Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-27
CouNrERFEIrERs UNEARruED
IN Pittsburg-NineteenP Persons are Under
Arrest.

COUNTERFEIrERs UNEARTHED
IN Pittsburg-NineteenP Persons are Under
Arrest.
PinS5Rrg Poe, December q.
One of the most sensational counter
feiting cases turned up in this city for
several years came 10 light yesterday.
Seventeen men and two women are now
under arrest, and over 4 thousand dol
lars worth of spurious coin is in the
possession of the nited States authori-
ties. The latter expect 10 make num-
Der Of additional arrests to-day and re-
cover more bad money. The latter was
not made in this city, but was shipped
from New York. Detective McSwecney,
who worked on the case last night, says
the coin is the best imitation ever made.
IL is perfectly formed in every detail
and its ring is Identical with the good
coin, the only fault about It being lit
tie light in weight.
The clue that led TO the unearthing
OF the gang was picked up in the Black
Bear tavern, in Market alley. About
$50 last evening two Italians, accom-
panied by women who are said to be
their wives, entered the hotel. The
women passed into the sitting room,
while the men went TO the bar. They
ordered and received couple OF drinks,
and rendered in payment for them Il
silver dollar Mr.. Eichleay, the proprie-
tor Of the hotel, received the money and
handed out the change.
THE COIN WAS TOO LIGHT.
The coin was very bright and new.
and while il looked all right and had a
good ring il seemed q trille light in
weight. Mr.. Eichleay grew suspicious,
and taking the dollar went to drug
store 10 have it weighed. His suspi-
ciOns were well founded, the coin prov
ing far below the standard. Starting
back for his hotel at once, Mr.. Eichleay
met Detective Fitzgerald on the street.
The story was quickly told aud Fitzger-
aid determined TO make the arrest.
The Italians and their companions
had not vet left the house, and without
resistance they were placed in custody
and NJ once taken TO the Central sta
ton. The men gave their names as
Elio Davigc and Nelson Magorina: the
women they said were their wives. On
searching them several more spurious
coins were found on them.
The men we're placed in cells and the
women taken upstairs 10 the matron's
department. None of the party would
talk. They refused to tell where they
lived or where the money came from.
In the meantime Inspector McAlecSe
had been notified of the arrest and
directed Detective Fitzgerald TO re-
port to United States Detective Me
Sweeney aud give him all the assist
ance in his power. Word was sent out
10 McSweeney NJ once, and while wait
ing for him Fitzgerald tried his interro-
eating power on the women. They alb
solutely refused to talk and cried. De
teceive Fitzgerald insisted that they
should tell him where they lived, and
after two hours persuasion they yield
ed and consented to take the officers to
their home. by this time Detective Me
Sweeney had arrived, and shortly after
; o'clock the two detectives and the
women started for the East End.
IN THE ITALIANS DEN.
When Detectives Fitzgerald and Me-
Sweeney got to the East End they Sc
cured the assistance Of Inspector White
house. Captain Mercer and several other
officers Of the Second police district and
went to the house indicated by the two
women. The latter led the officers TO
No. 593 Lincoln avenue, a two-Story
frame building in which the whole party
OF Italians have been living since their
arrival in the city last week. The OIL
GERS promptly surrounded the house,
and the detectives entered. The
Italians were considerably surprised,
but offered no resistance, and
when informed that they We're under ar
rest submitted quietly. They were
taken 10 the Nineteenth Ward police
station. Twelve men were found in the
house. After they had been taken
away in the patrol wagon the detectives
searched the house, and tied up IN neat
packages under bed in one OF the
rooms they found great pile of coun-
terfeit money. Ii was counted, and the
whole amount footed up $1,000. The
stuff was removed to the station house,
and the officers went in search of other
members of the gang. They found one
man in house not far away. Two
others, not knowing Of the raid, re-
turned 10 the gangs headquarters and
were promptly placed under arrest by
the officers on guard.
After the house had been thoroughly
searched, the detectives interviewed the
prisoners one at time, and succeeded
finally i'm gaining the information that
the money was made in New York, and
they had been sent here 10 dispose of il.
Similar gangs were sent 10 other cities,
but the men could not tell what towns
were being operated in. Not a mold or
die of any kind OF cOunterieiting ma
chinery was found in the possession of
the gang arrested.
Detective Insolvency. says the gov
eminent has been after the New York
gag OF cOunterfeiters for long time,
and SMILE several arrests haze been
made from time TO time. and consider
able OF the counterfeit coin has been Sc
cured. the real head of the organized
band has not been uncovered.
Shortly before > o'clock this mornin 9
Detective McSweenev, accompanied by
Officer Buffalo, the Italian detective,
drove in from the East End in a ear
riage. They brought with them Lizzie
Mazzorina, wife Of one of the men ar
rested at the Black Bear, and she was
lodged in Central station.
Detective McSweeney positively re-
fused to talk about the case. He said
there were other persons TO be arrested,
and il would be unsafe &c publish any
thing about the case until this was ac-
compliShed.
The Death Drink.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, December 70.
II -.