Arizona weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1885-1903, 1886-05-05

The Renaskabse Caseas % . Csoases-
Sssssr - sssa ~ DAnssa&
New ORLEANS. April s7.-The case
Of the Uuitsd States against John A
Aufdemorte and Esastus Sheppard,
charged with ceospiring to defraud the
the government, closed yesterday. The
jury found verdict Of guilty. Aufde-
morte was convicted about month ago
Of embezzling $4,000 Of the govern
ment's money, and vas sentenced to five
years, in the penitentiary. Sheppard was
with Aufdemorte in Meucs when arrest
ed, and had . portion Of the stolen
money in his possession winch be re-
ceived from Aufdemorte The prisoners
we're remandsd for sentence.
Sheppard testified in his own behalf
He made a statement in regard to his
life substantially - follows: "When I was
Ia years Of age vas employed in
oeunterfeiting establishment which was
then owned and operated. among
others by Charles H. 1eooasd, recently
mayor Of Galveston. Tens, and 1t pres
ent one Of the prominent citizens Of that
city. Interested With him il this bust
ness were the mayor q Nev Orleans,
city officials, the chief OF Police ndges
and limbs of the Law. Then tie Judge
Of criminal court fer Tie parish Of New
Orleans vas partner IN the establish
meut also prominent lawyer Who now
occupies a judgeship in Baltimore. These
people were engaged in countssfeiting
Mexican coin, United States bills and
money Of every description The money
was manufactured down stairs, and the
United States notes were turned out up
stairs, My position vas that Of messen-
ger for the establishment and - such I
delivered counterfeit money to the banks
and city officials.
Thousands Of dollars q this neney
we're manufactured and circulated here
and elsewhere throughout this country
and MEXICO. 1t was while in the en-
ploy Of this establishment that ] became
acquainted with the art Of counterfeit
ing. Many Of the persoos engaged in
the business Of counte1feiting in the
times &c hllude to have left
behind them sons and daughters Who
move in the highest circles Of the Crss-
cent city, ladies and gentlemen ofpron-
inence and Of the greatest respectability.
For this reason l do nst propose to make
known the names efthe person fas whom
I first worked in the csunterfeiting busi-
ness All my life It has been my mis-
fortune to suffer and bear the blunt Of
other persons misdeeds. Ny whole life
has been one Of continued sacrifice"
Sheppard is now 70 years Of age.
Galveston, Tex. April s7-Ex-Mayor
Charles H. Leonard Of this city, who is
the person referred to BY Erastus Shep-
pard, the accomplics sf Aufdemorte the
New Orleans embezzles, in this remarka-
bic statement to the court yesterday
prior to beng sentenced, vas seen At his
residence to-day By . reporter. who
INTERCEPTED hjm With reference to Shep-
pard's statements. Leonard declared
that he did not knew the man named
Erastus Sheppard, and denies ever hav-
ing been engaged in the counterfeitine
business in New Orleans OF elsewhere
Leonard Is - years old. He Vas twic
mayor Of Galveston. and served one
term as city collector. He has resided
here and elsewhere in Texas City years.
He is worth over $Ieaeoe. principally
in real estate in this city. Sheppard's
statement causes great surprise here.