The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-23

The following was received py AS
ISOLATED Press dispatch last night:
"Washingto May ia brief dis !
patch announcing the arrest at VIII
mington was received today by Chief
Wilkie, of the secret service, the agent
them that there
was a good case against the men. The
arrests grew out of an investigation in
stituted as a result of complaints re-
ceiyed about ten days ago that coun-
terfeit half-dollars were being circu-
lated in the city of Wilmington. The
complaints were placed in charge OF
the agent at Charlotte, with directions
to look into h matter with the result
above stated"
Walter Silvia and Nicholas PolitZ,
who were arrested Friday morning On
the charge Of counterfeiting, were Civ
en- a preliminary hearing yesterday at
ernoo before United States Commits
sioner s. P. Collier. The examination
took place in the United States court
room and it was packed with citizens,
who were attracted by curiosity and
interest in the case. Even the entrance
standing so close together that many
outside could not get in. Fully 900
men witnessed the proceedings.
Commissioner Collier occupied the
bench, and Mr.. S. P. Collier, Jr., acted
as court stenographer. United States
District Attorney c. NJ. Bernard was
present TO represent the government.
The case against Walter Silvia was
called first, and he was in III sitting
in the midst of his counsel, Messrs.
George Rountree, Marsden Bethany,
John D.. Bellamy, and A. J. Marshall.
He was charged with counteEfeit;ng
scent pieces.
Mr.. B. F. Perry. the secret agent Of
the treasury department, who has been
here the past week, working up the
counterfeit cases, was called as a wit
ness for the government. He testified
| that he was sent here on account Of a
complaint sent to the treasury depa t.
ment by Mr.. w. F. Robertson, super
intendent of the Clarendon Waterworks
Company, Of this city, who, on the 4th
of May sent the secretary of the treas
ury a counterfeit silver dollar, Of the
mintage of 1898, which was found
among his cash. He then went on 20
state that after he came here he learn
ed that scent pieces We're also being
counterfeited, and detailed the facts
leading up to the arrest of Silvia and
the V Of his moulds and about
800 scent pieces, as related in The Mes
senger yesterday morning.
The government did not put up any
other witnesses. The defendants coun-
sci admitted probable cause and waiv-
ed examination, asking that a reason
able bond be fixed, as the young man
is not able to give a large bond. His
counsel stated hat they did hot admit
that the government had made out a
case, as they did not believe their client
had committed an offence under the
statute. This position was based on
fact that the scent pieces which he
cioined had the liberty head on both
sides and were consequently not coun-
forfeited.
After hearing the defendants counsel
and the district ATTORNEY commissioners
Collier required a bond of 81 900 for the
appearance of the accused for trial at
the term of the United States district
court, to owen in Wilmington on
Monday, June 9Th.
Silvia's counsel protested that the
bond required of the defendant was eX-
cessive and asked that it be reduced.
COMMISSIONS Collier stated that he
would consider the matter, and then
called the case against Nicholas PolitZ,
who was charged with counterfeiting
and with having in his possession coun-
terfeit coins.
PolitZ was in court and was repre-
scented by the attorneys who appeared
for Silvia.
Detective Perry and Constable Will
liam Sheehan were called as witnesses
for the government, and they testified
to the facts in the case, as published
in The Messenger yesterday morning.
He testified that since he arrived in
Wilmington he had secured counter
felt coins from the following: w. F.
Robertson 81, Carolina Ice Company
81, J. P. Flynn 81, S. & B. Solomon 81,
j. ]. Sheehan so cents, The King Gro
Gerry Co. so cents, and from a colored
man 25 cents, which he had paid to him
in some change at Politz's store.
On cross examination, Mr.. Perry tes-
tilted that he did not secure any
moulds. He also testified that when
he took the $5S counterfeit dollars from
the safe a brown paper was wrapped
around it, but he did not notice any
name on the paper. Being asked if
there was not an Old suit of clothes
with the furnace and balance of the
outfit found in the room, Mr.. Perry
answered that he did not know.
Constable William Sheehan, for the
government, testified that when he and
Detective Perry, United States Marshal
T. o. Bunting and Deputy Sheriff ]. P.
Flynn went to Politz's store on Friday
morning at 5 o'clock to search it, only
the clerk was there, Politz having no
come from home. He and Marshal
Bunting went to Politz's residence on
Second street, between Church and
Castle, placed him under arrest, and
searched the house. Among other
things, he testified that a piece of metal
was taken from a bureau drawer at the
house n it was shown in court, as
also was a piece OF metal found in a
room formerly occupied by Politz. op-
posite his store.
On cross-examination by the defend
ants attorneys, Constable Sheehan tes-
titled that the room in the store where
the outfit was found was not locked,
and that some old clothes We're found
with the outfit. He also testified that
a piece of yellow paper was around the
package OF counterfeit dollars taken
from Politz's safe.
No other witnesses We're examined.
Mr.. Marsden Bellamy, Of counsel for
the defence, admitted probable cause.
and waived examination. He asked
that a reasonable bond be named, such
as his client would be able to give.
Hon. John D. Bellamy said Mr.. Po-
litz was a victim of circumstances, and
his attorneys were satisfied of his inno-
cence; that a piece of brown paper was
wrapped around the box of counterfeit
coin; that it contained the name of a
man who had left the coin with Mr.
Politz to be placed in his safe, and also
left the outfit there. He said at the
proper time the defence would prove