The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-01-17
HE COIN RS.
FROM THE DIARY OF A DETECTIVE.


that the United States authorities re-
quested that skillful detective might be
sent to ferret out the nest of coiners.
was fixed upon to perform that duty. q
/ had nothing to guide me. The fact,
heweyer, that Chicago was the city where
the counterfeit coin was the most abun-
dant, led me to suspect that the manufac-
tory was somewhere within its limits. 1t
was to the capital of the West that /
proceeded. I spent five weeks in the
city, without gaining the slightest clue
to the counterieiters., ss@.
/ began to grow discouraged and really
thought I should be obliged to return
home without having achieved any re-
suit One day I received letter from
my wife requesting me to send some mo-
ney, as she was out of funds. I went to
the bank and asked for draft, at the
same time handing a sum of money to
pay for 1t in which there was several halt
dollars. The clerk pushed three of them
back to me saying, Counterfeit
"Whatl" said /, "you don't mean to tell
me those half dollars are counterfeit?"
81 do.n aaf4r
| care you certain an
sPsrfectly certain. They are remark
ably executed, but are deficient in weight
See for yourselfpH NJ = 81
And he placed one of them in the bal
ance against a genuine half dollar, and
the latter brought up the former. 9s
i sThis is the best counterfeit 1 ever saw
in my lne, exclaimed, examining them
closely. SoaIs all the counterfeit, money
in circulation here of the same character
as this r. 718F 81 aila6 5B ia .aa5
"Oh dear, no,,' the clerk replied, cit is
mot near so we'll DONE These are the
work of the famous New York counter
feiter, Ned Willett. / know them we'll
for l have handled a great many in my
time. Here is some of the money that
is circulating here" he added, taking
some half dollars from drawer. "You
see that the milling is not so we'll done
as Ned Willett's. although this is pretty
good, too. "n e9d sTs
compared the two and found that he
was right supplied the place of the
three counterfeits with good coin, and
returned the former to my pocket.
A few days after this I received infor-
nation which caused meetoAtake a journey
to small village about thirty miles from
Chicago I arrived there at night and
took up my quarters at the only tavern
in the place. 1t was wretched dwell
ing, and kept by an old man aud woman
the surliest couple | think it has eyel
been my lotto meet. In answer as tc
whether Icould have a lodging there tha
night noticed the host gave a particular
look at his wife, aud after some whisper
ing, / was informed in the most ungra
cious manner possible that could have
i a bed. 81 geEaa q
1 / have frequently in the course of my
life been Obliged to put up with wretchet
accommodations, SO l did not allow my
equanimity of temper to be destroyed BY
/ the miserable sleeping apartments int
which was ushered after | had finished
| my repast. ae ~
! ST The chamber was of small size anC
certainly will ventilated, for could Sc,
the stars through the roef. The bed wal
simply a bag of straw thrown into on,
corner Of the room, without sheet or GOV
ering of any kind. This last fact, how
ever, was not of much consequence, as i
was summer and oppressiyely hot.
! | stood for more than an hour gazing
out of the opening which served. for
window. Before me was an immens,
prairie, the limits of which 1 could no
see. The tavern in which / took up m,
abode appeared to be isolated from a.
dwellings, and save the croak of the tire,
toad and the hum of the locust, not,
sound reached my ear. It was aubeauti
| full moenlight night, so bright that
could see to read the smallest print.
| At last | began to grow weary, an,
throwing myself on my pallet, | wa
soon plunged in deep slumber. HOY
long Islept know not, but was awaken
ed by a duh sound, which resemble,
some one hammering in the distance.
suppose it was the popularity of tn
sound which awoke me, for it was by nj
means loud, but conveyed to me the ide;
of some one striking iron with a mufie,
hammer. l rose from my bed and wen
to the window. The moon was now i
the western horizop, by which fact
knew that it must be near morning
The sound | have before referred I
reached ms'mefs distinctly than when i
the back part of the chamber. 1t aI
peafed to come from some clubhouse
which were situated hundred yards frol
the house. BIB
Now am naturally Of an inquirin
mind, and this sound, occurring as it di
!, in the middle of the night, piqued m
curiosity, and / felt an irrepressible d.
sire to 60 out aud discover the cause I
it.. This desire, as the sound continues
grew upon me with such intensity, thu
| resolved to crafty it cost what
would. " =
] put on my boots, the only article
attire I had discarded, and cautiousl
opened the door Of my chamber ar
tnoiselessly descended the ricketty stat
!. case. A few steps brought me in II
lower apartment, which l found entirel
deserted. | crept quietly to the doc
and christening it without making tt
slightest noise was soon in the moor
light.
% Not soul was visible, but the sour
| have mentioned grew much more di
tinct as I approached the place fro
i whence it proceeded. At last I foun