The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-04-30
rrom snndar,s rltt.burrh pl.pateh.
coUsTERFEIrERs ARRAIGNED.

coUsTERFEITERs ARRAIGNED.
The counteIfeiters arrested on Friday at
S;oyestown by Marshal Harrah, Special
Agent McSweeney and Deputy CARRIER were
yesterday arraigned before Commissioner
McCandless There were six of them in all.
John Ii. Bsbing, the alleged leader of the
gang, is IN an 80 years, about G feet and ,
inches and straight as an arrow. His two
sons, Henry and Z lward, are middle-aged
men and ordinary looking, and would not
be looked at a second time for fine appear
ances, as would their father. Jerry Wilt and
James Wilt are brothers, the latter being a
resident of Mckeesport until a few months
ago. John Sipe is resident of Sipesville, a
hamlet about ten miles from Stoyestown,
and a descendant ofthe man for whom tine
old place is called. The men will ali be
given hearings on different days next week.
James Wilt at 10 O'Clock Monday, Sipe at 10
on Tuesday, Jerry Wilt at / on Wednesday,
Ell. Disbing at IL on Thursday, John II.
Bisbing. the leader, at IL on Friday and
Henry Bisbing at Ii on Saturday. When
the hours were arranged and commitments
made out for all of them they were returned
to Jail TO await their several hearings.
Detective McSweeney, who has been work
ing the case up, has any amount of evidence
against the men. About six years ago coun-
terfeit money was in extensive circulation
in the neighbOrhood of Johnstown, Somer-
set, Bedford, and the smaller towns about
there. When an effort was made to run the
gang down they all got onto it and effectual-
ly blocked the operations of the officers.
Their scare was enough 10 quiet them down,
however. and after considerable of the spu-
rious coin had been gathered in the COM
plants of bad mony stopped. Some two
months ago, however, complaints again be-
gan to come in from the same old territory.
Two weeks ago Chief of Police Harris, of
Johnstown, came 10 the city and reported to
Detective McSweeney that Johnstown was
flooded with spurious coin, dollars and quar-
ters particularly, and that something would
have TO be done. Then Detective McSween-
ey wentto the grounds. In an attempt TO
get in with the people and TO trade with
them he was told by the men whom he sus-
pected of counterfeiting that if he wanted TO
buy the stuff he could get all he wanted
from "od man Bisbing." McSweeney would
then be told by these men that they knew
nothing about counterfeiting they were not
in the gang, but had heard Bisbing was
one of them. Then Mr.. McSweeney would
be askedif he were not detectye. Thus
they bad their suspicious aroused. and the
work in locating the gang was particular
~ hard one. The task was finally accom-
plished. however, and resulted in the arrest
of the six srraigned yesterday. The gang
were making nickels, dimes, quarters, half
dollars and dollars. The molds of all of
them were found, with some 40 pounds of
lead and antimony. The mould of the quar-
ter is fine one, and the best ever captured
in this district II is made of sheet copper
and is finely engraved. The dollar mold is
also good one, and is also of copper. De-
tective McSweeney thinks there are about
30 in the gang, but the arerst of those named
above will have the effect Of keeping them
quiet for at least time.