The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-11-30
Thursday Morning, Nov. 80, 1865.
The Coiners.
FROM THE DIARY OF A DETECTIVE.


During the year of 1847 the West was food
ed with a counterfeit coin. 1t was SO well
manufactured that it passed readily. The evil
at last became so great that the United States
authorities requested that a skillful detective
might be sent to ferret out the nest of coiners
l was fixed upon to perform that duty.
had nothing to guide me. The fact, how
ever, that Chicago was the city where the
counterfeit coin was most abundant, led me to
suspect that the manutaetory was somewhere
within its limits. 1t was, therefore, to the cap
ital of the West that proceeded. | spent
five weeks in the city, without gaining the
slightest clue to the counterieiters.
/ began to grow discouraged, and really
thought should be obliged to return home
without having achieved any result One day
L received letter from my wife requesting
me to send some money, as she was out of
funds. l went to the bank and asked for
draft, at the same time handing sum of mon
ey to pay for it, in which there were several
half dollars. The clerk pushed three of them
back to me, saying, "Counterieit."
"Whatp said l. "you don't mean to tell
me those half dollars are counterfeit ?"
81 do" 92I} lte si9a2i2h ~ wet
"Are you certain?"
"Perfectly certain. They are remarkably
executed. but are deficient in weight. See for
yourself" e&toA y.
And he placed one of them in the balance
against q genuine half dollar, and the latter
brought up the former. e
"This is the best counterfeit coin ever saw
in my life" / exclaimed, examining them
closely. "Is all the counterfeit money in cir
culation here of the same character as this ?'
90 dear, no." the clerk replied, "it is not
nearly so well done. These are the work of
the famous New York counterfeiter Ned Will
lett. / know them well, for have handled
great many in my time. Here is some of the
money that is circulating here," he added, tax
ing half dollars from a drawer. "You see
that the milling is not so well done as Ned
Willett's, although this is pretty good too"
L compared the two and found that he was
right. l supplied the place of the three coun-
terfeits with good coin, and returned the for
mer 10 my pocket .ai5. + ,.. ar9
A few days after this received information
which caused me to take a journey to small
village about thirty miles from Chicago. ar
rived there at night and took up my quarters
at the only tavern in the place. It was
wretched dwelling, and kept by an old man
and woman, the surliest couple, l think it has
ever been my lot to meet. In answer as to
whether could have lodging there that
night, noticed the host gave particular look
at his wife, and after some whispering, was
informed in the most ungracious manner pos
sible that could have a bed. is SIP
have frequently in the course of my life
mOdations, so did not allow my equanimity
of temper to be destroyed by the miserable
sleeping apartments into which 1 was usher
ed after had finished my repast. G54EE
The chamber was of small size, and certain
ly well ventilated, for I could see the stars
through the roof. The bed was simply bag
of straw thrown into one corner of the room,
without sheet or covering of any kind. This
last fact, however, was not of much conse-
quence, as it was summer and oppressively
hot. b. sgauoa 8ea $3.50 4 aaA
stood for more than an hour gazing out of
the opening which served for window. Be-
fore me was an immense prairie, the limits of
which could not see. The tavern in which
/ had taken up my abode appeared to be iso-
lated from all. other dwellings,, and save the
croak of the tree-toad and the hum of the To-
Gust, not sound reached my ear. 1t was
beautiful moonlight night, so bright that /
could see to read the smallest print a~i
At last began to grow weary, and throw
ing myself on my pallet / was soon plunged in
deep slumber. How long slept know not,
but was awakened by dull sound, which
resembled some one hammering in the dis
tance.
suppose ii was the popularity of the sound
which awoke me, for it was by no means loud,
but conveyed to me the idea of some one
striking iron with a muffied hammer. rose
from my bed and went to the. window. The
moon was now in the western horizon, by
which fact knew that it must be near morn.
The sound have before referred to reached
me more distinctly than when in the back
part of the chamber. 1t appeared to come
from some outhOuses which were situated a
hundred yards from the house.
Now am naturally of an inquiring mind
and this sound, occurring as it did in the mid
die of the night, piqued my curiosity, and l
felt an irrepressible desire to go out and dis
~fs q =, A.. Il
continued, grew upon me with such intensity,
that resolved to crafty it at any price.
put on my boots, the only article of attire
I had discarded, and cautiously opened the
door ofmy chamber and noiselessly descended
the rickety staircase. A few steps brought
me into the lower apartment, which l found
entirely deserted. 1 crept quietly to the win
dow, and unfastening it without making the
slightest noise was soon in the moonlight.
Not d soul was visible, but the sound 1 have
mentioned grew much more distinct as i ap-
preached the place from whence it proceeded.
At last found myself before long, low
building, through the crevices of which Icould
perceive lurid glare issuing. | stopped down
and peeped through the keyhole, and to my
extreme surprise 1 saw half a dozen men,
with their coats of and sleeves up, perform
ing a variety of strange occupations. Some
were working at FORGE Others were superir-
tending the casting OF moulds, and some were
engaged in the process of mining coin. Tn n
moment the whole truth burst upon me. Hora
was the gang ofcounterfeiterS | was in searcb
of. and the landlord and his wife evidently he-
Ionged to the same band, for in one corner
perceived them emp!oyed,-the man polishing
off some half dollar pieces, and the woman
was packing the finished coin into rolls.
/ had seen enough and was about to return
to nv apartment, when / suddenly felt q
heavy hand placed on my shoulder, and turn
ing NV head around, to lny horror found my
self in the grasp of as ill-looking a scoandre
as ever escaped the gallows.
''What are you doing here, my good fell
low?" he exclaimed giving me shake.
"Taking stroll by moonlight" replied,
endeavoring to retain my composiire. 'l..
"Wen, perhaps you will just take a stroll
inside, will your? returned the rtfiian, push
ing open the door, and dragging me in after
him. ai' sasaa77
All the inmates of the barn Immediately
stopped work and rushed toward us when
they saw me.
"Why, what's all this?7 they exclaimed.
"a loafer found peepin' outsiden said my
captor. 4i. -aa
"He's traveller that came to the tavern
last night and asked for lodging: the last
saw of him he was safe in bed," said the lanJ-
lord. Sos
The men withdrew to corner of the apart-
ment, leaving one to keep guard over me. /
soon saw they were in earnest consultation
and were evidently debating some important
nestion. The man keeping guard over me
said nothing but scowled fiercely. / had not
ao;d a einOla word during all the time / had