The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-28
THE OLDEST COuNTERFEITER,
Old Bill Brown. Who Was so Distin-
guished, Dies at Columbus.

Old Bill Brown. Who Was so Distin-
guished, Dies mt Columbus.
A dispatch from Columbus announces the
death in the penitentiary of old Bill Brown,
the counterfeiter. lie was sent up from Col
a ten-year term. Brown has had most ro-
mantle career of crime. He was over 80
years of age at the time he was last sen-
fenced 10 the pen. OF the many counter
feiters America has produced be was one of
the most expert. He originally came from
Vermont, settling with his parents at Mari
etta in 1925. In his youth he engaged in
steamboating on the Ohio. This vocation
led TO his falling in with counterfeiters. who
then piled their vocation along the river.
He Joined them and soon became one of the
most skillful of the operators IN green
goods" lie was arrested ten times for
counterfeiting and seven times was con
yicted, his sentences aggregatlng thirty
five years. In the 40s Brown fell in with
Bill Horner, n noted con man, and was EN-
ployed TO shove the queer.
At the time he was running trade boat,
and in this way he flooded the whole coun-
try from Piitsburg TO New Orleans. United
States officers got on the trail, and Brown
and Horner shifted their headquarters to n
place in kentucky, where they were joined
by old man Beckley and Jonathan Davis,
noted crooks of the day. About 1850 they
came 10 Cincinnati, and all were captured.
In some way they all secured their release.
Up TO this time Brown had not done any
actual counterfeiting. His work was 'shov-
ing Now he began making bogus silver
dollars near GAINESVILLE. Ills pal was the
/ ~ Ilaf, Raars tlpa lux in laeatatl lant
! 1885, United States Marshal Gallagher of
Cleveland. captured the men and their out
fit. They were tried at Cincinnati, but es-
capped through some loophole.
Brown at once set up mill in the mount
aims of West Virginia. In one month he
was caught ON Ohio soil showing his queer
money and arrested. For this he got three
years. his first punishment. although he had
been in the counterfeiting business for iif-
teen years. In 1859 he was free again and
went at his old business with John Steven
son, well-known counterfeiter. In 1861
he was caught in Ashtabula county, Ohio,
and given two years in the penitentiary. In
1868 he was out again and at his old trade
at Dayton, with the notorious John Ihomp-
son as his partner. After operating his mill
there for two years he was apprehendcd,
and this time he got five years. As usual,
he was good prisoner. and was released on
good time" Almost Immediately after he
was arrested in Cincinnati and was sent
back for four years.
Brown next came from prison in Decem-
ber, 1872 and started mint in Gallia
county. Ohio, where he was not Inolested
until 1873. Captured again, he WAS sent
up for six years, but Gov. Foraker pardoned
him. He started a mint at once AT Chilli
cothe, not forty miles from tine
prison where he had spent so many
years. In July, 1852, two of his
showers were arrested in Columbus,
Ohio. 10 free themselves they made
known the location of Browns mill, and
once more he was arrested. He WAS SEN
fenced this time for five years, and served
the time at the Erie, IN. W prison. In
June. 1888, United States Marshal Bell, OF
Columbus received information from the
sheriff OF Perry county that counterfeitinl
mill had been discovered near New Straits
vile. A descent was made by the marshal
upon the place, and the operators, one oi
whom was found To be Brown and the other
| Homer Barry. were arrested. Brown wal
serving term for this ohense when he died