honesdae Bank of Pennsylyania;
Merchants Bank of Charleston, s. C.; sBank Of
Northumberland, Pa; Manufacturers and Mer-
chants Bank, Northern Liberties, Philadelphia;
Bank OF Chester, Westchester, Pa; Schenectady
Bank, New York; Moyamensing Bank of Phila-
delphia Farmers and Merchants Bank of Mid.
dletown, N. J.; "Bank Of Delaware, Wilmington,
and Merchants Bank of Baltimore; Bank of Penn
sylvanis, Philadelphia; Lancaster Bank Pennsyi-
vania; Lebanon Bank, Pennsylvania; sWesern Bank
Of Baltmore Bank of Smyrna New York; "North-
ern Liberty Philadelphia; Kensington Bank Penn
sylvania sHagerstown Bank, of Hagerstown, Md.
.West Branch Bank of Wllliamsport, Pa; and
some thirty smaller plaes used for the purpose of
altering bls and filling in the figures, lettering, Wig
ncttes, &c, Of the above. The most of the ban k
plates we're engraved in blank, leaving the denom.
nation to be afterwards added by these smaller
plates, among which was one, fac simile of the
ID
on bills Of the State of New York.
Mr., Rawdon, Of the firm of Rawdon, Wright
Hatch d Co., bank note engravers Of this city
upon examining the plate OF the Farmers and
Planters Bank, pronounced it an exquisite piece of
workmanship, and stated that had notes from it
been struck off and filed up, they would undoubt-
edly have spread extensively through the country.
There was also found, at the same time, mould
of great beauty for making American half dollars,
together with several specimens of the coin that had
been manufactured by this means.
or the counterfeit bills secured, about S6 900 in
bills upon those banks above, marked with .,
were all filed up, and ready to be disposed Of
They were Of various denominations, from 81 up
ward. There were also three bills of 81 900 each
upon the Merchants Bank Of New York, most
magnifcently executed and complete with the ex-
cepuon Of the signatures. or those ready for issue
very many were exceedingly neat, and some of them
were splendid specimens Of bank-note engraving.
Besides these, there probably some a, 900
in notes in an unfinished state, being a miscela-
neous lot Of rascally trash in every stage Of compile
lion. This arrest has certainly been great triumph
for those engaged in il, and shows beyond cayil,
the great value Of present system OF police under
its efficient and indefatgabe chief Mr.. Matsell, and
also speaks volumes for the tact and energy dis
played by officers Stephens and Hays, in thus re
lieving the community from such mass OF fraudu-
lent material and we trust that the banks whose in
terest Il Is to keep their issues as clean as possible
will properly appreciate the service rendered them,
and tender to Messrs Stephens and Hays some |
tangible token Of their approbsion,