The Natchitoches enterprise., 1898-12-15
A Lounterfel.er at Robeline.

RObeline has had Il big sensation o.
| her own. A genuine counterfeiier wat
ar:ester there by Constable Garter las
week AMI the following interesting ac-
count was given in Sundays Times:
Deputy United States Marshal Alex
Bernstein arrived on yesterday morn
ing's west-bound Texas and Pacific pas
senger train with the prisoner VINO hac
been arrested by Constable Garter II
Robeline, on the charge OF having pass
ed counterfeit money. Accompanying
Deputy Bernstein ana the prisoner We're
/ Officer Harmon CTrter and Mr.. l.. II
PhilIps of Robeline, who appeared Il:
Witnesses IN the trial.
The prisoner who gave his name a.
| d. j. Collens. Is of medium build
weighing in the neighD"rhood OF 15O
pounds, dark hair, tlnnel complexion
and has rather fierce stubOt beard.
| He does not appear to be Il criminal
who had spent his life In earning hon
est money by dishonest methods, in fact
wnen questioned by the Times reporter.
he stated he resided wiki his wife AM
family in Shelby county, Tx, and his
occupation was that OF q luln5erm III and
farmer combined.
lie said he had ridden horseback fIom
his home, :diS;anced about forty miles
from Robeline. to that town for the pur-
pose Of making some purchases. The
reporter did not quiz him with refer
ereDCe to his arrest and where the cuun :
terfeIt money came from which was
found on his person when he vas ar
rested. That was his private affair aad
6. 90 y;
to find out.
The preliminary trial took place ii
United States Marshal Martins Office
yesterday afternoon at2 O'Clock before
Commissioner j. q. Beatie. United
States District Attorney NJ. G. Eistner
represented the government and when
che prisoner was arrligned and the
charge read to him he plead not guilty.
The evidence adduced at the p~eliin-
mary trial showed that on December 3
the prisoner, ColIens, first entered
general mercantile store 10 RObeline
owned by Mr.. w. B. Stille and purchas-
ed pair of gloves from Mr.. l.. M. Phil-
lips. The price of the gloves was IS
cents, and COllens rendered a So
and was given 1925 back in change.
He next entered the store of Cox, Son
& Thomas, from which he bought 75c.
shirt and was handed back in change
1925 for $l0-note. ColIens than grew
and reckless with his $40
bills and he bought from Mr.. H. Man
helm tobacco and snuff to the amount Of
s. cents and proffered in payment an
other lenner, and the obligIng proDri-
etOrs returned BIN SO IS in change.
In the meantime The ttrst party who
had been victimiZed, discovered the
note in the cash drawer, and
Constable Carter was summoned and, i'll
company with Mr.. Philips. who took
the counterfeit money in. they went on
! still hunt for Coilens and found him at
the depot and placed him under arrest.
He denied the charges. but when search
ed there was found on his person 1910 in |
money and S6l. 10 In good |
money. The counterfeit money pack |
sge was found to contain II United
~ sIS.y Is n q ~
err B. Sheridan vlguette of the $40 de-
also 10 silver certificates OF
he 1891 series, letter E. Hendricks Wig
lette.
Collens, after the arrest, gave instruc-
Ion to the officers to go to The parties
whom he had purchased goods from
nd give them good money IN The place
4 cou nterfeIts. which the officers did.
Al the conclusion of all the evidence
Beattie fixed the bond of
he prisoner at $500, which be WAS un-
BILE TO give, and he was remanded 10
rison to await his trial.
In view of the fact that three count
rfieiters were captured at TeXarkana
n the same dare of the arrpSt of Enllpns !
D Robeline, the government off ;ials
re of the opinion that number of such
len are at work in this section. and
very effort will be made to run down
nd capture the entire OanV.