Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-27
A SINGULAR CHARACTER
A sketch Of Francis Hupgerford, The
Oldest Living COpnterfeiter In
Me United states.
How He Engaged In tho BnsinesS In his
BoJhood and Followed Il Tor
Over Hair y Century.

Special 70 the GsEetto.
LITTLE Rock, ARK, Aug. 26.--The
case Of Francis Hungcriord, charged with
counterfeItIng, and confined In Arkansas
state prison, pending trial or release on
bail, Is attracting wide attention. Hun
gerford is seveDty-1vo years old, and
ranks as the oldest cOunterfelter In the
United States, he having engaged in the
business during boyhood. He Is singu.
lar character. Tall and straight, clad In
a rough homespun suit, With blue eyes
and white hair and beard, he looks any
thing but rogue. He is fairly educated,
and talks freely abou his past life.
HUNGERRoRD's VERSION or HIS LIFE.
al was born in Oneida county, New
York, In 1911" said he TO TnE GAzETTE
reporter. Only parents we're good, hon
est people. My father was farmer, and
the esrly part Of my life was spent on a
farm. Often 10 memory recall childhood
days. There is nothing TO regret
in them; everything Is pleasant,
| dream sometimes Of the old farm
house. IL was queer looking building,
made OF wood and implanted, with a
porch ia front, and with big stone chin
news on each side. The land around II
was rough and stoney, and II took hard
work 10 get living from 1t. remained
there until vas grown, when | went TO
Michigan, where married. Afterward
removed 10 Indiana, settling near
Plymouth, where lived for forty years
or more. am well known through that
section OF country. Ask any farmer or
business man in or around the town
about my record, and think they will
say Il ia straight. am sure | never in
any way harmed one Of them. In 1850
was arrested for counterfeitlng and
sentenced TO two years In the Indiana
state prison. was the scapegoat of
others. After my discharge | came TO
Arkansas with my wife Il have been
twice married. bought farm and
settled In Lawrence county,
near the village OF Walnut
Ridge. hoped to live here In peace
and contentment But II was not to be,
Some days ago I was again arrested,
charged with making and passing bogus
money, and hence my Imprisonment at
this time. expect TO furnish bail this
week or next. The bond was sent my
wife several days ago, and / know she
will not rest until she gets bondsmen for
me and obtains my release. / have only
a few years yet To live, according TO the
laws OF nature, and IL is very hard
should be bounded TO death in my old
age.n
THE OTHER sIDE or THE STORY.
Hungerford will be tried at the October
term OF the United States court TO be
held In this place. He claims he can es-
tabllsh his innocence. His story arouses
sympathy, and many people regard him
as counterpart OF Hugo's marvellous
Jean Vatican, The detectives
claim, however, that he Is notorious
rogue, and that his career as traced by
them from point TO point, forms a chain
Of duplicity and criminallty seldom or
never equaled In the annals Of crime.
Letters from the secret service division
OF the treasury department at Washing
ton disclose the fact that he and his son,
Andrew j. Hungeriord, were arrested at
Walkerton, Ind, April 8, 1880, charged
with counterfeitlng, that they pleaded
guilty" 60 the charge, and that they
we're sentenced TO state prison for term
OF two years. IL Is claimed Hungerford
Is a member OF gang OF counterfeiters
who are operating In the Southwest. An
prison with him. Howe was arrested In
Perry county, this state. He has rela-
lives in Dallas, Tex, who are working
with a view Of bailing him out.
wuE's DESPAIR.
IIungerford, when taken the last timo,
WAS found by Debuty United States Mar
shall Faulkenburg at his farm near Walnut
Ridge, The land comprises 60 acres. II
Is laid OF In fields OF twenty-five acre.
each, which are lnclosed with stake.a
rider fences. The house Is q small one o
two or three rooms almost hidden b.
trees and shrubbery. Everything indi
Gates neatness and thrift. llungerfor,
was In one Of the fields sailing cattle. HI
grew pale when the officer approache,
and stated his business. Recovering, h
calmly accepted the situation and wen
with the marshal TO the house, Whel
they entered Mrs, Hungerford ran int
another room. She reappeared, however
when her husband called for his coat
carrying the garment on her left arm
while her right hand was thrust int
one Of the pockets. The marshal nd
yanced and seized her hand Just as sh
drew forth revolver. She struggled
but he took the weapon from her, an
she made no further resistance. Their
was an affecting scene when the old ma
started away, The woman chung To hi
weeping as though her hesrt would breal
Then she rallied, and babe him 20, say
Ing she would speedily eject his deliver
ance. Hungeriord was deeply moved
and his voice trembled AS ho said "gooC
byen He is In feeble health, and cam,
1--we any great length Of time at the mos
lie expects to be released shortly,