The New York herald., 1871-12-12
THE ALLEGED HEAD CENTRE OF
COUNTERrEITERS.
Trial Of Joshua d. Minor, Indicted for
Having Counterfeit Money and
Plates In His Possession.

Plates In His Possession.
yesterday Joshua D. Minor. who is charged with
having counterfeit money and plates In his pos
session. was put upon trial In the United states
Circuit Court, before Judge Benedict. The case ex
cited good deal OF interest account OF the re.
spectacle position previously occupied by Minor,
who has been contractor for public works In this
City.
Mr. Pierrepont Mr. Purdy and Mr. De Kay con-
Quoted the case on behalf OF the government; and
the defendant who is out on bail to the amount OF
$4,000 Is represented by Mr.. Fullerton and Mr.. B.
X. Phelps as counsel.
SWEARING THE JURY-CHALLENGEs
Mr.. Stllwel, Deputy Clerk Of tine Court, called
over the names OF the jurors and proceeded to swear
them.
The first juror called was Sinclair Tousey. He
was questioned as 10 whether he had formed any
opinion Of the case from what he had read Of 1t
IN the newspapers. He replied that he had formed
no opinion or impression about IL one way or the
other. Mr.. Tousey was sworn.
Mr.. Shaw was inrerrogated In the same way. He
was challenged by the defence and set aside.
Josiah c. Cady stated he had never read anything
about the case. He knew none OF the parties In the
matter. Sworn.
Henry @. Faile had not read anything about the
case in the newspapers, and nad therefore, no i'm
preston about it one way or the other He did not
know the defendant or any OF the witnesses sworn.
Charles @. Jackson knew nothing Of the case.
Sworn
George P. Bache made similar statement, adding
tha6 he did not know the defendant at all. Sworn
Daniel G. Bacon, after stating that he did not re-
member having read about he case IN the papers
and had formed no opinion about Il, was sworn.
Robert Medan, a butcher. doing business In WASH
ington Market, also replied that he knew nothing
about the case. He was sworn.
william w. Waller, piano maker, 478 washington
street. challenged by The defendant and set aside.
Edward J. Salmon, challenged by defendant, and
Jacob l. Dodge said If he had heard OF the case he
had quite forgotten It, He knew nothing or the de-
fendant or or the Witnesses: Sworn.
Abraham Lent had read in the papers that q
wealthy contractor mad been arrested with counter
felt plates In his possession He could not that
not know 1t would prevent him from finding YER
dict according to the evidence. In justice to him
plying for bail person In court said to him that the
defendant was an innocent man and that this was
a ap a but Il would % OF take on s eV
dence to confirm 1t. He would depend altogether
j. s. 5. GulIck. challenged BY the government ana
set aside
james N. Paulding did not know anything Of the
case except what had been stated in Court. He
did not know the defendant. Sworn.
Electus Ramsdale had formed an impression that
lenSed by defendant and set aside. ''''' o'
Seah II. Hill. challenged py the government and
Henry s. Gregory might have read Of the case in
the papers. but II so did not remember IT. He was
not acquainted with the defendant. Sworn.
Sinclair Tousey. Daniel G. Bacon.
josiah G. Cady. Robert Medan.
Henry G. Faile. Abraham Lent
Charles c. jackson. James N. Paulding.
GPESINa pHs sTATEMESr FOR The GoySRSSsSr. @
Mr.. Pierrepont opened the case to the jury on be-
half OF the government. His statement occupied
serious matter having befalen the District Attorney
Judge Davis), SAD afilicton having happened In
him call on him (Mr. Plerrepont TO aid MIN In the
trial OF two cases then pressing. It was In con-
before them. .N the indictment which they were
about to try charged the defendant, Minor, with
o se
money, and with having passed counterfeit money.
10 Of na oonse % ney ses we're al msn s g
rank 10 life and intelligence. they Knew NV what
and they needed no explanation from nin.
The duty OF the government would be to
10 fnd such verdict as that evidence warranted 1t
was q satisfaction to him, and he dared say to the
Court and TO counsel the other that they had
examined each man on the jury, aud that they thus
found each OF them coming with minds free from
with I bat eVence ann n9 Win ye e
law as the Court should lay 1t down. 1t would be
his duty to present as well as he could and as briefly
as might be the evidence which the government had
in their possession and which they believed pointed
to the defendant as counterleiter guilty OF this
crime As they well knew, in all civilized countries
this crime was OF the higher Order In many Chris
tan countries 1t had been
PUNISHED WITH DEATH;
but in our country 1t was subjected to lighter pun
tshment With us II varied from five years to q
WAS 90 e or @ ss
Influenced by the peculiar circumstances OF the
cases II was not di,lcuit to detect the passing Of
ty arose when the government came up 10 the point
OF finding out who made the counterfeit money.
upon persons in the lower ranks OF life upon The
ignorant and the humble. 1t was passed In small
quantities., and was manufactured by persons Of q
higher order OF life. and could be Manufactured by
no other 1t required skllfpl workmen TO prepare
so nat i sa ~
on to deceive the community. This requhed great
skill and capacity and large amount OF money
He could not meet with success. He could not have
presses or plates or paper skilfuliy manufactured,
interest the government, In pecuniary point OF
view, whether counterfeit money passed or not
by experts in the government employ, ana
the government never redeemed 1t. IL was the
felt money The injury, In the chielest degree was
done to the community, falling on the more mode.
rate and humber classes OF society. the learned
cent man passing upon merchant ten dollar or
twenty dollar counterfeit bill that had been showed
upon him and getting arrested for this. He mad to
getlawyers TO defend him, and II he could not ind
baiI he must remain in prison, because he was poor
and ignorant. That great crime was perpetrated on
the poor by those In higher circles-by those who
manufactured this money 10 this skilful way and
passed 1t upon the community. This trial Will be o
remarkable trial. 1t goes to
THE HEAD CENTRE
OF the crime. IL brought into view the costly
presses the skilful working OF the plates the men
that were engaged In this crime. They would trace
1t 10 It's centre, and reveal how the nng was done.
The manufacturers OF counterfeit money their
confederates, as q general thing, never have pos
session Of the counterfeit money which Is put upon
the community. They are always engaged IN some