The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-03-21
AN AGED REpRosArE.
How the Manufactures OF Pewter
NickeIs FIou-fshes I'm 81 Louis.

How the Manufactures of Pewter
NickeIs FIou-fshes fn 1T Louis.
lst. Louis Globe Democrat
For some months past, since the use of
coin as a circulating medium has become
general, the manufacture Of pewter Counter
feits has hourished. and base coin is being
worked off in large quantities in all parts of
the country. People not accustomed To the
handling of silver are easily done for, and,
In fact, for any one to distinguish between q
well executed counterfeit and a genuine coin
is no easy matter. The pewter base is electro
plated with silver, and the only way that the
new counterfeit, when laid side by side with
a genuine coin, can be detected is by its false
ring 1t gives forth dull sound, while the
ring of the silver Is clear and distinct
He was a most meek and mild appearing
man, as he carried his little old fashioned
hand trunk into the Four Courts about 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon, accompanied
by a pair of lynx eyed detectives. one of
whom carried a comp anion To the trunk in
the shape of q most i'll shapen, wretched
looking glazed cloth travelling bag. IL was
evidently an arrest, and an important one,
else why two burly police officers TO one
weazen faced little man, weighted with
years and weakened with fear that was
most natural under the circumstances. The
prisoner was hurried into the chiefs Office,
where a whispered consultation took place
between the detectives and the vice presi-
dent of the police board, and was then hur
ried down into the cslaboose. 1t was an agra
waiting case for the reporter. The prisoner had
not the appearance of one who would set the
world Or fire by his misdeeds; in fact, h
looked like an easy-going farmer, dressed in
his Sunday clothes. who was rather put out
by being hurried about in a manner unusual
to him. There was no brand of Cam visible
nor anything on which the news gatherer
could build hopes OF a rich item. The man
looked commonplace to tn last degree. An
effort was made to pump the detectives, but
they were non-committal, and gave only
such poor satisfaction as, 'Oh, you'll
get it soon enough. As soon as the
case is ripe we'll give it to you
Nothing resulted from an inquiry as
to when the case would be ripe, further
than the brief statement, when it is conf
pleted." 1t was evident from this that the
arrest was one of more than ordinary i'm
portance, else why the desire to withhold
the facts from the public? After quiet
survey Of the situation for short time. in
| which all sorts of theories possible were con-
| sidered, the reporter again put on the war
| paint. To the sergeant in charge of the dis
| trict office: did you book that man Stiles
and Flickner broug t in?" The sergeant,
not verv encouragingly, what man9'
''Why, that little old man with the trunk
and carpet bag, Mr.. - What's-his name?"
'-Hall7' Yes, guess that must be it."
| Here was the mans name, at all events,
| but what was he charged with? Ser
geant, when did he steal thos, horsesr'
Horses? 1 didn't hear of anv horses.
| | put him in the hold over. but understood
| it was a case of counterfeiting The cat
was out of the bag, and the little weazen-
faced old man of bucolic appearance was
counterfeiter. The pump was applied TO
| the sergeat further, but it was to no purpose.
| He knew nothing more of the case than he
had given, except that the prisoners name
was Franklin Hall, that he was American
born, and was fifty eight years of age. The
| Four Courts building was ransacked for in
| formation concerning the counterfeiter, Of
| ficials being button-holed and seduously
| pumped. but without adding to the sum of
knowledge already gained. The case, they
said, was not ripe, and to give it out would
spoil all. AT last, however, a gentleman
| outside OF police circles, yet cognizant of all
the facts in this particular case, consented
| to unburthen himself and to tell who and
what Mr.. Franklin Hall was, and how he
come to fall into the hands of the officers of
| the law.
The detectives, after long period of fruit
| less search, had their labors rewarded by
learning that the fountain head of the spuri-
| Gus coin supply was located in the Whittier
building, corner of Broadway and Ashley
street. This led to close watch of the ac-
/ tons of all the inmates of the tenement
house named, and finally to the arrest of
Hall. 1t was discovered that he wasted the
midnight oil that he held intercourse with
none of his neighbors; that he would admit
no one to his apartments, and that he con-
Quoted himself generally in a suspicious
manner. There were visitors to his room,
but they came and went in the night time,
and were never seen by the neighbors. When
the descent was made upon Hall yesterday
he was taken completely by surprise. The
detectives found dies for the manufacture of
every denomination of silver coin except
the dollar; also, metal in large quantities.;
about $500 in counterfeit twenty cent pieces,
together with all the apparatus for electro
plating. When told that he was under ar
rest, Hall prepared himself to accompany
his captors whithersoever they would. Such
of the counterfeiting material as could be
carried conveniently was placed in the
small trunk and travelling bag, and the
former given to the prisoner to carry. Hall
had nothing to say from the time of the
capture II his Judgment in the calaboose,
being as non -comnittal as an oyster. The
case belongs to the federal courts, and pre-
liminary examination before one of the
commissioners will doubtless be held to-day.