Evening journal., 1898-08-18
PASSING BOGUS MONEY
Two Italians Arrested in Dover
for Showing the Queer.
SPURIOUS QUARTERS PASSED
THE MEN LIVED ON A FARM OUT.
SIDE OF DOVER PURCHASED
FROM THOMAS S. CLARK AND
CHARLES BUTLER

FROM THOMAS S. CLARK AND
CHARLES BUTLER.
What may prove to be the first stem
In the unearthing OF a large gang Of
eounterfeiters took place yesterday ar
ternoon in Dover, when Secret Service
Officers Shartzer and Barker arrested
two Italians Michael Castillo and
Guisippe specilli, for passing counter
felt quarter dollars.
For some time past. and at
intervals, the merchants OF Dover have
mad their customers to return quarter
dollars that have been given to them
in change, claiming that they were
spurious. Suspicion was at last
aroused that gang Of counterfeiters
were working some place in the neigh
borhood, and a quiet investigation was
set on foot. after a month Of secret
work, suspicion attached itself to sew
eral italians who lived on a farm just
outside OF the town, and strict watch
was kept on their movements, which
resulted in the arrest yesterday OF the
above-named persons.
Yesterday afternoon CASTILLO and
Specilli entered the grocery store OF
j. j. Scanlan and purchased some
crackers and cheese. The secret SER
vice officers were close by when they
made the purchase, and, noticing the
denomination and character OF the
money given In payment for the arti-
cles bought at once placed the two men
under arrest. They seemed utterly
dumb-founded when taken into custody
and loudly protested their Innocence
Of anycrime. Notwithstandingthe pro
testations, they were locked up in the
Dover Jail and Marshall Clark sum.
moned from this city and he later tool
the men to New Castle Jail.
This morning Castillo and Specill
were brought to this city and, In th'
absence of Commissioner Smith. wer
given preliminary hearing befor
Magistrate Sasse In the Federal build
3 ing. As neither OF the men was abl
to understand English sufficiently u
know the nature of the offense Will
which they were charged, Magistrat,
Sasse summoned Officer Di Mare, whit
acted as interpreter and translated The
warrant read charging them with
knowingly passing fraudulent none,
on j. j. Seaman, of Dover, on or abou
August 16, 1898, in violation Of statute
No. 457 United States Laws.
? Both men at once pleaded not guilty
and as the government was not read.
to go on with the case, they wer
placed under $1,000 bail for a furthe
hearing about September 1 before Com
missioner Smith. AS neither was abl
to furnish the required bond they wer
committed to the custody of Marsha
5 Clark and taken back to New Castle
e About May / OF this year Castell
= and Specilli purchased a farm OF forty
e five acres at Dinah's Corner, near DO
8 yer, from Thomas S. Clark andCharle
I Butler. A part payment was made ol
e the purchase and time given on tn
balance. The men moved upon thei
newly-acquired property and engage
in what was supposed to be farmin
name Of Taylor occupied a buildin
6 on the farm, and it was noticed b
q them that the new purchasers did nc
i, devote much of their time to the cult
vation of their land. Most OF thei
time was spent in the farmhouse, an
at niSht strange sounds were heard Il
suing from the dwelling. OCCASIONAL
the men would come forth in the da
e time and walk about the place wit
= apparently no object in view. Late
Il strange Italians were noticed to FRI
!. quent the place, and about this time
: few counterfeit quarters began to maB
n their appearance in the town.
Matters continued this way until II
Developments which led up to the al
rest Of the two men. No spurious col
o was found upon them when they wei
n taken into custody, nor was any foun
upon the premises. Upon the office
u searching the house after the men Ia
Is been sockd up, an old forge was foun
Is in the cellar, and through the kitche
E. floor, behind where the stove stood,
hole had been cut to allow the smol
from the fire below TO pass into Il
chimney above. A small pile OF cha
coal was piled upon the cellar floor, bl
no traces of any metal could be fodn
. A few feet from the forge a hole hs
been dug in the ground about thr'
feet in diameter and large enough
ID conceal a bushel sack, but nothing wi
s. found buried. Castillo claims that Il
Df forge was to he used to repair broke
r farm implements. and that the no
was dug to bury beer bottles in. j
moulds or traces of any could be foun
and it is supposed that the men hi