The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-11-16
Important Arrest of a Counterfeiter.


The facts connected with the arrest of
Joshua d. Miner, the head of an extern
sIve system of counterfciting, having a
centre in New York and radiating from
thence ali over the country, and the de-
yelopments which were unearthed in re-
lation 10 this branch of yillainy, are still
fresh IN the minds of the public. 1t will
ho remembered that the arrest was made
ON Oct. 18th by officers OF the Secret Ser
vice under Col. II. Q. Whiteley and that
the capture of queer and implements
Tor manufacturing the same was very
large. Among the latter We're a large
press, almost completed. worth $1,000,
and 1900 pounds of manufactured fibre
paper, ready to receive the impressions.
Ii has been known to the officers that this
establishment had a branch in New Eng
land, and it has also been known that the
Headquarters Of this branch We're in Rhode
island. For the past six months, under
the instructions OF Col Whitley. the de-
tectlvcS located in the Boston Office have
been engaged in ferreting out the opera
lions OF this branch. and their lahors have
At last been rewarded by the arrest of
member Of the gang, the chief of the New
England branch, and the man who has
for some time been flooding New England
with spurious money, bills. fractional cur
rency and coin. The man goes under the
name OF J. p. Couch. but has several
aliases, under which he works accortlngto
his convenience. lie has been located in or
about the vicinity Of Providence, and has
been employed both in the manufacture
Of com and in disposing OF bills, which
have from time to time been forwarded to
him from New York. To arrest such a
man has of course required much care and
eXpertness, and the past two months one
Col W hltley's officers has been his nearest
friend aud most confidential adviser The
detective represented himself to he one OF
Couchs own kind-a ''c0nyman,n as the
technical term is, and in time disarmed
suspicion, gained the confidence Of his
man, listened to his plans and purposes,
and became a receiver OF the bogus
money. While Couch thought his pal
was faithfully disposing of the queer
the latter has been in reality forwarding
il to his associates, with full details of the
movements and operations Of the spot
ted man. Last Wednesday everything
was matured, and an officer went from
this city to Providence. to connect with his
associate, the sol disant 'conyman," and
nab the unsuspecting victim. Couch had
made arrangements TO receive an invoice
OF stock from New York on that day, but
it was not destined to reach Providence,
rs il had been intercepted, and was then
in the hands of the officers. Couch was
On his way TO the depot, all unconscious
Of danger. when he was quietly tapped on
the shoulder, and in a twnkling of an eye
found himself in custody of two officers,
one Of whom, much to his surprise was
m~ qu0ndam friend, He was committed
to the lookup in Providence, and is held
IN default Of bonds in $4,000 to appear next
Monday tor examination.
The implements which have been cap
tTed from time to time by the officers
show that the man has been an expert al
his calling, and the style of the spurious
money which ne has been 50 successfully
putting upon the public is of the best kind.
His manufacturing has been in fifty cent
coin and five cent nickel pieces. These
he has found a largo and ready market
for along the Canada line, where he has
had 4 regular receiver. A large number
Of copper moulds for making the former,
and most ngeniously formed moulds in
plaster OF Paris, in which the smaller coins
were ran. have been captured, also quite
a quantity oI the manufactured coins.
The latter are exceedingly we'll executed,
lHd have by the ingenuity Of the maker
heen endowed with = ring so perfect in
its resemblance to that of silver that ii
would readily deceive iii this respect.
The fifty cent fractional currency in which
he has dealt, receiving it from New ork
and cUbDlYjnp il 10 rapIll3r customers is