Democratic banner., 1851-03-10
THE COUNTERFEIT FIFTIES.

OF the 18th inst:
The Counterfeit FJJhes Agoin-7U
Hundred Thousand Dollars an various
Counterteits RecOrered.-We announced
some days ago, that Capt. Cozzens OF the
police had gone to Jefferson county, in the
company of young Seats, but we omitted
to state the fact which was then kept Sc
cret, that he expected during his visit to
elicit further particulars touching the coun-
.terfeiting of the Missouri ffties. The re-
suit of his investigation has been the seiz-
ure of all the apparatus employed in the
manufacture of this dangerous issue, and
the recovery Of about two hundred thous-
and dollars in counterfeit bills. Cspt Coz
zens gives the following account Of his
course Ofinquiries with their accompanying
disclosures:
The house formerly occupied by J. It's
Moore, the counterfeiter, is situated in a
bottom about six miles from the town Of
Hillsboro, and some forty miles below this
city. During the owners absence in Cal.
I~ifornia it was sold under execution, and it
is now tensnted by a farmer named Straps.
Enough of Moore's personal property was
found by Capt Cozzens on the premises, to
induce the suspicion that the instruments
with which he prosecuted his criminal la
'bors might also have been left behind. Ac-
ccrdingIy a thorough examination was be-
gun. Some eighty or ninety yards to the
east of the dwelling house is a small cabin
built by Moore, for the convenience (he
alledged to his neighbors) of his negroes
and hands. During the search of last Sat
urdav, Capt Cozzens observed that the floor
was covered with a greater quantity OF
earth and filth than could have been got
there by natural accumulation. He saw
fit to tear up two or three planks, and al
teIwardS could very readily perceive that
the earth under the floor had in several
places, been disturbed. With the aid Of
spades and pick-axes, three b"xss, lying at
short distances apart, and about two feet
from the surface Of the ground, were brought
out. They had been carefully and secure
ily nailed, and on examination, were found
to be well coated internally with tar-a
preservative evidently for their contents.
There were found in the three boxes the
whole apparatus used in c"unterfeiting the
Missouri fities and other bills. The appa-
ratus includes a splendid copper printing
press, numerous engraving instruments,
plates, msgnifying glasses, vices, ink, rolls
of bill paper, diamonds, (such as used by
GLACIERS and very many fine saws for cut
ting iron.
The press, and, indeed, all the instru-
memts, are made of the finest materials, and
are elegantly finished. The plates, with
engrasings were not found. The boxes,as
we before said, were coated internally with
tar; a quantity ofpowdered charcoal FORM
ed the next coating, and finally, a majority
of the Instruments had been dipped in tar
these precautions were all designed to
guard the instruments against the injuries
Of dampness. They failed partially in their
object, however, as almost every roll ofbill
paper was moist and musty when taken out.
The counterfeit bills were found in a stone
jug IN one of the boxes. The jar had been
carefully sealed and coated with tar. The
following bills, the majority of which were
filled aud ready for circulation, were re-
covered, and are now in the possession Of
the police:
$50, State Bank of Missouri, (all
I flled) $685. OO
$500, Treasury Notes, partly I'M
finished, 1000
500, l2,40C
$7S,4OC
Besides these, there were bills on many
banks, that were in a much mutilated con.
dition, and that have not yet been counted
These will swell the amount Of spuriou:
currency to at the least calculation 1900
600. The list of these bills that was hand
ed to us include the following:
$1,000 bills on Bank Of Georgetown
several.
$500 bills on State Bank South CAROLINE
"a large number.
$500, Texas Scrip-several; 300 Tex
as Scrip-severai.
800 Bills on State Bank South Carolin'
| large number.