Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-10
CONTEMPLATING.
A poRrsxourH FAMILY ENGAGED IN
THg BUSINESS.
rhsir House Surrounded and Ali Hands
Arres,sd-Ths Late Jevelry Rob
bory-personAl Notes.
rcOrc,pondcuco Of the Richmond Dispatch J

fCo.TclpOndcnce OF the lichmonn Uisphlcn
NORFOLK, Va, February 9. 1888.
Government Detective William Hirsh-
field OF the Secret Service Department
of the United States Treasury, mas been
in Portsmouth for several days in the
nulsr OF a commercial drummer, but
really engaged in ferreting out a gang
of c0unterfeiters OF United States cur
rencv. He placed himself in communi-
cation with the police department and
all the preparations were completed last
night to capture the counterfeiters. So
this morning at 7 o'clock Chief of Police
lyman. Lieutenant Only. and four Off
GERS and Detective IIirshfeld surrounded
the house OF George David Webb, in
Buffers Row, on Middle street, and
placed in custody Webb. his wife, aud
son George Webb, all charged with the
crime OF counterfeiting. A young
daughter OF Mrs. Webb was summoned
as witness.
The premises were then searched, and
in one room was found complete outfit
of appliances moulds, &c.-for
counterfeiting small coin and a large
quantity of well-execCtedf ive-cent pieces.
The apartment also showed all the eyl-
dences OF regular work-room OF The
kind. and that it had been long occupied
az such. The prisoners were taken to
the mayors Office in Portsmouth. and
then brought over to the custom-house
here and examined before United States
Commissioner Charles I. Barry. AT the
close of the examination they were com
mitted to Jail in this city for trial. Webb.
theaccused -popularly known as "Dish "
Webb-is a caulker by trade and worked
at that business in the hayward.
Owing to the fact that Mr.. Samuel
Page. counsel for the two men, Ward
and Murray, brought from Richmond as
suspected Iewelry robbers, could not be
here to-day, the examination OF the
prisoners was postponed until to-
morrow morning. The evidence con
Meeting these men with the Chapman Il
Gale affair seems very slender. The
men persistently deny that they were in
Norfolk Saturday night, yet there Will
be several witnesses produced to prove
that they were seen III NuiIOlh 81 tii"'
time. The size of the robbery. as estl-
mated by public conjecture, IS no"
largely losing its proportions, and the
opinion that the loss IS probably about
IS, 0O0lpreyails.
A number of Baptist ministers OF this
section left to-day for the Baptists Lay
mems Union at Suffolk, and the various
delegates from this section left fov the
State Convention OF the Young Mems
Christian Association in Petersburg.
The president of the Common Coun-
Gil. Merritt L. Cooke. and three mem
bers Of the Cotton Exchange, Messrs.
r. A. Dobie, J. B. Vaughan, and c. &.
Elliott, have gone to Washington TO APP
pear before the congressional committee
and urge increased appropriations foI
this harbor.
Henry Wilkins, for over forty years
messenger i'll the navy yard, died yester-
day.
The owners of the British steamship
North Of Erin, whose irsscible skipper
threw overheard United States marshal
off the capes, are trying 70 compromise
matters with Reynolds Brothers. q.