The Carrollton sun. (City of Carrollton, Parish of Jefferson, La.) 185?-1???, 1860-08-01

on ilnary eharg ges.S he has, hoMeXN
lnp thstanding corru heial \
Sut fern1s i'm Read Ancast
lphia PRISONS Some
was tried A
feifing OPERATIONS at in Ian
caster county, in COM with the no.
torious Clemson gang who infested that
| region for SO many years.
In 1852, Cregar was extensively en-
gagged in counterfeiting the coin of the
United States at his farm in Montgom-
cry county, and when arrested, an ex.
ceedingly fine lot Of fcounterfeiting i'm
plements and burglars tools were re-
covered. The police discovered these
toolswhile searching the premises for
notorious burglar named Charles Clark.
While they were making their search
in Cregar's barn they found a barrel of
boots. Some months previous the store
of an honest shoemaker, residing in the
old district of kensington, had been
broken into and robbed of his entire
stock. The goods had been carried
away in a wagon by two thieves, who
Secreted them at Cregar's house. All
tK, them had been disposed of except
this. barrel full, which was valued at
ahout 500. They were recognized by
-tlA officers on account Of a certain
stalnp (which was not quite obliterated,
kt nearly SO, as acids had evidently
been.used for that purpose.
AS an instance of the shrewdness of
Cregar, and the dishonesty of portion
of the police force at that period we
will relate the manner in which Cregar
acted on this occasion. When he found
that the boots were discovered he be-
came exceedingly affectionate, hugging
one of the officers, and inviting him
from the barn to his house to partake of
some refreshments. The officer agreed
to the proposal, and after receiving Or
ders from his comrade to keep a strict
watch on Cregar's movements, accom-
panied the latter to his house,.
While there, Cregar, by the aid of
bribe of several hundred dollars, in
duced the officers to permit him to go
through the back door. He then ran
across u corn field, and was only noticed
by the honest officer, who remained in
the barn, when he had gone consider
able distance from the house. He gave
chase, however, and pursued him for
several miles, but was unable to capture
him. A true bill was found against
him on this charge, and brnch warrants
were issued; but 50 great was the inhu-
cnce he exercised in Montgomery, that
no official in that region could be in
duced to arrest him.
At TINS time he had certain officials
of Philadelphia SO completely under
his control that whenever one set of
officers started i'll pursuit another set
informed him of the fact, and thus en-
abled him to escape. Fortunately for
Philadelphia, dishonest men who were
at that time in the police force have
since been removed.
Shortly after this party of the de-
putty InarshaIs Of the United States
Court, Of this city, went to his farm in
MontgomeTy county, with the detormi7
nation of atTesting him and taking him
into custody dead or alive. They found
him engaged in his nefarious operations,
in a small shed near his residence. He
Immediately suspected their design, and
by his lneammon agility and swift-foot-
edIreesxueaseded in making his escape.
He. was subsequently arrested, however,
brought before the late Judge Kane,
and sentenced to nine months imprison
ment in the Eastern Penitentiary, that
being the first time, as far as we can
learn, that he was ever confnedin that
institution.
As soon as his term expired, he re-
suS&eS his counterfeiting operations,
and flooded the country with fraudulent
issuesen banks in different parts of the
country. In 1854, he was arrested by
someessladelphia policemen for coun-
terfeiting, and or that occasion the
proof against him was overwhelming.
He offered immense sums Of money to
the officers .if@they would release him,
but all his efforts proved unavailing.
He was arraigned for trial, but, partly
through the efforts of his shrewd coun-
sci, and more particularly by some ex-
traordinary influences brought TO bear