The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-08
TURNED OUT BAD MONEY.
VI, c. BOnnell, a MOnOmaniaC on COun-
teTfeiting, Pleads Guilty.

is an Expert in Making limitations,
Both of Paper Money and Coin.
Wantsd to Get in Plea Of Insanity,
But it Didn't Go With the Court-His
Paraphernalia in Court-one of the
Most Remarkable Counterfeiting
Cases on Record.
A most remarkable case of counterfeit
ing United States money came up in the
! United States court yesterday, which re-
suited in w. G. Bonnell, of Berrien county,
| pleading guilty to counterfeiting both pa
per and silver money. Judge Speer, how
ever, reserved his sentence in the case I'M
til this morning.
Bonnells arrest was brought about in
peculiar manner Hardy Wheless, form
erly of Oglethorpe county, and afterward
of Berrien, was first arrested on a charge
of assault and battery in Macon. 1t was
discovered that he had endeavored to pass
some counterfeit money, and he was
| turned over to the United States court.
He was bound over to the court by
Commissioner L. NJ. Erwin, and gave bond
for his appearance. Wheless afterwards
went back to the northern part of the
| o1uNSt "bClC an dkbCulpb was maui W dr.
rest him for some crime, and he shot one of
the officers who came to make the arrest.
He was disarmed finally, and taken into
custody, after which he was sentenced
to serve twelve years in the state peni-
| tentary for assault with intent to muir
der. This took place in 1892. When Whe-
less has completed his present sentence
he will be turned over to the United
States authorities on the charge of coun-
terfeiting.
GAVE BoNNELL AWAY.
The arrest of Bonnell was attributable
to Wheless. When on trial before Com
missioner Erwin he told the whole story
| This was March 25, 1892. Wheless first
made the statement that he obtained the
counterfeit money he had from Gene Bus
sey, but afterward admitted the whole
truth on his examination, and said that
| BOnnell gave him a counterfeit $40 bill
and three counterfeit silver dollars, which
he passed on a man named Winters
BOnnell had made Confidant of three
other men besides Wheless, and he told
them all he was making counterfeit
money. w. B. Wheless testified before
the commissioner that he saw Bonnell
give Hardy Wheless some counterfeit
money and heard him tell Hardy that he
would give him half if he would pass it.
He also testified to having seen Bonnell
with some counterfeit bills and other
money, some of which was counterfeit.
This testimony before the commissioner
led to the arrest of Bonnell shortly after
that time.
WANTED TO FIGHT IT OUT.
Bonnell's case has been hanging fire for
some time until it could be we'll worked
up. When the district court first met for
thiG cnGCipn Hon A1Fra5 Harriprrtn, ND
a lawyer, named Warren, were appointed
by Judge Speer to defend Bonnell. They
consulted with their client and said there
was no use to fight the case, as he was
guilty and admitted his guilt. 1t was ex-
pected, therefore, that he would plead
guilty at once, and the case was called.
The two attorneys were instructed to
confer with their client and see what was
TO be done. They held short consulta-
ton and then announced IN court that he
would enter plea of guilty Judge Speer
then asked Bonnell if he wanted to plead
guilty.
- "No, may it please your honor" he re-
piled most emphatically, ''you appointed
these lawyers to defend me. What's the
use of having lawyers if they are going
to do nothing but plead guilty for me
when l could do that myself"
With that the case went over until
yesterday. Mr.. Livingston KEENAN, was
appointed by Judge Speer to take the
case.
PLEA OF INSANITY.
Bonnell at first entered plea of not
guilty. The statement was made by his
attorney that he was at one time insane
and that he had been confined in the
state lunatic asylum.
All the evidence of Bonnell's guilt was,
however, brought into court He was
charged first with having made counter
felt silver dollar, then with having made a
SO bill out of a number of ten cent shin
plasters which he had ingeniously pasted
together He was also charged with
having these in his possession, and en-
deavoring to pass them.
Bonnell is plain countryman about 80
years old, and the last man who would be
taken at casual glance for a counter
feiter. Altogether seventy-eight pieces
or elements used in making counterfeit
money were brought into court. Among
them We're number of old confederate
bills with the figures and letters cut off,
bills in different stages of progress
in counterfeiting, one being a
50 and another $40 which had not been
completed another being a $40 bill made
of six 10 cent shinplasters pasted together,
a large number of circulars and books on
counterfeiting, descriptions of counterfeit
money and how it is made a counterfeit
silver dollar and several moldS and dies
used for making coin.
When confronted by these and the
overwhelming evidence which the district
attorney had against him, he decided to
change his plea and declare himself guilty
in order to receive benefit, as far as pos
sible, of the mercy of the court.
REMARKABLE CASE.
Detective w. G. Forsyth, of the secret
service, says this is one of the most re-
markable cases, or the most remarkable
that he has ever seen. He
says that there is generally as much diff
ference between men who counterfeit
coin and those who counterfeit paper
money as there is between a doctor and a
lawyer. They are two entirely different
professions and require altogether differ
ent kinds of material and skill The de-
tective says he has never seen a more
peculiar or wonderful case Of counter
feiting in all his experience
Bonnell pleaded guilty to all the
charges against him, to making paper as
we'll as silver counterfeit money. Bonnell
is thought TO be one of gang of counter
feiters who have infested Berrien county
for some time. The district attorney,
Maj. w. T. Gary, says that a great deal
of counterfeit money has been made there
lately, and that some of the counterfeit
ers, while having the appearance of coun-
| ftstrFe no, ,t-4