Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-12-02
HUNTED DOWN.
Capture by st. Lsuis Detectives Of the
Most Notorious Counter. s-
feiter In the West. "2a
How and by Whom the Country
has Been Flooded with
|, NHB spurious Curreney. ifii

From the St. Louis Times. October I'll
Last Friday night, about ten o'clock,
one of the most important arrests made
in the West for many years past, was
effected at Venice, Illinois, in the cap
ture of DR.. John p. Mccartney, alias
Joe Woods, than whom no more noto-
riously successful counterfeiter ever ope-
rated west Of the Allegheny Mountains.
HIS ANTEcEDENTs. m
Mccartney has been fugitive from
justice for several years, and the Govern
ment has spent over 10000 in endeav.
oring to effect his capture. Colonel
Wood, the former chief Of the secret
service department at Washington, used
every exertion to capture him, not spar
ing either men Or money but was un-
able to bring him to justice. When Col.
H. c. Whitley, the present chief took
charge of the department, he kept up the
hunt, detailing old and well-tried detec-
tives forthe duty, and instructing them
not to relax their exertions until sue
cessful.
HOW HE WAS CAPTURED.
The circumstances attending McCart-
ney' s arrest we're kindly furnished us last
evening by Detectives Eagap and Apple
gate, to whom too much credit cannot be
accorded for the great public service
they have rendered. On or about the
5th of this month Mccartney, with his
family went to Portland, Kentucky.
Wishing, above all things, for seclusion,
he searched through the suburbs of that
town and finally offered a man who was
living in house there at the time fifty
dollars as a bonus to let him have pos
session. The house not being very
desirable one the mans suspicious were
aroused, but hepermitted the newcomers
to move in. A few days afterwards the
man went to the chief of police in Louis
vile and told him about his tenants,
together with his suspicious. The chief,
surprising that they we're burglars, de-
tailed Detectives Bly, and Gallagher to
work the case up. tt
TRACKED TO HIS LAIR. I'd
The officers soon found out enough to
warrant their making a descent upon
the house. They captured McCartney's
wife, and man known as Alexander
Bill, but Mccartney had left the house
that morning On searching the house,
however, instead of Ending burglars
implements, as they had expected, they
discovered full set of fengravers tools, to-
gether with printing press, rolling ma
chine, fifty cent plate and full stock
of the various plates and inks used in
the manufacture of greenbacks. "Alex-
ander Bill" is now in Jail at Louisville
Col Whitley, upon hearing of the arrest
instructed Detective Eagan, of this city,
to go on to Louisville and investigate
the matter, and to see, if be could not
find some. clue to McCartneys where
abouts. When Eagan arrived in Louis
vile he found that Mrs. Mccartney had
been discharged by the United States
Commissioner there, and not being able
to learn anything other husband where
abouts, he brought Mrs. Mccartney to
this city. After staying here few days
she left and went to her mothers, who is
living in Illinois.
MCCARTNEY AND BIEBUsCH.
At the time Of his wife's arrest, Nc
Cartney, as was afterward ascertained,
was here and at Fred Biebusch's house,
Fred being at liberty. is certain that
he saw Fred, for in the overcoat that the
- y