New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-29
COunterfeiters Broken I'm.
NOUHItTIcIttfb NfOKeN Upe
The Washington correspondent of the
4oln

The Washington correspondent of the
New York Herald telegraphs:
The officers of the secret service division
of the Treasury Department who went
South about a month since on important
business, returned here to-day, having ac-
,complished the object of the expedition
They arrested ROmulus Noble and Elias
Sweat, at Fernandina, florida, and o. NJ
Sexton. an engravel, at St. Mary, Georgia,
charged with manufacturing and dealing
in counterfeit five dollar gold and twenty
five cent and fifty cent silver coin of the
United States. A few days subsequent
Thomas Sweat, brother of Elias Sweat
was also arrested at Tebeauville. charged
with the same Offense. The prisoners had
perfected most extensive arrangements for
the manufacture of the bogus stuff, which
they intended for circulation in Cuba and
the West India Islands, and were the prin-
cipals of an organized ring which tourished
in the vicinity OF Fernandina by frequent
and wantOn violations of the law. A guam
tity of counterfeit five dollar gold coin, ad-
mirably executed, was found on theiI per-
sons when arrested, and there were secured,
at the same time, ready for shipment per
steamer to Black Point, Georgia, thirteen
large cases, containing heavy machinery,
German silver, lingots of composition metal,
English alloy copper, used principally in
the manufacture of the five dollar coin;
gold and gold dust, galvanic battery COM
plete, seventy five crucibles, first-class en-
craving tools and other artIcles-all in the
very best condition.
The first three named prisoners were
taken before the United States Commits
siOners, where they were committed to JAIL
Noble in default Of $4,000, and the others
$4,000 bail each. Shortly after, in the
evening, mob of men, about twenty-five
in number, masked and otherwise dis
guised, assembled for the purpose of rescu-
ing the prisoners. Their attention was
turned from the Jail, however, by news that
the secret service men, who had arrested
Noble and his companions, would arrive by
a train just then due. The mob proceeded
TO the depot boarded the train, passing
through each car and scrutinizing every
face, using dark lanterns, and, when neees-
sary, waking those who were asleep. In
the meantime government officers, who had
entered the town by another conveyance.
took the prisoners from the Jail and safely
embarked with them on board the United
States revenue cutter, the commander of
which, in compliance with special telegram,
conveyed the prisoners to Port Jefferson,
Dry Tortugas. Thomas Sweat was taken to
Savannah and appeared before the United
States Commissioner, who committed him
TO Jail in default of $1,000 bail. The follow
ing day, however, leading merchant of
that city came forward and furnished the
requisite bail, and large sum was also ad
vanced by his friends to be used in securing
the best legal talent as counsel.
On last saturday, a secret service detect
i've, in the course of his perambulations, ar
rested in Blockshear, Georgia, Captain
Daniel E. Knowles, a representative OF the
Legislature from Pierce county, and rear
rested Thomas Sweat, taking them to Sa-
vannah. Knowles is charged with com
plicty in the gold coin counterfeiting oper-
ations of the Noble, Sweat and Sexton
gang. Sweat is charged with conduct re-
garded as a forfeiture of the bond, or such
ii violation of law as to render himself again
liable, he having taken to his old ways,
little suspeeting the harm which would ac-
crue theretrom. 1t appears that he bought
stock of cattle from an elderly gentleman,
named Johns, in Blockshear, for which he
paid him five hundred dollars, in what was
represented as gold, being in reality the
counterfeit five dollar gold coin alluded to.
The bogus gold was brought back TO Sweat,
who redeemed it and took the same back
to another party of Lake City, Florida,
from whom he had originally bought it.