The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-02-14
Capture of a Desperate Counterfeiter
In PhiladeIuhia,


The Philadelphia PensylUanian of
the 5th inst. says
Information was. received at the
Mayors office a few days since, that two
men had passed on Mr.. l.. Hirsh, at
DanvilIe, Pa, a note %purporting to be of
the denomination of $50, of the Will
mington and Brandywine Bank of Del
aware, which had been altered from a
So bill by means of the paste process
and they had taken passage in the car
for Philadelphia. High Constable
FRANKLIN and officer William Esher went
to the outer depot ofthe Reading Rail
road and succeeded in capturing the
men, whose names are Leonard Vangar-
dan and Erastus Eggleston, and found
in their possession new issues of counter
felt notes amounting to $500 or 5000,
also q quantity of 81 and SO gold pices.
These men subsequently made affidavit
that they purchased the money of John
Manages, near Muncy Dam, Lycomming
County, Pa.
Con Friday morning, High Consta-
bles Franklin and Blackburn and special
officer Ellis started for the residence of
Manges, which they reached at an early
hour in the morning, and demanded ad-
mittance, which being refused, they
broke down the door, but found no Ii
in the house but the wife and children
of Manages. The officers observed four
guns in Manages room, all heavily load
ed.
"The next place visited by the Off
GERS was the house of Abraham Hanse,
situated in Limestone Township, Mon
tour County, Pa, about ten miles from
Manages house, and known as the resort
of the most desperate villains in the
country. Here they fouOd the ostler
up, taking his morning b%itters, and up
on asking him if John Manages was there
ne stated he was not, in the most posi-
i've manner.
The officers then Informed him that
they were physicians, Manages wife was
dying aud if he was here he should be
informed of the fact. The ostler then
stated ne was asleep up stairs, when the
officers pulled off their boots and pro-
ceeded to the second-story room. The
door was opened and six mea were found
sleeping there, Manages being among
their number. The officers now drew
their revolvers (Colt's) and said they
would shoot the first man that attempt
ed to move, which caused the despera-
does to fal. back in their beds, they
having attempted to get up and re-
sis. Manages was Immediately manac-
led and taken from his bed, when tie
officers put his clothes upon him. IN
der the pillow or which he slept was
found a la-ue pocket-book CONTAINING
several hundred counterfeits, ranging in
denomination from one to fifty dollars.
ais u quantity of gold coin, consisting of
one, two-and-a-half and tw~enty-dollar
-" Among the notes is one of the de-
nomination of $50, elegantly changed
from IA S. bill of the Bank of Peon
Township. A number Of papers con-
tanning the operations aud negotiations of
this notorious man we're also found, to-
gethcr with a statement of the ~transac-
tions between him and Vangarden and
Eggleston. Manages was placed in a
sleigh, taken to Dauville aud from
thence brought to this city, and com
mitted IN Saturday evening by Police
Magistrate Conney, in defarlt of So, 900
bail.
" During the past FIVE years frequent
attempts have been made to capture
this desperate, all of which have been
futile, Notwithstanding the plans were
arranged with the utmost care and skill.
He has been a terror to his neighdor-
hood, and persons who know him have
been afraid to say aught against him."