The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-09-19

For some time past no little comment
and speculation has been INDUCED IL o.
neople in this State and Pennsylvania
IN relation to gang OF countertelters
which were known 10 be operating with
success, and until the capture OF Geo q.
Edwards, in this city, some months ago
followed by the arrest Of james +. Free
land and others shortly after, people In
this city wondered greatly rs to
whom were the offenders. AT the
time these arress were made, grave
doubts were entertained as to whether
the guilty parties had been captured, out
the mooted question Is now denhiteiy
settled, the United States Court IN session
at this place having found both parties
guiltv OF the ofense. This being the case,
and there being now no danger OF
preiudicing the causes, we give snort
history of the manner in which Detective
Swiheart, of Mt. Morris, Pa, alas De-
tective Wilson, set about
WORKING UP THE CASES
and hunted down the men who mad
flooded the country with thousands OF
dollars of spurious money and brought
them TO Justice. Mr.. Swihesrt first dis
covered the existence OF gang o! couh-
terftiters in this State and Pennsylvania
by information given him by Thornton
Cartwright, whom he first met At the
United States MOTEL at Warrington, on
September 6, 1874, Mr.. Swiheart at the
time being engaged i'll selling fruit trees
He was first accosted by Cartwright,
when the latter was drunk, who re-
marked that he didn't know whether
Swihcart was United States defective
or not nor he didn't care, and intimated
that he could procure quantity oil
counterfeit scrip. Swlheart drank u
time or two with Cartwright, and IN fur
Their conversation with him, stated That
he would like to procure quantity oil
spurious money, rs that WAS what ne was
looking for. Cartwright had none on
hand at the time, but said that he would
GET ALL THE MONEY WANTED
at some future time. Business called MI
Swiheart AWAY from ManningtSn for the
present, and it was not until August
1915, nearly year later, that he again
SAW Cartwright, who was once more ap'
preached on the subject. Cartwright
had still none OF the money on hand, bul
again promised to get Il supply, and
again failed. Instead, however, Oh Mr.
Sweiheart's becoming impatient ut the
delay, Cartwright gave him letter OF
introduction 70 Thomas W, Manor,
Campbellite preacher and an eX.nemDeI
of tho Legislature of West Nirginla
NOW "A convict in tie penltertlaryl
Maaion WIS waited Oh, and the letter
produced but had no money IN MS pos
sessior. Mr.. Swiheart was scmewh"
scouraged at failing to get positive
proof that these parties
BELONGED TO THE GANG
when had been circulating toe bogu
money, but he renewed his efforts, and "a
last by untIring energy and perseVer
ence, in the all of 1876, he saw q SINAI
sum OF counterfeit money in NsnIoh
possession. This fsct, along with n
other facts III his possession, Mr.. SWlhear
reported 10 the proper authorities u
" ashington, and III return received IN
,truc!iops TO report all further discoveries
In further acquaintance with CarIwrlgh
ard Manion, the names OF FRANCIS bar
ger. John Nortord and Rufus n
Mitchell, OF Green county, Pa, an(
James 2. Freelaud, of this State, weT'
mentioned to Sweetheart MS showers Oh tn
queer, and feeling that ne had ut last
STRUCK The RIGHT TRAIL,
ne reported to w. W. Hall, assistant de
tective 1t PlttsbuI Oh, and was instructed
by him to make deals with the parties
Soon after he purchased quantity OF 81
cent scrip notes ~ fifty cents on the dol
lar, from Manion, and from HIM ascer
tanned the existence of n counterfeit SlO'
bill in the neIghborhood OF where Man
ion resided. During the time he was ne
gotlating with Nanicn, Swlheart wa
also corresponding with Barger and Ru
fus Mitchell. but had not succeeded II
procuring money from them. Finally
on the 18th of November, 1876, he Wis
tied Mitchell a. his residence, and pur
chased quantity Of money from hlm
. On the same day he received letter
from Freeand, dated Baty's Mill, Mario;
county, this State. The letter was i'll Free
lands handwriting, and stated that the
writer desired to 60 with Swlheart
TO CINCINNATI,
and introduce the latter to the msnutac-
turers OF the counterfeit money at that
place This fact ara subsequent facts
were reported to headquarters by Mr.
Swihesrt, and be WAS authorized by
chief operator G. B. Perkins, to &C! n
a United States detective. Once CARRIED
with the robes Of official power,
the now authorized detective en-.
terec on his work with re-
newed vigor. HIS first move in the new
role was to visit Freeland, for the pur-
pose of dealing with HIM, which he
did on the 10Th day OF November, 1876,
and
SUCCEEDED IN PURCHASING
from Freeand, for the nominal sum Of
Sl5. United States compound interest
bearing legal tender $50 note. While
making the purchase, arrangements
were also made by the detective TO visit
Cincinnati, US previously mentioned, in
company with Freeland, on the l4th of
December. The terror of the counter
letters then returned to Pittsburgh, from
which place, soon after his arrival, he de-
parted Tor Greene county, Pa, to meet
Frank Bsrger and make deal with
him. While on the way, he stopped
IN WHEELING,
and fortunately met Barger at the Ling
aman house on the morning OF December
u, 1876. A room was engaged, and the
two parties closeted themselves Cor
some hours, to make arrange
ments tor future movements. 1t
was decided that Bsrger should