The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-11-05
A Counterfeiter in the Role of Sunday
School Superintendent.

name OF ira =. Bush. lie was OF Splcn-
did physique, of more than ordinary
culture, and had an interesting family.
manufacturer. Protesting the deepest
religious convictions, he so0n took Il
prominent position III church circles,
and became superintendent Of the Sab
bath school of the Presbyterian church
of the place. Being well advanced in
the mystery of the Masonic order, he
also became one of the leading mem
bcrs of the order in this vicinity. In the
early part of the war he Joined Il COM
pany of volunteers, and was unanimous
ly elected Captain. When the wal was
over, he returned to his old business,
and was lookedupon us one Of the most
PROMINENT men in this section, ENJOYING
the unbounded confidence of the entire
community.
In the early part Of 1867 Capt. Bush
commenced making tours through the
adjoining counties, oStensibly on mat
tiers pertaining to his business. Soon
thereafter the sections visited by him
became flooded with counterfeit money.
Bogus so and so bills on various
banks, amounting to thousands of dol
lars, were found in almost every town
in Sullivan County, and in every case
the pOsseSSOr of Il bill could trace It's re-
ceipt back to the hands Of Capt. Bush.
Many Of these were returned to him,
and he redeemed them, always sending
them his pious regrets that he had in
noccntly been the cause of such annoy
ance to his correspondents. But the
fact that the passing of so many of
these counterfeitS was traced to him
aroused suspicion in the minds Of Ger
tain persons that the captain was not
issuing them innoccntly, and they had
him arrested. SO great was the regard
for and confidence in Bush among the
people of Port JcrviS that the arrest
was looked upon as an outrage on 4
piOus citizen. The Rev. DIR. Fairchi!d,
then pastor of the Presbyterian church,
denounced the parties active i'll produc-
mo the arrest ~ consnir,fcr.. and
pledged the support of the church in de-
Tending his honor and integrity. The
proof WIS ., ,tronr orains; him. how
ever. and accumulated so fast. that
many Of his church brethren waycrrd
in their faith, and stood aloof from the
suspected captain.
He finally maIo tho f.1lov.;,r ,dmi.-
sion to hi. na.t,r. IIo .,;d tb,+ -, fo,,-
month, before his ,rrost he was greatly
emL,rras.ni IN III, ,fr,i,, IIn
want to Nav yn,I- ana dow 70 +r,. and
h,rrow ,omo moror Of = friar5 Uo
WAS unsuccessful and WIS ~cat,inr on :,
fo,,.,.-boot with =, boarr h,ar+ +,loo
tr,in for hanna rvr., no Ei.l..d II, foot
ao,ir.+ = r,.l,.uo which Low an tbo
Lc.l II, n;.1., on1
;,ri. bo u.;tL
;, eel tho+ :. oou4o;n,I ,,..m.I La.
.,,d d,Il.rs :, ho,l-ro+o. p,I;o,inn
f,r,.o,+Iy that tho mo,or nr.,;
dan,i.,I aid ,ont +, him no r..r,noJ =,
PRAYER Of thanks to God and mt tbe
.o,,;r,t ,ro.l+b :, bi,,o.Lo+
/ IN first one Of tho hiu. bnnsed wa. r.-
turnod 70 him - bo;,r , coun+orfo;+
Tbon # WIS thot bn vioIdod 70 tbo
bouoht Of ,,i.;no money ON tho conn
~terfrit bills. with the Intention Of re-
deemino them as ranidIv ~ nossiIIe !
He rcpented tearfully If his missten.
and praved that his brethren wonld as
s;.t linn :, ,irbt;rr +Lo rronu no b,d