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

The Greenville Neus of Sunday morning
contains the following account of recent
arrests in that town for counterfeiting,
which will greatly surprise our readers,
many of whom are acquainted with the
defendants, and will anxiously await the
result of the investigation into the truth
of the charges made. The News says:
The tranquil town of Williamson,
eighteen miles below here, is now in o
condition of excitement not equalled since
the famous elopement that disturbed its
serenity several years ago, and everybody
is discussing the arrests made from this
city on Friday evening.
! II has been whispered around for some
time that somebody IN Williamson was
engaged in making and circulating coun-
ber of people who claim to have known
| all about it. From statements made by
citizens of Williamson there has been a
surprising degree of publicity in the mat
| ter and the only wonder is that the official
! descent has not been made before. In
| consequence of information received
| Deputy Marshal E. A. Dickson went to
Williamson on Thursday, and with very
| little difficulty obtained material for a
| case against j. j. Cooley and A. j. Surratt.
Both the men are prominent In the com.
munity. They are wardens Of the town
and Cooley is acting intendant in the
absence of that officer. Surratt is shoe
| maker and has apparently made a very
| fair living by his trade. Cooley is a far.
| mer and has q cotton gin and is the owner
! of considerable property.
| Mr.. Dickson returned here and obtained
q warrant from U.S.. Commissioner Hey
ward, and he and Deputy Marshal 81. F.
| Williams went down on Friday. They
failed to find either Cooley or Surratt at
| home, the former having gone to mill,
| while the other had come to this city.
In the. evening, however, Cooley was
| found lying on bench in the town park
watching game of base ball, and was
| Immediately arrested. Soon after Surratt
was captured as he rode into town on his
return. The prisoners were brought here
! that night and lodged in jail O'Clock.
Yesterday the officers returned to Will
liamston and captured what they claim is
O complete outfit of counterfeiting tools;
| including a galvanic battery. These
things were found in a loft over Surratts
shoe shop and were brought here to be
used in evidence.
Cooley on yesterday gave ball in the
sum of $1,000 for his appearance for trial,
and was released. he is we'll connected
and it is said, could have given SIS 900
bail if it 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.
| decided talent for chemistry and to have
used it in the business. Both the prison
l ers are reticent and declined making any
statement.
The Greenville News OF Tuesday gives
the flowing additional particulars
| The cases of A. ]. Surratt and J. j.
Cooley, the citizens of Williamson charg-
ed with connterfeiting coins Of the United
States were heard before Commissioner
| Hawthorne on yesterday. George West
moreland appeared for Mr.. Surratt and
Col. w. II. 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
the defendants had been trying expert
ments in initiating silver dollars, and had
made some of the limitations and some
imitation nickels, and had some rough
and crude implements apparently design
| ed for use in that way. ItWas proved that
several scraps of metal with holes the
size of the dollar, and others bearing part
of the impress of the same coin had been
found in Surratt's shop, and Seew right
testified that on going there early one
morning he found pile of new nickels
on Surratt's 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 1000 each. p66ee 6e
of Mr.. Cooley's bondsmen sifound for
released but substJjtj}sa subssJ fail but viii proba.
him. sl2 today. Both the prisoners
l11.vXenned 1.vXenfned to make any statement in advance
of their trial except general denial of
guilt. From the questions asked the
witnesses 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.