The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-05-31
THE COINERS.
Notes from the diary of a detective.

was flooded with counterfeit coin.
1t was so well manufactured that it
passed readily. The evil at last be-
came SO great that the United States
authorities requested that skillful
detective might ferret out the nest of
coiners. was fixed upon to per-
form that duty.
1 had nothing to guide me- The
fact, however, that Chicago was the
city where counterfeit coin was most
abundant, led me to suspect that the
mandatory was somewhere within
its limits. It was, therefore, to the
capitol of the West that proceeded.
Ispent FIVE weeks IN the city without
gaining the slightest clue to the
counterfeiters. began to grow dis
couraged, and really thought l
should be obliged to return without
having achieved any result. One
day IreceiVed~a letter from my wife,
requesting that 1 should send her
some money, as she was out Of funds.
I went to the bank and asked for a
draft, at the same time handing a
sum of money to pay for it, in which
were several half dollars. The clerk
pushed three of them back to me,
saying Counterfeit"
What" said I, "you don't mean
to tell me those half dollars are coun-
terfeit?"
81 do"
care you certain?"
Perfectly certain. They are re-
markably well executed, but deficient
rryo1cr,% Co -
And he placed one of them into
the balance against genuine half
dollar, and the latter brought up the
former.
''This is the best counterfeit coin
I ever saw in my life" I exclaimed,
examining them closely. us all the
counterfeit money in circulation here
of the same character as this?"
80 dear, no?' the clerk replied, 'tit
is not nearly so well done. These
are the work OF the famous New
York counterfeiter, Ned Willett. /
know them well, for [ have handled
n great many Of them in my time.
Here is some Of the money that is
circulating here, he added, taking
some half dollars from the drawer
fYou see that the milling is not so
we'll done as Ned Willett's, although
this is good too"
compared the two and found he
was right. supplied the place OF
the counterfeits with good coin, and
returned the former to my pocket.
A few days after this 1 received in
formation which caused me to make
a journey to small village about
thirty miles from Chicago. I arrived
there at night, and took up my quar-
ters at the only tavern in the place.
1t was a wretched dwelling, and kept
by an old man end woman, the sur
lest couple, think, it was ever my
lot to meet. In answer as to wheth-
er could have q lodging there that
night noticed that the host gave q
peculiar look at his wife, and after
some whispering, was informed, in
the most ungracious manner posi-
ble, I could have bed.
I have frequently, in the course OF
my life, been obliged to put up with
wretched accommodations, so did
not allow my equanimity of temper
TO be destroyed by the miserable
sleeping apartment into which l was
ushered after l had finished my re-
past.
The chamber was of small size
and certainly well ventilated, for ]
could see the stars through the roof
The bed was simply bag of straw
thrown in one corner Of the room,
without sheet or covering of any
kind. This last fact, however, was
not of much consequence, as it was
summersand oppressiyely hot.
I stood more than an hour gazing
out of the opening which served foI
window. Before ME was an i'm.
mense prairie, the limits of which
could not see. The tavern in which
/ had taken up my abode appeared
to be so isolated from oil other dwell
1ings, and save the croak of the tree
toad, and the hum q the locust, no
a sound reachec nay ear. 1t was
beautiful moonlight night, so brigh
that I could read the smallest print
At last I began to grow weary
and throwing myself on my pallet,
was soon asleep. How long I slept
l know not, but was awakened b,
a dull sound which resembled SOM
one hammeri7g in the distance.
suppose it was Sc regularity of tn
sound that awusg} Is, for it was no
loud, but convrT9s 10 me the idea o
some one strikin a ron with amuffleC
hammer. Iros' J ON my bed anC
went to the wna5loyI. The moon wa.
now in the westatl horizon, by which
I knew it munt 6s near morning
The sound 1 have before referred K
reached me more distinctly thar
when in the back part of the cham
Der. 1t appeared to come from SOM
outhouses which was situated hun
bred yards from the house.
Now, am naturally of an inqui
ring mind and the sound occurring
rs it did in the middle of the night
piqued my curiosity, and I felt al
irrepressible desire to go out anC
discover the cause Oft. The desire
as the sound continued, grew upo1
me with such intensity that I resolv
ed to crafty it at any price.
put on my boots, the only articl,
of attire I had discarded, cautiousI,
CD ned the door of my chamber, anC
noislessly descended the ricket,
staircase. A few steps brought mt
INTO the lower apartment, which
found entirely deserted, 1 crept qui
.tIy to the window, and unfastenins
Il without making the slightest noise