New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-01
TRIAL OF CoUNTERFEITERs.

John Feeney and Nathaniel Bennett charged
with having in their possession and utterng counterfeit
money were examined before Commissioner John A.
Shields in the United States Circuit Courtroom yester
day and Feeney held to bail in $1,000 TO await the action
OF the Grand Jury.
Charles Bensler the first witness sworn testified that he
was master and part of a lagerbeer saloon in
Deaneey-st.: that Tuesday evening the persons ar
rested entered his saloon and called for two glasses OF
the beverage, rendering in payment " bill
which excited his suspicious; that he first gave
them their change, and then inquired II the
hill was genuine; he informed by Mr.
King who was present, that it was counterfeit,
after which he went TO store in the neighborhOod TO
make further Inquiries, and ON his return 10 nus saloon
fouud that the left He then visited the Station
House he found the prisoners who had been in the
meantime arrested by dr. King and pOiiceman no
there marked the BILL and on its presentation TO MN
yesterday identified II as the one passed on MN Dy the
prisoners IL, A.,
hill passed and identified 1t as counterfeit; that
Benser wentOut to see about H. ana te PRISONERS Iei
that he witness followed them ana that on oppfoaSh
ing thcm OF them ran away; he caught rhem and
policeman coming up at the time ne handed then over
and followed them 10 the Station-House.
The officer who made the arrest testified that as ne was
r ~ men b III, Chi hand i'm his pockct; witness
or Tered him to OUT that he did the witness
noticed money fall upon the sidewalk; TINS was
and proved on examination to be 81 counterfeit and
E bin which good; the prisoners were taken 10 the
Station and ON searching them about $50 in good
money was Benefits person; the witness had
larked the bill which he identified; Feeney had been
drinking lc acted though he had, though the Wit
,-ss Ol Id not swear that he drunk; When witness
,oOk hold uf FeenCy he pulled him around toward him,
~ which Feeney said that that was no way TO use
aiui he gentleman and entitled 10 better teat
nent A.,
se.,nse called as witness TO character Leonard j.
Klck Wuo testified: know the prisoners; have known
Fecucy something less than year; never heard any
hing agans him. but from my intercourse with MN ana
.eni.rks made about him have always believed
aim to be q Straightforward, honest man. m
Cross eXamnei-I am part owner III the PaVllon res
tauraut in Broadway aud have seen both Feeney and
Benuctt there; don't know where Feeney lives and
know what either Of them does for living never heard
what business Feeney Is engaged in but Bennett is,
mink, a horse Dealer where don't know; l can't say
Ito have heard speak Of them, but never heard or
Jaw ANYTHING against them; the first time saw reeDey
de was accompanied by friend of mine who lives on
staten Island; friend said 10 me that he had gentle
man with him who very drunk, and asked me 10 take
care him. for he was a very nice man; TINS Is one
ghGn heard speak in Feency's favor.
The defense then called witnesses Mr. Burt, Treas
Irer OF the san FranciscO Mnsrels ard Mr. Adams
,bpping merchant, vino testified that they were ac-
nuated with the prisoners and knew thentO be upright
men, whom every spoke We'll ana against WnOin
they never heard word OF Teproach.
One the counsel fOr the prisoners stated that the
defense of Feency closed here that they expected to
cal the President OF the Mercantile Library 10 prove
cOntended that Government had failed 10 establish
ease while the defense had proved good character ara
he therefore Tor discharge. Assistant DISTRICT
Attorney Purdy opposed, and the Commissioner decided
Ia hold Fceney and adjourned Benefits further c1am-
alton until Thursday next