Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-11-05

The 18th was the day fixed for the eX-
animation of Hugh Harper, George Weav-
er and James n. Ray, the three parties
residing in Knoxville, who were arrested
under charge of passing and dealing in
counterfeit money.
Commissioner IL. NJ. Aiken, opened his
court at A. NJ, when the trial of Mr..
Hugh Harper began. The Government
was represented by L. S. District Attor-
ney, Hon. Geo. Andrews, and his Assist
ant, A. H. Pettibone, Esq.
The accused was represented by Col,
John Baxter and G. H. Flournoy.
The case was opened by the examination
of one of the detectives, who testified sub
stantially as follows
first met the accused at his saloon in
Knoxville on the oath day of April, 1878.
was introduced to him by detective D
as a man from Decatur, Alabama, and
as a shower of the queer. We all took two
glasses of beer, when l asked Harper If he
had any of the "stuff7' on hand. He an
swered that he had, when 1 told him that
i would like to buy some. He said he did
not have much then, but would let me
have what he had, as he expected another
lot soon.
WHERE THE STUFF WAS KEPT.
He then lit candle and took me through
an adjoining room down the cellar stairs,
where he counted out $3.50 in counterfeit
fifty cent scrip. paid him sixty cents on the
of the stuff which was of the Stanton
face stamp.) Witness said: bought it
for counterfeit money. The accused told
me tt at he had paid plenty of it over his
counter in change He also told me that
he had passed a ten dollar counterfeit bill
of the Poughkeepsie, New York, bank on
q livery stable man. He said he could let
me have from $1,000 to $4,000 worth in
short time if 1 wanted it. L never had
any other conversation with the accused
on the subject.
Counsel for prisoner declined to cross
examine. They submitted the case with
out evidence or comment to the Commits
sioner, who bound the defendant over to
the next term of the court in bond of
5000, which was promptly given. w. L.
Bell and William Bell went security.
In the case of Geo. w. Weaver and Jas.
y. Ray, an examination was waived and
bond given in the same sum for their APP
pearance in court.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
In the afternoon the case of J. NJ. Saw
yers was taken up and detective ID. was
sworn and testified that he purchased three
different lots of counterfeit money from de-
PENDANT. The first was two counterfeit
Mexican silver dollars at Stern's store or
in the rear of it, in the Opera House, hay
ing represented himself to him as a coun-
terfeiter.
Bought on the Goth of October, at May
nardsVille, at the court house sic in so
cent counterfeit notes ofthe Stanton heads,
for which he paid him 80 cents on the dol
lar. On the same day and place he
bought seven counterfeit Mexican silver
dollars. Bought them as counterfeit, and
it was strictly a counterfeit money trans
action. Paid 80 cents on the dollar. He
told him that he had friend going to
Texas who would take lot and he lacked
few of making up the sum. Don't re-
member that Sawyers promised him more,
but defendant said that he had got rid OF
some but they would not go very well.
He said he had let another man have six
of them.
CROSS EXAMINATION,
Witness is 81 years old, and is a married
man. Has been raised principally in Jef
ferson and Union counties. Lived in
Union until 8 years of age. Has made
that his home again since 1868 until with
in the last six months. Is employed
by Col. Whitley to detect coun.
terfeiters, and has been in that business
since the LIST of April. He was paid sal
airy, let the work be little or much. Oper'
ates in the United States. Has been oper.
ating in East Tennessee since 1st of April
Did not "suGk" Sawyers in, but bought
counterfeit from him by representing him.
self as a counterfeter and thus gaining de-
PENDANTS confidence. Having gained
confidence in me he sold the counterfeit tc
me. nESl Tic Two AltAIcdn sllNeE
then the Stanton head fifty cent notes and
finally the Mexican dollars. Did not
get counterfeit from MEL Am not really
sure where first talked with him, but
think ii was at COoper's saloon. Don't re.
member that j ever told him where ht
could get it, Did not 90 with him wher
he bought it. He got it for $50. / did MOI
introduce him, he said he knew the man
we'll. did not urge him to buy. loaned
him five dollars, but did not know fol
what purpose he wanted it. This occurred
in George Viewers saloon. Mark Hend
TicBson was in the saloon. j. j. Seller
was present when he bought the fractiOna
currency. Nobody was present at the frs
transaction at Stern's clothing store Sci
lers was present on the night of the Goth
and Snodderly might have been lying or
the bed. He purchased then sixteen fifty
cent notes. Had no conversation witt
Sellers since his arrest. Sellers said to me
81 reckon you are not going to be hard OF
men L told him that | thought had no
thing to do with 1t now. | had no coun
terfeit on hand when entered
the secret service. / am Whit
ley's sub-officer. Receive MONTH,
payments. With those j think to be il
The counterfeit business, pretend to max,
large contracts. represent myself as
counterfeiter, but did not state TO then
that there was no danger. Did not dea
with fools, all knew there was danger
Ny first transaction with Sawyers was a
Storms. l told him L wanted it to show |
4