The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-25
NEW SERIES-NO. 2O5

the last three years be has had with him a
man named Chester G.. Clark, twenty five
or twenty six years of age, who is said to
have come from Michigan. The old man
and Clark carried on the business in part
nership.
1t appears that officers have heretofore
stood in great fear of BigelOw, who is rep.
resented to have been desperate character,
as ready to commit the crime of murder
upon an officer as he was that of counter
feiting upon the Government. Hence, prob
ably, one reason of his carrying on the bust.
ness in so public manner undisturbed.
Some information in regard to the opera.
tions of Bigelow's mint was obtained from
prisoner arrested for passing counterfeit
coin at Galeshurg. Most of the numerous
Galesburg operators, it appears, were his
agents in circulating the spurious coin. 1t
was found that the business of coming was
only carried on at night; in the day time
Bigelow and Clark were generally seen at
work on the farm. In this way they avert
ed public suspicion.
The officers from this city reached Rock
Island by the evening train, and proceeded,
with Mr.. Frizzell, to Bigelow's place, where
they arrived between eight and nine o'clock
P. Nj. After quietly reconnoitering the
premises tor few minutes, they discovered
that some one was at work in the black.
smith shop, and decided to arrest the per-
son, whoever it might be, at once. Station.
ing themselves around it to prevent an
escape, Marshal Rehm knocked at the door.
"Who's there?" demanded voice from
NIT
without. The person within approached
the door, slowly opened it, and poked his
head out.
Without unnecessary delay, the officer
proceeded to garrote the individual by put
ting an arm about his neck and thrown him
to the ground. The individual showed
fight instantly, but the fight was quickly
over, and the counterfeiter found himself in
irons, hand and foot. This individual
proved to be Clark, who, when the officers
arrived, was engaged in coming bogus
eagles.
The officers next proceed to the house,
where they found Bigelow in bed. He was
told to consider himself in custody, and get
up. He did get up, dressed, and approach.
the fire place in the most quiet manner
but in an inssant he Wiped open small
door on one side of the jamb, and snatched
from the recess rifle. Before he had time
to use it be was seized, disarmed and ironed.
In the secret recess which the door by the
fireplace revealed were found several rifles
and shot-gnns, all loaded.
Two of the officers now went to Cordova
to capture third person of the gang, while
the others proceeded to examine the pre-
misses. In the blacksmith shop they found
most complete and perfect set of dies,
tools, presses, crucibles, metals, &C., and
every thing necessary for the manufacture of
American coin, from five cents up to $50.
The counterfeiters had on hand, in an unfin-
ished state, some $500 of their gold coins.
and bag of their fifty and twenty-five
cent pieces. In the press-which was COM
posed of two heavy castings, one with
square oriice through it, to which a large
screw entered from the side, the other form.
ing simply the socket for lever with which
to turn the screw-were found set of dies
containing bogus eagle, to which the i'm
preston had just been given by Clark as
the official party arrived.
The prisoners were brought to this city,
and are now in Jail. They will be brought
out for examination in a day or two.
LOOK on the bright side. 1t is the right