The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-15
!. a areat Frauta Nxpo.ed.

ner in which the guilty parties inathe
recent Blue Ridge bond counterfeiting
were overhauled:
A singular and extensive fraud was
recently undertaken in this city, the
exposure of which at it's interesting
crisis, and the arrest of the rascals en-
gagged, in time to prevent villainous
swindle upon the State of South Caro-
lima, were effected by the action of the
proprietors of the Morning Ne,cs. In
our Saturdays issue wo made mere men,
tion of the arrest of ono L. w. Metcalf,
who had been for few months in the
employ of Messrs. J. Dunn, Jr., & Co.,
at the prison, on n charge of counterfeit
ing. We withheld the particulars until
after the preliminary examinations.
This having taken place, and the prisoner
on his own confession having been com
mitted to JUL, we are at liberty to give
publicity to the facts.
On the 18th of February last, Mr..
Metcalf came into the counting room of
the Morning Neus Publishing House,
and expressed wish to have @ piece of
job-work executed. He showed SIS
coupon of the Blue Ridge Railroad, OF
South Carolina, and wanted to know if
an accurate copy of it could bo made.
Upon being told that it could, he offered
tie firm large bonus if they would
execute correct fac simile and strike off
5000 OF them-amounting in value repre-
scnted to $4,000. Metculf was inform
ed that tho job would be undertaken,
and the latter went off satisfied that he
had mado q good arrangement. The
firm Immediately wrote to Detective
Kennedy, Superintendent of the New
York Police, Informing him of the facts
aud asking if lie wished to work up the
casc. If he did, the job would be under
taken; but if not, Metcalf would be pnt
off with some good excuse. Kennedy
telegraphed in reply for the publishers
of the Ners to go ahead, referring them
to Mr.. II. H. Kimpton, the Financial
Agent Of the State of South Carolina in
New York. Correspondence was then
held with Kimpton, who, however, failed
to take an active interest in the matter
Progress was therefore delayed in the
execution of the coupons, satisfactory
excuses being offered to Mctcalf for the
delay.
About three weeks since, Mr.. j. Fred.
Dennis, while in New York city, after
seeing Kimpton, who had not yet taken
active steps in the matter, was fortunate
enough to secure an interview with Mr.
John B. Hubbard, Chief Constable of
South Carolina. A full statement of the
facts was made to him and he agreed to
work up the case, ut tho same time di.
recting Mr.. Dennis to go on with the
work. The business was then put
through, and the coupons were ready for
delivery and in the safe in tho counting
room by Thursday, tho 2Sth ult. Met
calf came i'll that day for them, bnt MS
Date l,,1 Il
was put of with the statement that the
paper on which the coupons were to be
printed had not yet arrived, but was ex-
pected that night-in fact, the bill of it
had already been received. Tho cou-
pons would be ready by Monday, the
2l inst. Metcaf Was still blissfuIly con
hdcnt that things were all serene.
Detective Hubbard arrived, Monday,
under the assumed name Of Wm. Chap
man. Arrangements were made SO that,
apsO non UiS0, lie could still be witness
to the whole transaction when tho wo I'D
bc veXer Of South Carolina finances
called for his coupons Metcalf called
III due time, and, Ignorant of the fact
that the eagle-eye Of IL detective was
Watching his movements from an ndinin-
ing room through un opening in the par
tition, received the Job of printing, ex-
pressing great satisfaction with the way
1t was executed. 1t was agreed that con-
pensation for the work was to DO made
ont OF the proceeds of the swindle. Cou-
pons, representing $1,000, were sent,
therefore, to the Treasurer of South
Carolina, for redemption, one-half by
express, and half l,y registered letter.
The accompanying letter was signed
'Wm. Jenkins" the ulins OF NIelcalf.
The balance Of the coupons was to re-
main, during the interim, in the pub
fishers safe. In accordance with an Act
of the South Carolina Legislature, passed
December, 1859, it appears TINT State
bonds had been issued In aid Of the Blue
Ridge Railroad. Tho Sl5 coupons of
these bonds fell due during the lato war,
when the finances Of tho State did not
admit of their payment. Their redemp.
ton has been lately authorized by tie
South Carolina Legislature, and they are
now being paid. 1t is upon these cou-
pons that the counterfeit is made Sns.
plclons wero all nlong entertained (aud
subsequent confessions Of Metcalf up pear
to Justify them) that w. w. Sampson,
Vi