The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-04-06
THE CoINERs.
BY A DETECTIVE.

During the year 1S47, the West was flooded
with counterfeit coin. 1t was well manu-
featured that it passed readily. The evil at last
became so great that the United States authori-
ties requested that skillful detective might be
sent to ferret out the nest of the coiners. | was
fixed upon to perform the 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 mandatory was within its limits. 1t was,
therefore, to the capital of the west that pro-
ceeded. I spent five weeks in the city without
gaining the slightest clue to the counterfeiters.
l began to grow discouraged, and / really
thought should be obliged to return home with
out having achieved any result One day re-
ceived letter from my wife requesting me to
send some money, as she was out of funds. | went
to the bank and asked for draft, at the same
time handing sum of money to pay for it, in
which there were several halt dollars. The clerk
pushed three of them back to me, saying
"Counterfeit."
what" said l, "you don't mean to tell me
those half-dollars are counterfeit"
II do"
Are you certain"
"Perfecty certain They are remarkably well
executed, but are deficient in weight. See for
yourself
And he placed one of them in the balance
brought up the former.
"This is the best counterfeit coin | ever saw
in my life" exclaimed, examining them close
ly. as all the counterfeit money in circulation
here of the same character as this Z"
ooh, dear no." the clerk replied; its not near
ly so we'll done. These are the work of the IA
NOUS New York counterfeiter Ned Willet. l
know them well, for | have handled great many
III my time. Here is some of the money that is
L.. IL .,1.. LII
dollars from a drawer,
"You see that the milling is not so well done
as Ned Willets, although this is pretty good,
too
! compared the the two and found that he was
right | supplied the place of the three counter
feits with good coin, and returned the former to
my pocket.
A few days after this I received information
which caused me to take u Journey to small vii
lage about thirty miles from Chicago. arrived
there at night and took up my quarters at the
only tavern in the place. 1t was wretched
dwelling and kept by an old man and woman
the surliest couple, think it has ever been my
lot to meet. In answer rs to whether / could
have lodging there that night, | noticed the hos,
gave particular look at his wife, and after some
whispering, was informed, in the most ungra
cious manner possible, that could have bed.
have been frequently obliged, in the course
OF my life, to put up with wretched accommo
dations, so did not allow my equanimity O
temper to be destroyed by the miserable sleeping
apartments into which / was ushered after hat
finished my repast.
The chamber was of small size, and certainl,
well ventilated, for could see the stars through
the roof. The bed was simply bag of straw
thrown into one corner of the room, without shee
or coverings of any kind. This last fact, how
ever, was not OF much consequence, as il wa
summer and progressively hot
stood for more than an hour gazing out of tn
opening which served rs II window Before IN
was an immense prairie, the limits of which
could not see The tavern, in which had take
my abode, appeared to be isolated from all othe
dwellings,, and, save the croak of the tree toa
and the hum of the locust, not sound reache
my ear, 1t was beautiful moonlight night, 8
bright that could see to read the smallest prin
AT last began to grow weary, and THROWN
myself on my pallet, l was soon plunged int
deep sleep. How long slept, know not brl
was awakened by a dull sound, which resemble
some one hammcring in the distance. | suppos
it was the popularity of the sound which awok
me, tor it was by no means loud, but conveyed I
me the idea of some one striking iron with
lnuitlcd hammer. The moon was now in tn
western horizon, by which fact knew it mus
be near morning. The sound, which have be
fore referred to, reached me more distinctly tina,
when i'll the back part of my chamber. 1t an
pcarcd TO come from some outhouses which wer
situated hundred yards from the house.
Now / am naturally OF an inquiring mind, an,