Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-11-12
JERKING TEE COUNTERFEIT rERs.
A Bruce Of Roaue County showers of
the queer Caught and Jailed.

"a Ah II va
the queer Caught and Jailed.
J. G. Ketchum and w. T. New
comb, who reside in the upper edge of
Roane county, some twenty-five miles
from this city, came to town, it seems,
last Monday, avowedly on some little
business. The two are brothers-in-
law, living in a few miles of each
other. Newcomb also has a sister
living here, the wife of John Bearden,
a lab0rer at Beach's mill. The first
attention directed to them was soon
after dark that night, when the two
were seen standing at the corner of
Hardee and Crozier streets, having
sent their brother-in.law Beardep, up
to Pat. Sullivan's for some whisky.
He called for the whisky and pre-.
sented in payment four nickels, which
were found to be all counterfeit. They
were returned to Ketchum and New
comb and they sent back good money
to pay for the whisky.
This transaction was observed by
Dan Cavanaugh, and attracted his
attention, and he, in company with
Morris Horrigan, kept pace with the
men, for an hour or 80, as they came
off up town, stopping at different
drinking saloons on their way, and
stopping occasionally for private con-
sultation. Finally, Dan hunted up
the police, when he discovered
that their movements were
very suspicious, and reported
to them. Accordingly, officer
Kinzel, assisted by officer Ryan, ar.
rested the two men, Ketchum and
Newcomb. Upon making search
there was found in their possession
about thirty base counterfeit nickels.
All of them, except four, were found
on the person of Ketchum, The four
nickels which Newcomb had were
loaned him, it appears, by Ketchum,
after they were together Monday
night. A 500 bill, a S. bill, and some
small change, in good money, were
also found on Ketchum. Both were
locked up in the 'boose over night.
Yesterday the proper papers were
taken out in the case, and at 2 O'Clock
the two parties were arraigned before
United States Commissioners, Lewis
Tillman, Jr., for an Investigation Of
the case. Col. Ken. Wheeler, the
United States District Attorney ap'
peared as prosecutor, and Mr.. J. w
Caldwell, represented the defendants
The counterfeit coin found upon the
persons of the prisoners was produced
in evidence. It is indeed very
base counterfeit, and to al
appearances was a bunglesome job
The material is of a very common
order Of pewter or lead, and it ii
roughly moulded, so that no one will
any observation, it seems, could b.
fooled with it. Ketchum had tn,
nickels wrapped mp in corn husks.
An investigation was had into New
combs case, developing in the mail
the above related facts, and although
there was no proof of his passing, o
attempting to pass Or utter any of tn
spurious coin. still the fact of hi
=, having ii in his possession, and hi
intimate connection with Ketchum
who, by his own evidence, convicte'
himself, could not be gotten over, an,
Commissioner Tillman was, accord
ingly, obliged to bind him over in tn
sum of 81, 900 to answer at the mex
term of the, Federal Court, which
meets in January next.
Ketchum submitted his case, waiv
! ing examination, and was also boun
oVerin a similar sum. From all az
pearances, he is the prime mover i
the spurious business, and the othe
9 fellow was made a dupe Of by hin
Both of them, being unable to Civ
I the required bond, were SEN to Jail.