Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-03
Arrest of COunterfeiteEs
-How a woman Played the De-

tecttFe. ID "a VIZ n ~ ~ 81
From tho Huntington Democrat. June "a
On Monday afternoon, Deputy United
States Marshal Bossler, of Fort Wayne,
accompanied by several detectives and a
female decoy, arrived here on the five
O. clock train from the East, for the pur-
pose of making arrest Of several counter
letters. q
1t appears that for months it has been
known to the United States detectives
that plates for the manufacture of coun-
terfeit fractional currency were in pos
session of parties at LaGro, twelve miles
west of this city, on the T. W. Il W. II.
r. U and that this little country village
was the nucleus of q gang of counterfeit
ers whose operations extended through
out the States Of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan
and Illinois. - ~ r.,,nf y, ngs.L
y The detectives had laborious task in
working up the case. TWAS long while
before they could trace the possession of
the counterfeit plates to the LaGro par
ties. AT length, by representing them
selves as members OF another gang, they
made the acquaintance and secured the
confidence of one of the McMonegal boys,
at Nevada, Crawford county, Ohio, and
through him and some frail Delilah nego-
tiated for the purchase of the plates from
which the counterfeits were printed.
The parties at LaGro declined to me-
gotiate in person with the pretended
members of another eounterfeiting gang,
and proposed to treat with them through
an intermediate. To these terms the de-
tectives acceded. 1t was then arranged
that o female, on the part of the pseudo
connterfeiters, and an individual selected
by the real gang, should meet at Hunt
ington and proceed to place designated
by the LaGro parties, where the transac-
ton should take place. About ten days
since, one of the detectives met the inter.
mediary of the counterfeiters here to pur-
chase the plates, but had not sufficient
money-the demand for them being $500,
and the detectives having but $500. The
agent of the counterfeters was then paid
$50 as his fee for aiding in securing the
plates, and q meeting was arranged TO
take place near Ricbmond's Mill, one mil le
southeast of this city, on Monday evening
last The detectives, accompanied by the
u. S. Marshal, and their decoy, came
down from Fort Wayne, on the evening
train. The parties were unknown to the
agent of the counterieiters, who was on
hand to meet the female agent of the de-
tectives. By some signal previously
agreed upon, the female decoy OF the of-
ficers, and the intermediary of the coun-
terfeliers, recognized each other at the
train, and the female assured the other
that she had the means necessary to close
the transaction. A livery conveyance
was procured and the two repaired to the
appointed rendezvous. Meanwhile the
United States Marshal and detective
took another team, and leisurely fol-
lowed; while second detective pursued
on foot, in a circuitous route, through
fields, thickets, aud morasses, over
bitches and fences, and succeeded In get
ting close enough to the scene OF the cos
ference to witness the transaction. From
behind huge log by the wayside he over
heard the psrleying and saw the woman
nav over to the two counterfeiters-Alick
Salisbury and Bill McMonegsl-th sam
of seven hundred and thirty dollars and
receive in return the counterfeiting plates.
They Immediately began to DIVIDE the
money, their agent receiving an equal
share; and while thus intently engaged,
suspecting no danger, the Government
detective sprang from his hiding place,
revolver ia hand, and leveling 1t at the
heads Of Salisbury and McMonegai, de-
manded their instantaneous surrender,
and the elevation Of their hands above
the heads. Terrified, evidently, at the
sudden and unexpected movement made
npon them, they at once complied, while
their agent, Jim McMonegal, of Nevads,
who had shown himself pal" by his
part in the affair-took to his heels and
escaped into the woods. BY this time
the United States Deputy and his aid
had arrived, and the prisoners were man
acled and brought TO town, whence they
were taken to Fort Wayne, on the ter
o clock train.
We learn that Salisbury and McMon-
egal have for years been engaged IN the
nefarious business of manufacturing and
showing cosnterfeit money, and that this
is not the first time they have been IN
like trouble. ,1TQZ ZJuI az AiOI