Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-08-14
A DEN OF COUNTERFEITERS
no" am Elmira Gentleman Became :.
Observation-Disclosures and $500 oOG
Spurious Currency Captured.

spurious Currency Captured.
{From the New York sun, July l5.l
Mr.. Merritt, an old citizen of
Elmira, was coming, about a week
since, from Cheyenne to Omaha.
He was sitting alone in the cars,
when young and apparently res
pectable gentleman, anxious, no
doubt, to relieve himself and Mr..
| Merritt of part of the monotony and
dullness of the journey, approached
and engaged him in conversation.
In the course of an hour the stran-
gers winning manner had complete
ly gained Mr.. Merritt's good will.
| Their conversation was at first COM
mon place. By-and-by the unknown
began the narration of his history.
1t was romantic decidedly. He had
! sprung from nothing to wealth,
| riches, opulence. His domains We're
| vast, and his greenbacks-countl
| "By-the-way, Mr.. Merritt, here is
Il station where we will stop for din
ner, and 1 have no less change than
a 500 bill Can you accom- odate
| me | shall thank You ever so
much, said the stranger
Certainly, with pleasure, answer
| ed Mr.. Merritt, taking out his we'll
filled purse and counting out $50 in
genuine legal-tender notes of Uncle
Sam. He handed the money to the
| stranger, who in turn gave him $50
bill, which Mr.. Merritt put in his
| pockethook. 1t was counterfeit, and
he knew it, but said nothing.
They dined at the Unknown's ex-
pense. \ princely dinner il was,
too. Mr.. Merritt buried himself in
deep thought for some time. He
| taxed his brain to guess if he had
ever seen that face before. The voice,
the manner, everything about
the man was SO familiar TO him. Mr.
Merritt had been q merchant before
he became 4 farmer, and while en-
gagged in the former business had
come in contact with all sorts of peo-
pie.
He kept on thinking, and after
straining his memory as much as he
could, n ray of sunshine shone on
him. He looked sharply at the gen
tleman, to satisfy himself. Yes, it
was he but the rogue was so much
altered, that he could just recognize
him and no more. He had a false
moustache, and wore a wig but, in
spite of these DISCUSSES, the treacher-
Gus little gray eyes betrayed him
Ten years before he had tried to pass
so counterfeit bill upon him, but
he was caught, arrested, tried. con-
victed, and sentenced to a short
term of imprisonment. Certain it
was that he had not been reformed
Mr.. Merritt being man of means,
has plenty of leisure on his hands.
After due reflection, he determined
to fellow this persistent tcounterfeiter.
and ascertain everything concerning
him and his gang, if he had one. He
1 was nprtain rha this rpnIxir
ed manufactures and great deal of
capital. He became his bosom friend.
They were inseparable-two broth
ers.
They travelled in company from
Omaha to st. Louis, thence to ST.
Joseph, Dubuque, Prairie du Chien,
&C. Between Madison and James
vile, the unknown told his secret to
Mr.. Merritt, and proposed that he
should engage in it. He went on
to enumerate it's success and prosper
ity, displayed about $4,000 worth of
the stuff, and concluded by sayingthat
they must get out at Janesv lille, be.
cause his "palls" and 1.-the house"
were near there. Mr.. Merritt had
no objection to this arrangement !;
on the contrary he was rejoiced at
being enabled to know his friends
and engage in so lucrative abusiness.
After they arrived at JanesviIle
they took a short drive into the
country, and drove up before an
elegant country mansion. Two gem
tlemen came to the door to meet
them. They walked in. They went
up stairs. What did they see? Only
ten artistic workmen manufacturing
counterfeit money with the rapidity
of lightning. Dies, plates. engrav-
| i,,r nd oil hn nh lia,
sary to enable them to carry on
the business were scattered around
in profusion. They remained there
over night. The. next morning they
returned to GAINESVILLE en- route for
Madison. While waiting for the ap-
proach of the train, Mr.. Merritt, un-
observed by his companions, tele-
graphed Is the authorities at Madi-
son, informed them of his discovery,
and also that he and three of them
would come 10y the next train. The
counterfeiters suspected nothing.
| When they arrived at Madison, Mr..
| Merritt pointed out the counterfeiters
10 the officers, who Immediately took
them in custody.
"What for?n asked the unkno vn.
"On that gentleman's charge, Sir,
for counterfeiting.
"My God my God have you be-
trayed US ~ said one of them, adj
dressing Mr.. Merritt
This is not the first time we have
met - said Mr. Merritt. 1--WE saw
each other once before at Elmira,
ter wears ago, under somewhat SINH
| lar circumstances.
The wretch bowed his head and
was carried off. Fifty thousand
dollars of spurious money was found
in his possession. Mr.. Merritt, after
seeing the trio firmly secured, came
back to Janesville in company with
the officers. They surrounded the
house and arrested the inmates yes
terday afternoon. They expect to
make more arrests tonight, and 1T
is for this reason we do not mention
any names. Justice might be de-
feated it We did SO.
| Over $500, 900 worth of well-eXecut
ed counterfeit bills were seized in the
printing-room. The number of per-
sons compromised is over one hund-
red some of whom are people hither-
to looked upon as respectable. The
unknown has been induced TO be-
come States evidence. Interesting
disclosures are expected.
| |
1t is announced that an extensive
establishment is about to be erected
| at Niles. Michigan for the manufac-