Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-25
Arrest of Commentators.

1t has already been mentioned that two
men, named Warder and Shaw, had been ar
rested in Washington city, and two others,
named Tarr and Conner, i'll Philadel phia,
charged with being concerned in passing spu-
rious gold and silver coin in the District
of Columbia. These arrests were effected
through the vigilance of Independent police
men Allen, Wise and kimball, of Washing
ton. 1t appears they had also previously
taken into custody John p. Stone, of Wash
inSton, whose frequent visits to Philadelphia
excited their suspicion.
The arrest Of the Counterfeiting Party in
Philadelphia was not effected without the ex
ercise Of much activity, address, and courage
on the part Of the officers, both of Washing
ton and Philadelphia, engaged i'll the under
taking. When the party from Washington
consisting of officers Allen, Wise, and KIM
ball, with John p. Stone, arrivedat Phiadel-
phia on Thursday night. it was determined
that Wise and Stone should SO immediately
over to Camden, where Frederick Tarr, the
wholesale agent for the sale Of the base coin,
lived 1t was about | | clock, and rarr was
in bed. He was reused up, however, and
Stone introduced Wise as Harrison, from the
'cOuln, WIN AZ ICitNN w
like 10 buy thousand dollars Of the article"
Iarr said he had only two hundred on hand
Mr. Harrison agreed to take il, and the price
was agreedon at thirty dollars good money for
one hundred counterfeit. 1t was also ar
ranged that Tarr was to meet Stone and
Harrison at a designated spot on Arch street,
ard there next morning make delivery of the
merchandise. Next morning all the parties
met accordingly, the bogus" was delivered,
and sixty dollars in good gold paid Tor it
by Harrison. when, at i signal by Harrison,
two Philadelphia officers popped out and
bounced on Harrison and TAR, and arrested.
both. When taken before Il magistrate llar-
rison became Wise again, and Tarr was ap-
priced nt the whole state Of the case. and
advised to make "a clean breast Of it." lie
did So, and led the officers to Il most suspicious
locking and wretched region Of the great
city near the Schuylkill, to the house of VIM
Conner, who kept miserably low tavern
there. Wise here passed rs a boss" from
the Manassas Gap railroad, who came to en-
gagea large number of hands to work on the
road lie treated party in the house, throw
ing down 4 gold dollar in payment, and got
Il quarter (counterfe:t) i'll change. Having
by these means surveyed the premises, the
officers followed, and Tarr introduced one Of
them to Conner as a person dcrsiring to buy
a die which Conner had for sale The price
was agreed on at sl25, and place Of delive-
ry appointed at three o'clock III the afternoon.
Conner came, accompanied by ano Their. aud
brought the die, which he delivered and was
paid for it. lie was then seized and sur
rounded by officers, but mob almost immc-
diately collected and attempted the rescue of
Conner and his pal. For time there was
fearful struggle, and Conner's companion
broke away, but Wise fired twice at him.
and once struck him. a the blood tracks
showed, but he managed to get finally off
Conner however, was secured and his house
searched, but good deal Of material had no
doubt been removed during the struggle
Still about one hundred and twenty live dol
lars of counterfeit silver were found besides
many moulds for halt-dollar pieces, twenty
five cents, and dimes.