Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-04
A Thrilling Adventure.
FROM THR DIARY OF A DErEcTIvB.

During the year OF 1s4s, the West wa,
Hood cd with counterfeit coin. IL was &C
Northumberland that Il was passed read
Nv. The evil ct lsst became so great that
the United States authorities requested thP
q skillful detective might be sent to ferrC
out the nest of colners. l was fixed uron
TO perform the duty.
fhad nothing 10 guide me. The fact,
however, that Chicago was the city where
the counterfeit coin was most abundant,
led me TO suspect that the manufactory
was somewhere within Its limits. It was,
therefore, to the capital Of the West fret
proceeded. spent Eve weeks In tina: city
withoutgaining the slightest clue TO the
ceunterfeiters.
began to grow discouraged; and really
thought should be obliged to return home
without having achieved any result. One
day received letter from my wife re-
questing me TO send home some money, as
she was out of funds. went into bank
and asked for draft, at the same time
handing sum ofmoney to pay for II in
which there was several half dollars. The
clerk pushed three OF the half dollars back
70 me, saying,
"Counterfeit.
"whst," said /, "do you mean 10 tell
me that those half dollars are counter
felt.
"Ido."
"Are you certainf"
Perfectly certain. They are rem arka-
blywell executed but are deficient in weight.
Bee for yourse r."
And he placed one ofthem in the balance
against genuine half dollar and the lat
ter brought up the former
''That is the best counterfeit coin ever
saw in my life," exclaimed, examining
them very closely. SIS all the counterfeit
money In circulation hereof the same char
acter a. this2'
"Oh, dear, no, }" replied the clerk, at lie
not nearly as well done. These are the
work Of the famous New York counterfeit.
or, Ned Wlllet. / know them well, for |
have handled a great deal in my time.
Here Is some of the money that Is in circu-
lation here" he added, taking several half
dollars from the drawer. "You see the
milling is not SO well done as Ned Willctt's,
although 1t is pretty good, too"
compared the two and found that he
was right. supplied the place of the
three counterfeits with good coin, and re-
turned the former to my pocket.
A few days afser this l received infor-
nation which caused me TO take n Journey
10 small village about thirty miles from
Chicago. arrived there at night and
took up my quarters at the only tavern in
the place. II was q wretched dwelling,
and Kept by an old man and woman, the
surelieet couple think It has over been
my lot 10 meet. In answer to my inquiry
as 10 whether l conld have lodgings there
for the night, l noticed that the host gave
peculiar look at his wife and after some
whispering l was informed in the most
ungracious manner possible, that l could
have bed.
have frequently, In the course of my
life, been obliged TO put up with wretched
accommodations, so did not allow my
equanimity of temper to be disturbed BY
the miserable fare set before me, and the
still more miserable sleeping apartment
into which l was ushered after had con-
cluded my repast.
The chamber was ofsmsll size, and was
certainly well ventilated, for l could see
the stars peeping through the roof. The
bed was simply bag of ttraw thrown into
one corner of the room, without sheets or
coverings OF any kind. This last fact,
however, was not of much consequence.
as It was summer time and oppressiyely
hot.
stood more than an hour gazing ont
Of the opening which served for a window.
Before me was spread an immense prairie,
the limits of which could not see. The
tavern In which had taken up my abode
appeared to be isolated from ali other dwell
lngs, save the croak of the tree frog and
the hum Of the locust not a sound reached
my ear. 1t was a beautiful moonlight
nlght-so bright that could see to read
the smallest print.
AT last began to grow weary and throw
ing myself on my pallet was soon plunged
In deep slumber. How long l slept
know not, but l was awak ened by a dull
sound, which resembled some one hammer
Ing In the distance. l suppose 1t was the
peculiarly OF the sound which awoke me,
Tor II was by no means loud but conveyed
70 me the idea Of some one striking iron
with q mufiied hammer. rose from my
bed and went to the window. The moon
was low In the western horizon, BY which
fact knew that 1t must be near morning.
The sound l had before referred To, reached
me more distinctly than when in the
back part OF the chamber. 1t appeared to
come from tome outhOuses which were
situated hundred yards from the house.
Now l am naturally Of an inquiring
mind, and this sound, occurring as 1t did
In the middle ofthe night, in such q remote
out-of.the- way place, piqued my curiosity
and felt an irrepressiole desire to go cut
and discover the cause oft. The desire, as
the sound continued, grew upon me with
such intensity that l resolved to crafty
1t at any price.
lput on my boots, the only article of
attire had discarded, and cautiously
opened the door OF my chamber and noise
lessiy descended the rickety staircase. A
Few steps brought me in the lower apart
ment, which l found entirely deserted. /
crept quietly to the door, and I'M Iastening
1t without making the slightest noise, was
soon in the moonlight.
Not soul was visible, but the sound
continued TO grow more distinct as l ap-
preached the place from whence it proceed |
ed. AT last found myself before long,
low building, through the crevlces of which
l could perceive lurid glare Issuing. |
stopped down and peepcd through the
key hole, and 10 my extreme surprise |
saw half dozen stroDg-ookiug men
with their coats of and sleeves rolled up,
performing q variety of strange occupa-
lions. Some were working at a forge,
others were experimenting the castings |
OF moulds, and some were in the process
OF milling coin. In a moment the whole |
truth burst upon me. Here was the gang |
OF counterfeiters l was In search OF, and the |
landlord and his wife evidently belonged |
to the same band, for in one corner per-
ceiyed them employed, the man polish.
Ing off some half dollar pieces, Just turned |
out OF the moulds, while the woman was
packing the finished coin into rolls.
mad seen enough and was about TO re-
turn 10 my apartment when / suddenIV