The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-09-25
THE COUNTERFEITERS.
How Patty Lockwood Discovered
Bogus Money Mill

How Patty Lockwood Discovered
a Bogus Money Mill
A few miles from the Connections
river, boundary line between lower New
Hampshire and Vermont, may still be
seen the scattered remains Of tiny
colonial settlement. There is legend
which tells of school-master, who,
reaching the little hamlet, footsore and
weary, after an unavailing search for q
place in which to open his school, ex-
claimed: Eureka! have found itr' as
he saw before him brick school-house,
newly built and teacherless. Since
then the small settlement, which had q
school-house before it had name, has
been known as Eureky, and bricks
from the original school-house, in
proof of this christening, are carefully
preserved. One June day in Revolu-
tionary times a middle-aged man plod-
ded along the Crown Point road, which
ran through Eureky on its stony way
across the Green mountains to Benning-
ton, the chief high road from the New
England coast to the State OF New
York. He was short and sturdy, and
carried under one arm an iron box, Sc
cured by paddock. AS numbering
ox-team or whistling wood chopper
passed him, on their way home from
long days work, he pulled his hat well
down about his face the better to hide
his beetling brow and deep-set eyes.
Coming at length to a narrow bypath he
struck off to the left Of the Crown Point
road, and, reaching broad-faced, we'll
built house he looked sharply about.
and finding that he was unobserved,
tapped upon the window pane.
"Hello! McAndrew, is that you?"
called subdued voice from within.
"Black river" answered McAndrew,
giving q private countersign, and the
door was opened.
Although the rumble Of thunder was
in the air, huge fire blazed in the
McAndrew entered, and 1t was evident
from the appearance Of the two unkempt
men present that they were engaged in
some nefarious occupation. Their voices
were lowered, and they moved noise
lessly in their stocking feet from the
fireplace to the table, filling coin
molds with melted metal. ..tE
SHOW much did you use Of 1t at
Charlestown?" asked one of the men,
lifting McAndrew's box and shaking 1t
gently.
"a little is left" answered Moan
drew. ''But tomorrow will be our day,
for Stark goes through here on his way
to Bennington, and we will treat his
soldiers to their fill with our illegal
tender hs"1S- 'll's
For few hours all three worked like
bees, melting, molding and stamping
their bogus coin. Then they dropped
It, still warm, into McAndrew's box, and
placed It, for safe keeping, in oave
dug in the bank Just back Of the house.
This accomplished to- their satisfac-
ton, they returned to the house, threw
wide the outside door in order to cool
the rooms below, while they went up
stairs to examine the treasure hidden
there. Pushing back secret panel in
the wall, they stepped into small.
closely boarded room, and opening .
wooden boz looked In.
Those pesky rats have been at work
again." exclaimed one Of the men, tax
ing out handful Of nibbled money.
"Let me see it," said McAndrew, and
cleaning among the bits, he collected q
quantity OF counterfeit scrip, which he
distributed equally among them.
Remember, Lads" he said, mo paper
goes for less than three York shillings;
there's deal OF work in making this" {"
and he gathered up, and fondly looked
at his share. ~f@'l |, LFl
This paper currency was shorter and
narrower than the ''greenback" of to-
day, and had upon its face . picture of
an Indian, guiding his frail canoe down
q reckless stream, illustrating the mot
to, sPass me along" printed below It
Many OF the good people Of Eureky
were not as ignorant as they seemed of
the counterfeiters' plant" in their
midst, but In those troublesome times 1t
was deemed the better part Of valor to
leave them undisturbed.
|, Patty Lockwood, the hardy daughter
Of pioneer race in which the women
were as fearless as the men, had been
watching long past midnight with .
sick neighbor (neighbors were then
far apart. and regardless Of flashing
clouds and heavy thunder had already
gone half Q rlilei on her return home
when the storm broke into Q frenzy Of
wind and rain. Before her was the
counterfeiters' house. The door was
still open. throwing snallur1ng stresmt
OF light far into the storm-beaten path
way, and Patty stepped inside for shell
!. Ter without any hesitation.