The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-06-04
READS LIKE ROMANCE.
CAPTAIN PORTER TELLS THE
QUEER STORY.

Arrest of the Second Southern Illinois
Minister Wanted for Passing Bogus
Money-The Rev. VanciI Thought He
Converted Man Who Afterward Proved
Counterfeitcr.
It was remarkable story that Capt.
Porter, of the Secret Service, told Chi
cago reporter. The Captain had just
returned from Springfield, H., where he
had taken to be locked up the Rev.
George Vancil Baptist preacher, who
was arrested near Duquoin, ILL.,, for
passing spurious money.
The fact that makes the case more
than ordinarily interesting is that Van
Gil is the second minister arrested in
that locality for similar crimes within
seven days. The first instance was the
arrest of the Rev. "Jerry" Holmes for
making the bogus money, and now come
the details of the second offenders cap
ture.
"Vancil is greatly inferior to Holiness"
said Capt. Porter. "He has not the
shrewdness nor the bodily health that
Holmes has, and it was therefore an easy
matter for Fl dimes to impose upon Van
Gil and make dupe of him. Vancil's
reputation as a liar is much more wide
spread than his fame as a good man.
Il
given us by the Rev. Fishback, pastor OF
the Christian Church at DuQUoin. This
divine heard Vancil's voluntary confess
sion, which was very complete, and was
marked by expressions of repentance
and humility Vancil told me his story
as we were returning upon the train.
"'Jerry Holmes was one of the worst
characters in Duquoin, he said. Every
one Stunned him, as they thought he was
too far gone to redeem. / tried to con-
vert him. One night we rode over a
long, dark road together We talked
about religion, and after long argu-
ment he declared himself converted, and
fell upon his knees in the muddy road
and prayed. A short time thereafter he
was appointed minister and licensed to
preach the gospel. A short time later |
walked to church one morning with
Holmes, and he said he had some cOun-
terfeit money which he wanted me to
dispose of. / was very indignant and
threatened to give him up to the author
tiles. He talked me out of that idea,
and finally l took the money upon his
promising to cease his evil ways. When
he handed me two bad dollars, l thought
l would have stronger hold upon him
with the money in my possession.
al have wife and eight children,
and they must be fed. My salary is not
large enough to support them we'll, and
when my little girl wanted some little
thing l passed the bad money and got
the trinket for her.
"Holmes went away from DuquOin,
and it is alleged that Vancil wrote to
him, telling him he had passed it When
Holmes returned to Duquoin he brought
back a sackful of the bad dollars, and
helped Vancil hide them Holmes gave
Vancil nine more of the dollars, and the
latter passed three of them at little
circus that came into the town. Several
DAYS thereafter Vancil entered the eX
press Office to receive package upon
which 25 cents was due. The express
agent, r. G. Wheatey, happened to be
reading of Holmes arrest. He spoke OF
it to Vancil, and the latter confessed
that he had been equally guilty in the
Lord would forgive him, for he had done
it so as to find out about the entire gang
and tell upon them"
Wheatey Immediately called over the
Rev. Mr. Fishback, who was told the
story of Vancil's disgrace. The Chris
tian divine Immediately te1egraphed to
Capt Porter, and the latter, accom-
panied by Deputy United States Marshal
Bacon, visited Vancil's residence, sew
eral miles from Duquoin. The erring
divine was found wrapped in the arms
of Morpheus. Upon their explaining
their mission Vancil fell upon his knees
in prayer before the hard-hearted ones
who would take him from his home.
Vancils protestations and pleadings
were so loud that the eight children APP
peared upon the scene badly frightened.
After Vancil saw that his words were
having no apparent effect he ceased his
importunings and kissed his weeping
wife and frightened little ones and
started off with his captors, saying:
"Well, they may starve, but the law will
be avenged. and of course the law
doesn't care what happens to those we
leave behind u.s."