The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-05-14


jeremiah Wilt. one Of the connterieiters,
was placed on trial in the United states
Court "Wednesday morning. The testimony
against him was os a positive character.
Secret Service Agents McSweeney and
0'Dwyer said they had bought the spurious
coin from him at different times, once get
ting SO for $. The defence was made By
Charles Sullivan. Esq, who put but one
witness on the stand, j. II Hite, Eho testi-
fed to knowing the defendant for many
years and as to his general good reputation.
The jury was out but a few minutes when
they returned verdict Of guilty. The de-
fendant is the father-in-law Of Edward Bis
bing who was convicted for like offence on
Tuesday. james H. Wilt, his son. was put
on trial in the afternoon. Mary Stanger, of
McKeesport, with whom Wilt boarded in
December, 1sSs, testified to seeing him make
three counterfeit dollars and seven nickles
in her kitchen with plaster paris mould.
He gave one Of the dollars to her son and
she threw it in the stove. Hugh Miller, also
boarder at the house saw the coin Wilt
told him be made Il, but that he would not
make any more. Lizzie Black, daughter
of Mrs Stanger by former marriage. also
saw Wit making the money in the kitchen,
but said il was in October. John sipe, one
of the gang. was then put on the stand. In
answer To questions be said Wilt had gone
/ TO Barnharts coal bank, IN Somerset eoun-
ty, TO hunt, and meeting him there Wilt
gave him So He did not know whether i
was counterfeit or not, and said he did not
know that he could tell bad money when he
saw it. Assistant District Attorney Alcorn
asked the witness if he ever made any coun- I
terfeit money, 70 which Judge Acheson OBJ
jected, and said be Was not trying Sipe. the |
witness He was then taken off thestand
The defence was opened by Mr.. sullivan,
who brought tears to the eyes Of the defend
ant, and he wept copiously.
Wilt himself was put on the stand. He |
sald be was 21 years old last March. Ms. i
Stanger. with whom he boarded, was his 4
amt. She wanted to see him make the 4
money ard sent her daughter, Lizzie to buy /
the plaster Of Paris He made $s and seven
nickies in the mould. He never passed any
0. made any more. He gave one the dol
lars to Mrs Stanger's son, which was thrown
IN the stove. and be threw the other two
away He intended to destroy the nickels.
but they lay around the house until, being
found in his room, they were also burned
Five witnesses were called then TO prove
Wits previous good reputation, and the
case was given to the jury. Judge Acheson
said their daiy was to discover II any intent
to defraud was the purpose Of the defendant,
and if not, their verdict should be Cor ac-
quittal His charge was certainly in favor
of the boy, and the jury was out but mo-
ment when it brought in verdict of not
guilty. The defendant was then called be-
fore the Court and given lecture on his be-
havior. Judge Aeheson told him he had
made narrow escape that ought TO be a
lesson to him that be hoped would be taken
10 heart by the young man.
JoHs sIPE GIVES BAu TILL THE ocTosER
TERN.
Gen. A. H. Coffroth applied TO Judge
Acseson Wednesday for continuance in
the case Of John Sipe, one Of the Somerset
County men indicted for eounterfeiting.
Sipe and his brother made affidavits that it
was impossible to get material witnesses
owing 10 the late day az which the indict-
ment was returned, and in consequence of
sickness. No objection being made By the
District Attorney the case was continued
until October T. Sipe was released on $500
bail furnished by Somerset county men
who are witnesses in some Of the csses on
trial.
The trial Of Edward Bisbing Of Stoyestown
which is one of the numerous counterfeiting
cases that are to be taken up at the present
session Of the United States disdrict court,
took place Thursday. Bisbing was defend
ed by R. H. Rowand, Esq.
R. X. 0Dwyer, the secret service agent
who worked up the case, testified to having
first met Bisbing at Stoyestown on April -,
1883. The detective was introduced as Sam
Gsffilh, book agent The witness and de-
fendant became close friends, slept together,
and almost at once began to negotiate for
counterfeit money Bisbing only offered
one counterfeit dollar, but wanted to sell
monlds, dies etc, for making the spurious
coin. Later the witness bought s. 80 worth
ofthe coin were submitted and identified by !
the witness. Attorney Rowand wanted the
witness 20 admit that be was drunk when
be called on Bisbing, but O'Dwyer strenu-
ously denied that.
Daniel Mcsweeney. chief Of the signal
ftf-- H. !
OF Bisbing after the case had been worked
up by Agent oDwyer. Bisbiag denied to
the witness that he had anything but good
counterfeit money Mr.. Mcsweeney identi-
fed some Of the money and the moulds
found at Bisbing's residence.
William H. Speicher. who was arrested as
an accomplice TO Bisbing. turned States evi-
dence He testified that Bisbing always had
plenty of counterfeit money, and that the
defendant told him he could have plenty of
the money If he would do as certain party
wanted him.
The defense was opened by placing the
defendant, Edward Bisbing, on the stand.
He said be was stonemason ard black
smith The detective, ODgyer, was drunk
when introduced to him. The moulds found
in bis house had been made by his father
for William Raeger. The metal found in
his house he used for repairing lamps, and
had found il in the ruins Of a hardware
store that had been burned. The spurious
money found IA his home he had found.
Several mery iants Of Stoyestown were
called and testified TO the defendants pre- :
vious good character. This closed the iesti-
mony. and Attorney Rowand made a strong
plea for his acquittal, laying considerable
stress on the claim of Agent 0'Dwyer being ,
intoxicated at the time Of the alleged deal I
in counterfeit money.
The Jury. after being out short time, re-
turned verdict Of guilty. as indicted. :
Still in the Field. a
BERLIS, Pa May 10, 1890.
GEo. r. ScULI, ESQ, Ed. HERALD.