The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-11-16


thousand dollars of counterfeit
bills. He traded horses at Burnt
Cabins and gave counterfeit bills
for boot money. When he reach
ed Bedford he deposited fifteen
hundred dollars in the bank and
set out 10 elbow in" the balance
he began too freely to get rid of
all his manufactured stuff and
was iailed. He could easily have
escaped, but his lawyers assured
him Of an acquittal and, as he did
net want to lose the fifteen hun
dred dollars in bank, he stood
trial. He was convicted and sent
to the penitentiary in Philadel-
phia for ten years, but was par
doned at tho end Of Il year. | re-
late this to show what an expert
he was in manufacturing counter
felt money, the success with
which he passed it and the ease
with which presumably intelli-
gent PEOPLE were hoodwinked.
From The names mentioned by
Lewis ne did not confine himself
to "lifting Germany" but sue
ceedcd also in "throwing down"
the wiley Scotch Irishman as
well.
Lewis combined with counter
foiting, as have mentioned, that
of highway robbing.
His name was terror in all
tho regions OF the State in which
he operated, and when darkness
overlook a traveller on the high
way carrying money, dread
possessed him lest Lewis might
suddenly spring out in front of
him and demand his money, for
his whereabouts was always a
mystery.
IN 1Sl5, Il German, by name
Simmons, was crossing the
mountains from Bellefont to Lock
Haven. 1t was u lonely road and
the houses on it few and far be-
tween. He had about two hun
dred dollars ON his person, night
overlook him and visions of Lewis
seized him, and he imagined that
every clump of bushes might
conceal the dreaded bandit. He
became paralyZed with fear and
concluded to stop at the first
house he came to. He soon no
ticed Il small hut in the woods,
and on knocking at the door u
handsome man opened it and he
was cordially welcomed in. There
were three other men inside the
room. After a hearty supper he
was invited to smoke with them
around their open fireplace, blaz-
ing with logs. He became conf
Dental and told how much money
ne carried and the dread he had
of the desperate Lewis and his
gang. The men smiled when he
mentioned the bandits name.
After good nights rest and a
sumptuous breakfast, Simmons
asked what he owed. His host
replied, Nothing sir, but you
can inform your friends that you
were the guest of Robber Lewis
and his colleagues" The hut
belonged 10 the bandits and was
frequently occupied by them.
A number of incidents OF this
character, showing his kindness
OF heart and generosity, are re-
lated. These Incidents were but
bright spots in his character and
threw a sort of glamor over his
otherwise wild and lawless life.
One of the principal hiding
places of Lewis was the cave |
visited at Doubling Cap At the
present time the cave is filed up
and there is not much to identify
it beyond the shelving rocks, but
il Lewis day it was large enough
to accommodate four persons.
The few inhabitants in the Gap
welcomed the arrival OF Lewis.
lie was q Senial, jolly, good ma
tured fellow and fond of his cups.
He entertained them at the little
tavern in the Cap, just below the
cave, and their drinking bouts
/ lasted far into the night. The
tavern keeper had flag, which
could be seen from the cave, and