The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-11-16
TIE CoINERS.
FROM TIE DIARY OF A DETECTIVE.

flooded with counterfeit coin. 1t was
so well man anufactured that it passed read.
lily. The evil at last became so great
that the United States authorities re-
quested that skillful detective might
be sent to ferret out the coiners. Twas
fixed upon to perform that duty.
l had nothing to guide me. The fact,
however, that Chicago was the city where
tho counterfeit coin was most abund dant,
led me to suspect that the mandatory
was somewhere within its limits. 1t was,
therefore, to the capital of the West that
I proceeded. spent Eve weeks in the
city without gaining the slightest clue to
the counterfeiters.
began to grow discouraged. and really
thought I 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 a sum of money to pay fer
it, in which there were several half dol,
lars The clerk pushed three of them
back to me, saying, "Counterfeit."
What! said l you don't mean to tell
me those half dollars arc counterfeit?
Il do
'Are you certain?'
Perfectly certain. They are remark
ably executed, but arc deficient in weight.
See for vourself.'
And he placed one Of them in the bal
ancc against a genuine half dollar, and
the latter brought up the former.
This is the best counterfeit coin | ev.
er saw ia my life,' l exclaimed, examin.
ing them closely. Is al the counterfeit
money in circulation here Of the same
character as this?'
% dear, no. the clerk replied, 'it is
not nearly so well done. These are the
work of the famous New York counter
feiter, Ned Willett. l know them we'll,
for l have handled great many in my
time. Hero is some of the money that
is circulating here he added, taking
half dollars from drawer. You see
that the milling is not so we'll done as
Ned. Wlllett's although this is pretty
good too.
l compared the two and found that he
was right. I supplied the place Of tn
three counterfei.s with good coin, ans
returned the former to my pocket,
! few days sfeor shi. received in
formation which caused me to take I
Journey to small village about thirty
miles from Chicago. l arrived there al
night and took up my quarters at the on
ly tavern in the place. 1t was wretch
ed dwelling, and kept by an old man anc
woman, the surliest couple, 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 atte
some whispering, was Informed in tn.
most ungrscious manner possible that
could have bed.
| have frequently in the course OF m.
life been obliged to put up with wretch
ed accomm cd ations, SO did not allow IN
equauimity of temper to be destroyed b
the miserable sleeping apartments int
which I was ushered after | had finishc
my repast.
The chamber was Of small size, an
certainly we'll ventilated, for | could sc
the stars through the roof. The bed wa
simply a bag of straw thrown into on
corner Of the room, without sheet or coy
ering of any kind This last fact, how
ever, was not of much consequence, as
e was summer and oppressivsly hot
{ stood for more than an hour gain
out of the opening which served for
window Before me was an immens
prairie, the limits Of which could NJ
see. The tavern 10 which had take
n up my abode appeared to DO isolated fro
: ali other dwellings, and save the croak
the tree toad and the hum Of the locus
. not = sound reached my ear. It was
J beautiful moonlight night, so brigh: til
l could see to read the smallest print
At last began to grow weary, an
throwing myself on my pallet | was soc
: plunged in deep slumber. How long
slept | know not, but | was awakened
a dull sound, which resembled some OF
h,mmering 10 the distance. | suppo
it was the popularity Of the sound whis
awoke me, for it was by no means lou
but conveyed to me the idea OF some OF
!. striking iron with muffled hammer,
rose from my bed and went TO the vi
r dow. The moon was now IN the weste
n horizon, by which fact | knew that
a must be near morning. The sound
have before referred to reached me mo
d distinctly than when 10 the back part
al tho chamber. It appeared to come fro
: some outhouses which were situated
" hundred yards from the house.
p Now l am naturally of an inqulrl.
mind, and this sound, occurring as 1t d'
in the middle Of the night, piqued 2
!, : curiosity, and ! fel. an irreprcss'blo
: sire to 70 out and discover the cause
it. This desire, as the sound continue
grew upon me with such intensity, tt
I resolved to crafty it at any price.
/ put on my boots, the only article
II attire l had discarded, and cautious
he II door nf m y ch amber and moi