Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-11-05
From tie Steubenville Gazette.
The Trial of the COunterfeiters In
the u . Court, cleveland.


The trial of John Mcdonald and his
confederates, who were arrested here
last summer upon charge of being en-
gagged in dealing in counterfeit money,
has been in progress in Cleveland for
the past two days. We have been able
to learn the following particulars con-
corning the trial, together with the SUBJ
stance of the evidence of one or two of
the leading witnesses: Mcdonald,
Brown, Boyd, Scarborough, aud VIM.
e. Carman were indicted in four sepa-
rate indictments for passing counter
felt money and for having the same
in their possession. .=ss y.
Martin and Msloy were both indiet-
ed for the same offense.
Nc Donald, Brown and Boyd were
pu: upon trial jointly for selling coun-
terfeit money in June last to one S. j.
Bradford, of Bellaire. Carman vas in
dicted with them for this offense, but
was not on trial, not having been ar
rested. Mr.. Bradford was sworn, and
testified in substance: that Carman sent
him telegram TO Bellaire, asking him
to come to Steubenville, and stated in
the telegram that a man named Spring
or was here, who owed Bradford bill
of boarding, which he could get if he
came here. Bradford came up in re-
sponse to the telegram, and met Car.
man at the Union Hotel, who reported
to him that Springer had gone to Pitts
burgh, and then introduced to him the
subject OF counterfeit money, and sug-
gested the propriety Of making deal
with friend OF Carman's to whom be
would introduce him, Carman at the
same time showing him a sample of
the money. Witness was then taken up
stairs in the hotel, and introduced to
Mcdonald, who showed him money,
which he represented to be counterfeit.
Witness finally agreed to take one
hundred dollars ofthis money and hold
the same as security for the bill which
Springer owed him for boarding, the
same to be redeemed within ten days.
After witness got possession of the
counterfeit money, Boyd and Brown
entered the room; represented that
they were q. S. officers and arrested
witness and Mcdonald for dealing in
and passing counterfeit money. Wit
ness and Mcdonald were then searched
by the pretended officers, the counter
felt money and some good money taken
from them. The officers then intro
duced to them the subject of going to
Cleveland, and to the penitentiary.-l
The pretended officers then conducted
them from the hotel to Mingo, at which
point Mcdonald suggested to witness
the propriety of trying to compromise
the matter. A compromise WAS effect
ed bv paying to the pretended officers |
two hundred and fifty dollars, which |
secured their release. Witness then |
separated from Mcdonald and the pre-
tended officers, and went to his home |
in Bellaire. Witness believed that the
money which was given TO him at the
hotel as pledge for the bill of board
ing, was counterfeit.
The Government then called John |
Gallagher, David Porter, VIM. F.
Brown, - Curran and several other |
persons, who testified to other transac-
tions at other times and places of a |
character similar to that detailed by
Bradford, with the exception that in
their cases the counterfeit money was
bought and paid for by them, instead |
of being pledged, as in the Bradfo |
case. No sooner would the victim get |
the counterfeit money in his possession |
than one OF the defendants would ap-
pear as U. S. officer and arrest him,
handcuff him in many instances, talk !
about Cleveland and the penitentiary,
and ultimately get off by compromis- |
ing.
The Government also put upon the