The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-11-16
PASSING THE "QUEER."
Wilbur Norris Arrested.
Two Well Known Rock Islanders I'm.
plicated in the Manufacture of
Bogus Dollars.

Rock Island. The person arrested was
none other than Wilbur +. Norris who was
taken in by the police across the river for
passing counterfeit money. Norris had
boarded street car in the early part of
the evening and passed the driver dol>
hand back the change, when passen>
ger by the name of Petersen
who was standing on the platform, mo
toned the driver to examine the coin
more closely This the driver did, aud
handed it back to Norris, informing him
that it was no good here" whcreupon
he left the car and Peterson followed him
| until he met Il policeman, whom he in
formed Of the occurrence on the street
car, and pointed Norris out to- the wearer
of the star Norris was Immediately ar
| rested and conducted to police station
| in Davenport, where he said he was
| from Rock Island Marshal Eakhart was
| notified, and upon visiting Norris learned
| the particulars of the case in full TO
| him the prisoner made u full confession.
| He SAID that in company with George
Hakes, also of this city, he had manu-
featured about $50 of the bogus coinage,
all in the shape of dollars and he had
| succeeded in passing off considerable of it
before being detected He had been out
| of work good deal, and his family be,
ing in want he had been induced
| by Hakes to commit the crime.
He said, however. that he did
| not wish to shield himself at Hakes' ex>
pense, that while Hakcs had conceived
| the idea, he had engaged in the making
of the bogus stuff and had attempted to
pass it, He told the marshal that six
| months had been occupied in the forming
and engraving of The moulds. and that
the operation of making the money had
but fairly commenced, lie gave Marshal
Eckhart description of where the
moulds and material could be found and
that officer found most of them there yes
terday. A pair of moulds, IA tin dipper
aud quantity of zinc and lead were
found concealed in the barn on Mr. Nor
ris premises on Nineteenth street near
Ninth avenue, Norris told the marshal
that pair of mouds had been buried
short distance from the house,
but these could not be found.
TIE MOuLDs
consist of two pieces of copper, in each
of which is stamped or engraved the I'M
print of the head and tail of a silver dol
lar These two dies are fastened together
by means of bolts and the substance out
OF which the bogus coin is made, poured
in after being melted. A narrow strip of
metal enclosed in the moulds is used to
shape the dollars. These moulds are al
most perfect in design and show that they
have been made by "a skilled mechanic
and genius. If the counterfeiters had
secured silver instead of the metal they
did, it is to be doubted if they would have
beae detected at all.
THE bogus COIN
at first appearance is not unlike the
national dollar. 1t is bright aud
well formed but probably II trihe
thicker and much lighter in weight than
the ordinary dollar. The piece, however,
is very deceptive and to II person other
than keen observer would in the ma ol
ity of cases pass without exciting susp-
cion.
THE COUNTERFEITERS
have always born Il good reputation in
Rock Island. Norris was born and
raised here; is about forty years of age
and has Il wife and four children; he is a
river engineer and has of late been on the
IA fter Silver Wave. The coin was man
ufactured in the kitchen of his house but |
unknown to his wife. His father is one
of the old settlers of Rock Island county. |
He has charge of Bailey DavenporL's pas
ture.
Hakes is also about forty years of age, |
is married and has one child. He is son
of Holmes Hakes man well known
in business circles and has been interests |
ed at different times in various enter |
prizes, such as the old Rock Island &
Mercer County road. the Milan paper
mill. and the Rock Island & Milan Street |
railway. The younger Hakes is also an
engineer. and Norris has worked with |
him on the river. He was on
the ferry Spencer number of years.
Hakes was seen early yesterday morning. |
but disappeared during the forenoon. SO
it Is probable that he had learned of Nor
ris' arrest, and has
FLED FROM JUSTICE.
This also accounts for the marshaiis |
failure to find the other money distribu- |
ted by Norris. The molds in possession |
of the police at Davenport bear the date
of 1882, and as the coin is dated 1884 and
1885. there are two sets of moulds MISS
ing and Hakes must have them or at least
changed the place of concealment before |
decamping.
Much surprise is expressed over the
disclosure and sympathy for the families
of the men implicated, w. F. Norris
has been especially noted for his honesty,
and the opinion seems to be that he will
be able to produce sufficient evidence to
establish his innocence to some extent at
any rate. Maj. ]. NJ. Beardsley has been
engaged as his counsel. He has already
made good impression upon the police
at Davenport BIZ his conduct since his