The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-04-11

husband, and certainly there is one trait
in her character, at least, worthy to be
emulated by better women; for never has
the keenest detective, with the most gift
ed speech, nor the threatening terrOrs of
the prison wrested from her a secret that
would in any manner injure the man she
loves
John Peter Mccartney is aman nearly
six feet In height, of powerful frame and
as brave as lion; and since the day that
sin first made its entrance into the garden
of Eden, I venture the opinion there has
lived no rogue who possesses the subtle
genius to over-match him. AS a success
full cOunterfeiter there is not "A man on
this side of the broad Atlantic who could
be classed in the same category with him.
A rogue without peer, possessed of luck
unparalleled, endowed with energy that
few men possess, he has been able to
make and scatter more counterfeit mon
ey than any other five counterfeiters
known to exist. His aliases and his pro-
fessional callIngs are as numerous as the
states he has Travelled in. At one time a
colportcur for the distribution ofreligious
tracts; at another a lecturer on the art of
detecting counterfeit money; again a
travelling photographer, religious revi-
valist, a doctor, detective, and anything
else that occasion might require.
AS an instance of his rare ability and
consummate impudence in the pursuit of
his rascally profession of distributing
counterfeit money, l will offer the fol-
lowing: A rather impressive looking
old gentleman, accompanied by his wife,
was at one time travelling from place to
place in the state of Ohio. They carri-
cd with them as extra baggage a large
trunk which was well filled with religious
tracts. They halted for few days in
the town of Mayfield, ostensibly for the
purpose of distributing their religious
works and attending large camp-meet-
ing then being carried on at that place
Our travellers were very exemplary ap-
pearing people and their seeming pro-
fession very worthy one. Mr. Billings,
as he styled himself, was a fine looking
man, polished IN manner and address
and was constant and jealous attend
ant at the religious gatherings that were
then in session. 1t was a curious fact,
however, that the advent of Elder Bill
ings and his meek looking wife was al
ways attended with generous flow of
bogus money. The gentleman became
to be regarded everywhere as Elder Bill
ings, and no one thought of suspicion
ing him of wrong except carnal mind
ed detective who had by chance got on
his track and set him down rs proper
subject to be looked after
The detective had addressed me a letter
giving a description of the travelling
tract distributor, in reply to which had
enclosed the photographs of several no
torious western counterfeiters, among
the rest that of Peter Mccartney, in
whose shadow the detective found a
striking resemblance to the substance of
elder Billings. Through arch cunning
and hypocrisy the elder had imposed
himself upon the good people of the
camp meeting as a revivalist and wor-
thy brother. 1t was while taking part
in the exercises of the day that the de-
tective found the pretended saint who
was actively engaged in the prayers and
praises going on when he arrived upon
the ground with his photographs. The
striking eloquence and endless warnings
which the sanetimonious deceiyer was
then in the act of pouring out upon the
ears of the gaping, listening, admiring
or weeping ones of the throng who hung
upon the honey of his words, rather took
the detective aback at first
"a perfect likeness, 1 do declare, that
elder Billings, but that can't be Pete
McCartney-he amt the man I'm look
ing for. His tongue runs as smoothly
as an educated parsons, and the expires
sions that fall from his lips are not those
of the ripe old sinner, surely He looks
and acts like a very nice man, and
veritable christian, and must be such
else he couldn't talk that way" solilo-
quiZed the detective. A moment after
wards the attentive officer stepped down
near the anxious seat by the speakers
stand, where he was more astonished
than at first to hear the old counterfeiteI
invite them up in plaIntive tones to join
him in prayer, and then to hear the feel
ing and pathetic intonations as they
burst forth from that mans lips almost
took him down among the rest As the
deceitful rascal appealed to the throne
of grace in behalf of the ungodiy and I'm
repentant, the tears bursting from the
pleader's eyes and coursing down hi,
cheeks, the solemn pathos flowing from
his lips, and he beseeching the Father o
all good to be merciful to the impeni
tent and sinful among that crowd o
mourners who had not yet given theil
hearts to Him, the detective really be
came softened under the magnetic infiu
ence of the speaker, and when at last tn,
humble exhorter struck up, IN silver
tones,
'Oh, for q Thousand tongues to sing
| Ny Great Redeemer's praise
The glories Of my God and King,
The trinmphs Of his grace,
the detective found himself weeping an,