The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-08-13
A Startling novsion;,,snt.


Inc Greenv!lle Mes=. OF Sunday morning
contains the following account OF recent
arrests in that town for counterfeiting.
which win greatly surprise our readers.
many OF whom are acquainted with the
aeiendants, and win anxiously await the
result OF the investigation into tho truth
OF the charges made. The Ners says:
The tranquil town OF Williamson
eighteen miles below here, is now i'm n
condition OF excitement not eauaIIed since
the famous elopement that disturbed its
serenity several years ago, and everybody
IL discussing the arreets made from this
city on Friday evening.
time that somebody in Williamston was
engaged In making and circulating coun.
terfeit money, and there are now mum.
per OF people who claim to have known
az AZ aDout 1t; From statements made by
ciuzens OF Willianston there hes been q
ssarprising sr degree Of publicity In tho mat.
Yer anu the only wonder is that the official
descent has not been made before. In
consequence Of information. received
Deputy Marshal r. A. Dickson want 70
Wiiliamston on Thursday, and with yery
little difficulty obtained material for a
ease against j. j. Cooley and a, ]. Surratt,
both the men are prominent In the com.
munity, They are wardens of the town
anu cooley is acting intendant in the
absence OF that officer. Surratt Is q shoe
maker and has apparently made yery
lalr hying by his trade. Cooley Is a far.
mer and has cotton gin and is the owner
OF q considerable property.
Mr.. Dickson returned here and obtained
warrant from U. 8. Commissioner Hey.
ward, and he and Deputy Marshal II. +.
Williams went down on Friday, They
Jailed to lind either Cooley or Surratt at
nome. the former having gone to mill.
Wh!!e the other had come TO this city.
found lying on a bench in the town park
Watching game of baee ball, and was
| Immediately arrested. Soon after Surratt
| was captured as he rode into town on his
return. The prisoners were brought hero
that night and lodged in jail O'Clock.
hamston and captured what they claim Is
| complete outfit Of counterfeiting tools:
including O galvanic battery. These
things were found in o loft over Surratt's
shoe shop and were brought here to be
| used in evidence.
Cooley on yesterday gave ball in tho
sum of 81 900 for his appearance for trial,
and was released. He is we'll connected
| and II is said, could have given sos, 600
bail II 1t had been required
The officers claim that they have clear
case and can establish the fact that the
prisoners have been making counterfeit
| dollar pieces on scientific principles and
have had them extensively circulated.
one OF them is said to have had q very
decided talent for chemistry and to have
| used 1t In the business. Both the prison
| ers are reticent and declined making any
statement.
The Greenvillo Ncus of Tuesday gives
the following additional particulars
The cases of A. J. Surratt and J. J..
Cooley, the citizens of Williamson charg-
ed with connterfeiting coins of the United
States were heard before Commissioners
hawthorne on yesterday. George West
moreland appeared for Mr.. Surratt and
Col. w. IL. Perry for Mr.. Cooley. The
| only important evidence presented was
given by Messrs. Greer, BURGESS and
Hodges and colored man named Jerry
Seewright. 1t showed very clearly that
tho defendants had been trying expeii-
| ments in initiating silver dollars, and had
ia;ie,,soI maze some OF the limitations and some
| imitation nickels, and had some rough
and crude implements apparently design
| ed for use in that way. 1t was proved that
several scraps of metal with holes the
| size Of tho dollar, and others boaring part
Of the impress of the same coin had been
found in Surratts shop, and Seew right
testified that on going there early ono
morning lie found pile Of now nickels
on Surratts work bench. A galvanic
| battery and wise of strange and unusual
| shape were also found, with number OF
bottles Of chemicals including nitrate OF
| silver, quicksilver and cynide Of potas
sum. There was no evidence OF any
| attempt to pass the counterfeits.
The commissioner decided to bail the
prisoners in the sum of 81 900 each. nS6,, r.,
OF Mr.. Cooley's bondsmen .asf6;nnS for r
released ,, but sn5stj.jail but viii proba.
nm him. H., surIqato:d urIq day. Both the prisoners
9sGnhed to make any statement in advance
of their trial except general denial of
guilt. From the questions asked the
witnesses on cross examination, however,
it was evident that it will be claimed for
the defence that the galvanic battery was
one obtained by Mr.. Surratt for the pur-
pose Of plating some worn brass watches
and that others of the chemicals were for
the same purpose.