The Republican journal., 1875-04-29
Hunting Counterfeiters.

Washington dispatch to Pttsburg Leader.
Transferred from Chicago to take charge of
the secret service bureau of the United States
eX-Chlef of Police Washburne has already sig
naized his brief career by making one Of the
most important arrests of counterfeiters ever
made in the history of the secret service. The
exposures made in the safe burglary trial con-
corning the bureau did not reflect anything but
odium upon its management. When the man
Whitley was removed as chief of the depart
ment, and the place turned over to Washburne,
il was sorry day for the rogues of the country.
A CoUNTERFEITERs' NEST.
The section of country included in the noun
famous region, where the three states of Vir-
eina, North Carolina, and Tennessee come
together, has been for many years the head
quarters OF one of the most successful counter
teterS that this country has ever known. The
members of this gang have included men of re-
spectacle occupations, and SO long have these
counterteitcrs been allowed to carry on their
calling with unamnity that they have all
alnaSsed wealth. There is not one of the gang
but what is Il landed proprietor. Jack Mullen,
The chief OF the cOunterfeiters, owns 1000 acres
Of rich land in Virginia. The secret service of
The United States has been after these men for
The last eight years, but have never been sue
ress1u III making any arrests. Jack Mullen,
VINO was a rebel bushwhacker during the war,
has been actively engaged in counterfeiting
ever since the war has been closed He is a
to take extraordinary precautions in order to
accuse him. If he bad once got wind of an
arrest a flight into some mountain rocks would
have placed it out Of the reach OF any ones
power to secure him.
WORKING Up THE CASE.
special agent by the name of Cunarl, went
down INTO Wise county, Virginia, and played
the rate Of counterfeiIer. He lived with the
gang three months before he learned the names
and residences OF all the members. This was
peculiarly delicate and dangerous BIZ of work
10 do. If his real character had for one moment
become known then his life would not have
been worth rush. Cunard reported from
time to time 10 the home officer, until last
week, when he concluded it was time for Il
raid TO be made
Seven secret service men, detailed from the
Office here, left for Abingdon, Va, last week,
ana on Friday of that week they swore in sixty
deputy marslals. mounted them and divided
them INTO seven squads, each in charge of a
secret service man. They then set out for a
NeVenty-hvc miles ride through the mountains
making between then and Sunday night some
twenty arrests OF prominent counterteiters
20 we'll land We're the plans of the secret SER
wee men that they came upon all of their vic
inns without Il moments warning. This being
the ease they encountered but little resistance,
but were prepared for anything in the shape of
trouble that the desperadoes might have given
them.
CAPTURING JACK MULLEN.
special Agent Cunard was to go ahead and
mix IN with the cOunterfeiterS, so as to be ar
rested With them, thus to further divert suspi-
rOn at the time of the arrest. He went out
ahead for the purpose of bringing in one of the
most uncertain OF the wandering desperadOes,
who was always harder to find than even Jack
Mullen. Cunard was to 60 on ahead and bring
this bad one over to Jack Mulen's on Sunday
evening, when the raiders would afterwards
pounce upon them.
The raiders reached Jack Mullen's cabin at
Crows-nest in the neighborhood of midnight
They fastened their horses in neighboring
thicket and surrounded the house.
1t was a clear night. The air was as mild as
June. The solitary cabin was closed up in
such fashion that it looked deserted. Heavy
shutters upon the windows gave the cabin the
appearance of a small fortress.
There was but little parley for ceremony.
From tunards reports the men knew that
Mullen was very vigorous man, who slept
with arms by his side; that if he should once
gain them he might fight his way out. and then
a bound or two and he would be lost in the
mountain iungles that surround his place.
Great caution had therefore to be exercised
The door was tried and. strange to say, was
found to be unlocked. The counterfeiter had
grown careless from his long immunity. As
Soonas the door was opened charge was made
through the room to rear bedroom where
Mullen was nabbed in bed. However, taken
all asleep as he was, he proved for a moment
or so all the deputies cared TO look after. He
wrenched himself from his captors, and Selling
a heavy chain he stretched out one deputy
nearly lifeless, and had not blow from behind
him stopped his deadly work, would have
quickly placed the whole roomful at a disad-
vantage. He was knocked down, but nothing
short of the irons would quiet him. Ever since
his arrest he has been moody and sulIen He
only watches his chance to escape or kill some
of his captors. The secret service men all say
they never knew such an ugly, revengeful
devil, and thank their fortunate stars that they
got hold of him before he got to his arms.
\ METHODIST PREACHER IN THE GANG.
Among the counterfeiters is Methodist
preacher by the name of Corn. He has been
for years one of the regular ''rip-snorters, of
revival preachers. He was a thrifty man who
kept a country store, ran REVEALS preached
''hell and damnation sermons" and acted as
a shower of the queer between whites. He has
roared for mercy ever since he has been caught
but his captOrs prefer to leave him on the
ragged edge of despair at the prospect of fifteen
years in the penitentiary.
Inc people of southwest Virginia are greatly
dehghted over the capture of this gang which
mas lor SO many years over-run and defrauded
me honest portion of the community. If the
tillers they would have received but little gym
pathy. AS it is, everybody reioices. the
United States district attorney there. w. s.
Lavety, says that the capture is worth S5O. 900
TO that section of the country alone. ~'''0'N
FEARS FOR THE SAFETY OF c1rN.pn
1t is feared that the special agent, Cuuara
has been foully dealt with He has been on;
ever since last Friday night 70 bring in the
desperate next in value to Jack Mullen. and
he has not yet reported. There seems to he
but one conclusion, and that is that he ha,
been murdered by some of the uncapturef
members of the gang, who were made suspi
cious of his real character. There are severa
arrests yet to be made of minor men. Whel
they are made one of the strongest counterfeit
ing gangs ever banded together in the Unite,
States will have been broken up.