The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-11-18
THE COINERS.
FROM THE DIARY OF A DETECTIVE.


States authorities requested that skilItnl
detectives might be sent to ferret out the
nest of coiners | was fixed upon to per-
form that duty had nothing to guide me.
The fact. however, that Chicago was the
city where the counterfeit coin was most
abundant led me to suspect that the manu-
factory was somewhere within its limits. II
was. therefore. to the Capital Of the West
chat proceeded. spent five weeks IN the
city without gaining the slightest clue to the
counterfeiters. began to grow dlscour
aged. and really thought should be obliged
to return home without having achieved any
result. One dayI received letter from my
wife requesting me to send some money, as
she was out of funds. ! went to the bank
and asked for draft, ut the same time
handing a sum of money to pay for 1t, II"
which there were several half dollars. The
clerk pushed three of them back to me, say
ing, &" Counterfeit.
"What!" said |, 'you don't mean to tell
me those half dollars are counterfeit
81 do
Are you certain |!
"?erfectly certain. They are remarkably
executed, but are deficient in weight. See
for Yourself" And he placed one OF them
sin the balance against genuine half dollar,
and the latter brought up the former.
This is the best counterfeit coin ever
saw in my life | exclaimed. examining
them closely. " Is all the counterfeit money
in circulation here Of the same character as
this?''
80 dear. no. the clerk replied, " it is
not nearly so well done These are the
work Of the famous New York countcrteiter
Ned Wilett. | know them well, for have
some of the money that is circulating here, L"
lie added, taking half dollars from drawer.
"You see that the milling il not 50 we'll
done as Ned Wllett 5, although this is pretty
good too."'
compared the two and found that he was
right. | supplied the place of the three
counterlcits with good coin, and returned
the former to my pocket. A few days after
this received information which caused me
to take journey to small village about
thirty miles from Chicago. | arrived there
at night ard took up my quarters at the only
hotel in the place 1t was wretched dwell
ing. kept by an old MAN and women, the
surcst couple, think, 1t has ever been my
1T to meet. In answer as to whether !
could have lodging there that night |
noticed that the host gave particular look
IL, his wife and after some whispering, was
Informed in the most ungracous manner
possible that could have bed. / have
frequently in the course of life been obliged
to nut up with wretchcd accommodations,
so did not ALLOW my equllimltr OF temper
to be destroyed by the miserable sleeping
apartmcnts into which | was ushered after |
had finished my repast. The chamber was
of small size, and certainly we'll ventilated,
for could see the stars through the roC'.--
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 consequence. as
it was summer and oppressivoly hot.
stood for more than an hour gazing out OF
the opening which served for window. -
Before me was an immense parairie. the
limits Of which could not see. The tavern
in which had taken up my abode, appeared
to be isolated from all other dwellings. and
save the croak of the tree toad and the hnn
of the locust, not a sound reached my ear
1t was a beautiful moonlight; night, so brigh
that small print could be read.
At last began to grow weary, and throw
ing myself on my pallet, was soon plunge
into deep slumber. How long slept know
not but | was awakened 10y IL dull sound
which rescmbled some one hamm"ring it
the distance. | suppose it was the pecn
larity of the sound which awoke me, for !
was by no means loud, but conveyed to III
the idea of some one striking iron with
uufled hammer | rose from my bed ;tn'
went to the window. The moon was nov il
the western horizon, by which fact knry
it must be near morning. The sound hav
before referred to reached me more dis
tincty than when in the back part of tn
chamber. 1t appeared to come from som
outhouses which were situated a hundre
Yards from the house.
Now, am naturally Of an inquiring mind
and this sound, occurring as it did in til
middle of the night, piqued my curiosity
and felt an irrepressble desire to 60 on
and discover the cause Of it. This desire
as the sound continued, grew upon me wit
such intensity, that resolved to crafty it a
any price, | put on my boots, the only art
Gle of attire had discarded and cautiousl
opened the door of my chamber, and noise
lessly descended the rickty staircase.
few steps brought me into the lower apart
ment, which found entirely deserted
crept quietly to the window, and uhtaster
ing it without making. the slightest noise
was soon in the moonlight Not a soul wa
visible, but the sound | have mcutione
grew much more distinct as | approache
the place from whence it proceeded. A
last found myself before a long, low bult
ing, through the crevicss Of which Icoul
perceive lurid glare issuing | stoope
down and peeped through the key hole, an
to my extreme surprise, saw half doze