The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-09
GIVEN FIVE YEARS EACH.
BOnnell Almost Crazy From TRYING TO
Play the ImbeCile Four Years.


h Two Counterfeiters 20 Serve IN
Gle Sam at Columbus, ohio-Lawson
Warren, Another Bill Raiser, Bound
Over to the District Court-The Rick
ertson Conspiracy Case Moving
slowly-Ths Jury CHARTERED at the
De Soto Last Night.
w. C. Bonnell, who is said to be one of
the most expert counJerfeiters in the
country, and who pleaded guilty in the
United States court Wednesday to all the
charges preferred against him, was
sentenced yesterday by Judge Speer to
serve five years in the penitentiary at
Columbus, O., and to pay fine OF 81 and
al costs Of court
The fine in these cases, is merely
formality, but the laws Of the United
States provide tina tif the criminal does not
pay the fine at the eTpiratio of mis- sent
ence he can then serve thirty days longer,
after which on making pauper affidavit
TO the effect that he is unable TO pay the
hne, no matter what the amount may be,
he is released.
Bonnelps case is one Of the most pecu-
liar and interest ting on record. 1t is said
that he operated one of the largest coun-
terfeiting plants that has ever been I'M
earthed anywhere in the United States,
making both paper money and coin coun-
terfeits. He certainly had a most extern
sive kit of counterfeiters tools which
were shown in court the day he pleaded
guilty. He was a clever man in the bust
ness, and while his money was intended
to be passed among the ignorant, some of
his workmanship was very good.
PLAYED IMBECILE FOUR YEARS.
His case was a strange one in that he
has tried for so long a time to get out of
it on plea of insanity. The statement
that he was at one time insane, and has
been in the state asylum was made TO the
court before he entered his plea, but the
court would not accept il. Bonnell after
wards told the marshal that he had
almost gone crazy in trying to play the
lmbecile for four years in order to protect
himself in this charge which was brought
against him.
James Warren, Of Emanuel county.
near Stlllmore, who was found guilty by a
jury on the same day that Bonnell
pleaded guilty, was also sent up for five
years. He was also fined 81 and all costs of
court but both will probably receive the
benefit of the law and serve thirty days
longer, escaping thereby both fine and
costs. Ii may be also that their sentences
will be shortened considerably by good
behavior for which several days is taken
of each month.
JAMES WARREN'S ACCOMPLICE.
Lawson Warren, who was recently ar
rested as an aCcomplice of James Warren,
and who was witness for the defendant
in the case against the latter, was given
his preliminary hearing before United
States Commissioner L. NJ. Erwin yester-
day after court ad burned.
Warren is charged with making a 500
counterfeit bill out of 80 silver certif-
icate, the case being almost exactly like
the one against his uncle, for which the
latter was convicted. Several parties
were introduced as witnesses in the case,
and 1t was shown that Warren had passed
similar $40 bill ON r. A. Giles, at
Ohoopee, in Tattnall county, some time
last December. The bill was sent here
to the Central Railroad Bank, but was
returned at once as counterfeit. Warren
was told of the matter by a clerk of Giles
named Tatem, and he redeemed the bill
in two payments.
TOLD TOO MANY STORIES.
He had told conflicting stories about
the bill, however, stating TO Tatem that it
had been given him by carpenter, with
whom he was working, as his salary, and
to the marshal, who arrested him, that
he obtained it from party on the road
near Stillmore named Woods. for whom he
changed 1T, not knowing at the time that
1t was coun Jerfeit. He admitted hav-
ing passed the bill, but claimed not to
have known that it was bad one, and
he admitted afterwards having burned il
up, when he had redeemed it. He was
bound over to the district court and re-
quired to give bond in the sum of $500.
Charles Harlow, of Decatur county,
was tried before the court yesterday, on
charge of working in illicit distillery.
The facts of the case were that Harlow
had put up little co lee pot still, which
! he was operating himself, and there was
nothing to do but to find him guilty, but
the fact that he was an old confederate
veteran an old man caused the court to
suspend sentence. Arrangements were
made TO get him transportation back
| home.
The case against Hugh K. Salter, for
using the United States mails to carry on
the green goods business, was continued for
| the term on account Of the defendants
continued illness. Salter is out on bond.
ON TRIAL FOR CONSPIRACY.
The cases against George w. Robertson
and Joseph E. Robertson, of Pearson, Ga,
charged with conspiracy, were taken up.
Some time in 1899 a man named A Crosby
went TO Macon to testify before the United
| States commissioner against man
named George w. Newburn for burglary
and larceny from the postoffice at Pear
son. Crosby was formerly postmaster
| there. Wnen ne returned from Macon,
IL is alleged that the Robertson brothers,
together with Newburn, attempted to i'm
! pede the due administration of justice by
threatening to kill Crosby IL he testified
further In this case.
Newburn disappeared but the Rickert-
sons were arrested and are now on trial
on that charge. They are being defended
| by Maj. p. w. Meldrim. The case is a
long one and very little had been accom-
! plished by the hour Of adjournment. The
court met again last night to continue the
case but adjourned again before the testi-
| mony had been concluded. The case will
! probably be concluded to-day. The Jury,
in charge of several deputies, was quar-
tered at the De Soto last night.
HE WAS CRIPPLED IN THE WAR