The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-08-19
Arrest of Counterfeiters by Pittsburg
and PhiIadeII,hin Officers.

Arrest of Counterfeiters by Pittsburg
and Philadelphia Officers.
DESCENT UPON COUNTERFEITERs IN Mon
TOUR Co.,-CoUNTERFEITER SHoT.-On Monday,
IN accordance with admirable preuoue Arrange
ments, descent was made upon the principal
manufactory of counterfeit paper money in
pennsylvania and we are pleased to add that a
very gratifying degree of success attended the
enterprise The location of the spurious bank
note factory was in Montour county, about ff-
teen miles from Danville. The manufactory
was in room on the second floor of the house
Of DR.. Geltner, a short distance from the tavern
of Abraham Hause, the father-in-law of Gelt-
ner.
The expedition was under the direction of
Mayor Gilpin, of Philadelphia, and Mayor Gu
thrie, of Pittsburg. The police officers selected
were High Constable Hague of Pittsburg, and
Captain Jacob Bennett and officers Bunting and
Moser, of Phila The police were aided by
the Sheriff and two or three citizens Of Montour
county.
The descent, in view of the well known repu
tation Of the to be dealt with, was an un-
dertaling Of desperate character; for, at the
moment it was made, there were only three Of
fcers, assisted by one citizen, engaged in it
These officers were Hague, Bennett and Moser
The police, on approaching the door, were sus-
pected by the wife OF Geltner, who gave sig
nal, when the counterfeiters who were in the
midst Of their work, turning out twos on the
Harrisburg bank, instantly escaped through
windows and every other place Of exit, and pre-
cipitately fed to the mountains.
The officers secured DR.. Geltner, the master
spirit, but the others all escaped DR.. GeI,ner
had to be shoe by officer Moser before he would
surrender He received two or three balls from
q revolver in the region of the shoulder; his
wounds, however, are not considered mortal
He was lodged in Danville Jail The escape OF
his accomplices was mishap which it was i'm
possible to prevent under the circumst ,nccs.-|
There were neitier men nor facilities sufficient
to give prompt pursuit, and the hills and woods
were SO close at hand that the furttiYcs were in
their Businesses before they could be overtaken.
The whole OF the counterfeiting apparatus
and implements, consisting of the press, engra-
wing tools, printing materials, chemical prepar-
ations, SC, were secured. The press Is a com
plete affair. About six hundred dollars in spu-
rious Harrisburg twos were likewise secured.
with number Of other spurious bills, purpor-I
ting to be of different banks
The officers unfortunately did not get the
plate Of the Harrisburg counterfeit-ore of the
fugitive counterfeiters who jumped out of
window, taking it with him. They had the GOOD
luck, though to recover, in the neighborhood Of
the scene Of operations, two or three other steel
and copper plates; one, that of a counterfeit on
the Merchants and Manufacturers Bank at
another twenty dollar copper plate.
The latter plate was an alteration from the ex-
ploded Millingtoa Bank to the Cape May Bank: /
and it was again being altered to Roode Is
land Bank. One or more of the recovered
plates were originally genuine, and had been
stolen.
The prisoner, DIR. Geltner is splendid pen
man, and a most accomplished counterfeiter.-
He fought hrayely before he would give up
He is about 28 years Of age.
party Of the Marshal's officers went on
similar expedition to the same vicinity early last
Spring, but failed to accomplish the object of
their visit, being suspected and dogged by spies
fifty miles from the place.
We cory the above statement from the Phila-
lelPhia Evening Bulletin leaving out that por-
ton which seemed to give to the Police Depart
nent Of Philadelphia undue praise in this mat
ter, Mayor Guthrie OF Pittsburg, with the Chief
of Police, Mr.. Hague, some weeks ago planned 4
-he capture of these noted counterfeitcrs. and
10 these officers belongs the credit. Hague (
brought with him the plates and counterfeit
money taken, which may be seen at the mayors
ofice. The Philadelphia Police were only call
ID upon to assist in the capture of the money
makers.