The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-20

For many years our city has furnished OK.
ccllcnt customers to the manufacturers OF
counterfeit money, and has been the stamp.
ing ground Of more dealers In "coney" than
any city IN the West. One reason for this Is
that the United States detectives have not
been in accord with the police Of the city,
and they have not worked tremendously to-
gethcr. Recently, however, the Government
secret service has been reorganizcd, with q
shrcwd and sensible man at It's head, and
now the police Of this and other cities are
willing to cooperate with the Government
detectives In bringing counterfciters 10 JUS
tlcc. 1t must not DO Inferred that our po-
llccmen have not at all times labored to ar
rest counterfeiters; on the contrary, they
have frequently made arrests Of conoy men,
and have sent many Of them TO the pcnltcn-
tiary. But they have not been properly
treated heretofore by the secret service OH
GERS, aud felt unwilling TO work with them.
Under the management Of Colonel II. e.
Whitley, the new chief OF the secret service
division Of the Treasury Department,
better state Of feeling has been brought
about, and We shall expect the city to be
swept clean OF the small and large dealers Of
counterfeit money.
On the 12th of July Mr.. John Eagan, as
experienced detective of this city, received
an appointment In the United States secret
service, and he has since been at work with
great zeal. Mr.. John A. W. Clarvo, assist
| ant chief of the secret service, was In the
| city some ten or twelve days ago, aud
through him Mr.. Eagan learned some facts
which gave him clue to the detection and
arrest Of one of the principal dealers In couu-
terfeit money, who received his supplies
| from New York.
On Wednesday last Mr.. Eagan asccrtained
that a suspicious looking box was at the
Office Of Adams Express Company, and feel
ing satisfied from Its appearance that 1t was
a Trojan horse, he applied 10 Captain Lee,
chief Of police, for assistance. Officers Smith
and Eggs were detailed TO assist him, and the
three took their positions and watched for
something to turn up. Yesterday afternoon,
Mrs. Coping, young married woman, ap-
peared at the office and asked for the box,
which was about Is inches by l2, and di.
rectcd to "John Luizr."
Mrs. c. was well known at the express
Office, as she had received packages there on
| several occasions. She was told that the
box weighed seventeen pounds, and was too
heavy for her to pack. She said she would
send a man for it, and left the office. In O
short time an Italian, carrying huge pea
and stating that Mrs. Coping had sent him
for box. He signed the receipt, and re.
cciylng the box, stuck II In his peanut
basket. The detectives then came from
their hiding places, and seizing the italian
and his box and basket, conveyed them tc
the station-house. The man gave his name
as Emilini Giovanni, and protested that III
had done nothing wrong. He was locked
up.
The officers then proceeded to the resi-
dence Of Mrs. Coping, on Eleventh street
between Green street and Washington ave
nue., arrested the woman and searched tn,
premises. They found no counterfeit money
but took possession of two gold watches
At the corner of Eleventh street and Wash.
ington avenue they found Joseph Coping
the woman's husband, and took him also TO
the calaboose.
Al tho chiefs Office the mysterious box
WAS opened and found to contain a 900 In
counterfeit IS bills of the Jewett City Ma
tlonal Bank of Connecticut and 81, 800 ia
counterfeit Sc groenbacks.
Mrs. Coping was in great distress, pro
testing that she and her husband were en-
tircly Ignorant of the contents Of tho box
Mrs. c. said she thought the box was from
her mother In New York, and contained the
| life of the blessed virgin. Her husband de
MED all knowledge of the box and money
lie was IN New York few days ago, and
formerly lived there. He has been here fol
| two or three years, and formerly kept q
saloon at the corner Of Sixth and Chestnut
streets. Mrs. Coping Is of Irish parentage,
| aud was born and raised In New York. She
has been married about eighteen months.
The parties will be reported 10 United
States Commissioner Eaton to-day for exam.
| iuuiiOn on a charge of dealing In counterfeit
| Iuuis UsyuorFdf.