The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-21
The Rock Island Countcrfc lite RI 80 Re-
markable Career OF Old DiGelOW.


From the Chicago Tribune, Nov. III
We published yesterday account OF the OF
gang Oh couh'erieters IN Rock Island County few days
ago.
The location of the was on the bank tho Ms,s
supp river, about twenty miles above Rock Island and
mile and half below the little village OF Cordoya, in
ROCK Island county In this secluded place. Timothy r.
iaeeow sixty six years OF age, owns farm OF about
three hundred acres. HIS house, comfortable frame
building, stands short distance from the highway, and
near stands what appears TO be b.acksmiths shop
Notwithstanding his than suspected bad anecedens
bus neighbors supposed until recently that he was leading
different life
He has lived in that place for about five years. his os.
tensble business being that farmer but his real bust
ness the manufacture Of bogus coin Some portion OF the
time he has lived island in the river for better
security against detection and arrest He has family
consisting OF wife and several children two OF
whom were living with him at the time Of his
According to his own statement Bgcl0w has been en-
gagged in the business Of counereing for forty years.
and has been convicted at least four times and served
one Of an old time class Of outlaws thnned out by
death, or By being overakcn in their offences. The life
of old Bgelow, could give the details Of his career his
hair breadth escapes from JUSTICE and the ways
in which he has built up reputation scarcely paraeled
bs any counterfei,er living, would surpass, in what
the book men call " sensation" anything Of the kind
published in the last quarter of q century.
His career has proved him TO be possessed Of
qualities Of cunning, skill and xedness Of purpose, such
exercised in any honorable calling would have given
him competence and honor in his old age As il, is he
pillows his grey hairs within prison walls and at the
sunset Of he long night Of infamy about 70 close in
The Davenport Gazette has been furnished by old
lows career, which are of much interest.
In 1859 Bgelow, his son, and named Cox, were
arrested al their residence on Campbels Island about
eight miles up the river They employed well known
lawyer here to defend them The tried before
magistrate whose office in the old birthstone
ner'' Front street Owing defect war
rant the criminals released the lawyer receiving
his fee sorrel horse After few days a farmer, who
lived lew miles from lie Claire came TO town in search
Of horse which he bad lost Hearing that Bigeow had
given horse for his fee he took opportunity Of seeing
the horse the lawyer got 1t compared exactly in size
and actin, h,th had II
was about giving up the search when lie concluded TO
wash the face OF the aumal he then found his lost
horse, the lawyer getting nothing for his fee The
rest caused considerable excitement aud the Office
crowded with spectators. The Cox of the pri.
seated himself by the stove, getting from
out Of the stove BACKED his face and hands, and the Off
Ger who was stationed at the door requested to let
the 'ngger man out The officer, who is informant
says that he did any black go in the room
he concluded something wrong and stopping the
"ugger, he made him wash, when the prisoner Cox
discovered under the disguise.
Bgclow was notorious character and very danger.
Gus man in 1870 The United States Marshal attempted to
arrest BIN at time, aud found necessary call
Capt Hodges To assist him with his militia company AZ
ter sending man ahead Of the posse the company
were stationed outside OF the house prevent es
ter stopping with him a short time, came out and in
formed the "sogers,' who proceeded to enter the
house, which they now found closed against out
Miss B., but on vainy searching, concluded that
the spy had fooled them and about giving up the
search when another investigation was proposed and
upon going into the cellar in which was stored large
pile OF potatoes they concluded to dg and see," when
their labors rewarded by finding Bgelow, who was
buried in the pile having blanket around him and
bottle of whiskey convenient In their first search the
officers had walked the pile and sounded it, OF
course the arrest was hailed with great joy, especially by
the gentleman spy whose veracy and bearing had been
questioned Many other stories related Of this sold
sinner, who now is in fair way to close i'll spent
lie within the gloomy walls OF penitentiary He is
sixty six years OF and IN the of nature
soon go down to the grave outcast from society The
officers who made the arrest informed that for three
years they have been the hunt for this mint which
now closed. They put this trail by some per-
cons arrested Galesburg few weeks ago. Bigelow's
family now at home, are his wife, son aged twelve
years and daughter aged fourteen years