Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-29
A Heavy Blow for the Counterfeiters.

The secret service force did one Of It's best
days works, last week, in the capture Of the
noted counterfeiters Nelson briggs and Ben
Boyd. The latter is the most notorious en-.
graver Of counterfeit plates known in tho
business, Tom Ballard not excepted, and the
detectives have been hunting for him, but
always before unsuccessfully, for ton years
past. He was arrested at Fulton, ILL.,,
small town on the Mississippi river, while in
the act Of engraving plate. In ~ room
he occupied we're found $40, 500, aud
a $1,000 plate, partly completed. The fact
Of his arrest was telegrapbed to Col Wash
burn at Centralia, where he, with three de.
tectives OF the service, made a raid on the
counterfeit factory, which was situated 10
the residence portion of the town. just be-
fore the detectives reached the house, Nelson
briggs, the proprietor Of the factory, a man
who has circulated over million dollars Of
counterfeit money within the last ten years,
and Charley Stadtfsldt, his partner made
their escape, but were pursued eight miles
on horseback by Col Washburn and two de.
tectives, and finally captured in a piece Of
timber, after having been fred at several
times. 10 the house occupied by briggs the
detectives found the press, plates, material
and over $4,000 OF counterfeit national
bank notes and currency recently printed.
They also arrested Stadtfeldt aud the father,
mother and wife Of briggs. But it is the
capture Of Boyd that gives the affair most
importance, since no deyice, however ingen-
ious 10 engraving, could be planned in the
treasury bureau of engraving and printing
that he could not successfully initiate. 1t
was he who engraved the Eve dollar Traders
bank (Chicago) plate, which passed for a
long time, even among bankers, without sus.
picion. Within the last year the name on
bank the Canton bank, and, within the last
month, to the Aurora bank OF Aurora, Ill.,,
large numbers Of which notes are now in cir.
euiation. By the capture Of these two men
the counterfeiting business Of the country has
received blow from which it will not soon
recover. The supply Of the South and West
is cut off almost entirely by it, and the plates
from which all the really dangerous counter
felt money in the country was printed will
now be destroyed.-Springfeld Republican
ARREST OF SwINDLER-Two or three
weeks ago, Martin b. Stimson advertised in
Boston. for Fifty nen to go to Marsbfeld
W., aud there settle upon 1900 acres oil
land, which he represented he owned. On
this tract of land there was already mill,
aud being conveniently located for the work.
ing Of many more mills, he wished them to
clear the land and build upon it, aud in
course Of time lay the foundations for u
town. He offered to take notes of $500
each in payment for the land These terms
were accepted, and about fifty woud-be col
onists made arrangements for emigration aud
went to the depot where they found that
Stimson had disappeared aud had made nc
arrangements with the company for their
transportation. This was great disappoiut-
meut to them, for all had broken up house
keeping, aud appeared at the depot with
three wagOn-lOads OF goods prepared to enter
n new country for settlement.
; After some search Stimson was 6naly
found in KIttery, Me-, and taken into custody
He is about forty-6vc years old aud ha,
figured prominently in politics in thestate Of
Maine. He was once editor Of paper ia
Portland, the State, afterwards merged in tn,
Star. One note received by Stimson wa
for 1000. The amount OF all the note
was some $4,000. He does not own al
acre OF land in Msrsh6ed, and appears tC
have undertaken the scheme for what none,
he could raise by the sale Of the notes aDC
then to trust TO luck to escape the conse
quences Of his crime. The land on whioi
he proposed to settle his little colony is il
the possession of one McKenna, but is real
owned by one Sawtslle, of Cambridge, Mass
who has mortgage upon the property for it
full value.