The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-11-09

sport and amusement and finally
concluded to embark in the ca
reer of crime, which ended only
with his death. The reason that
induced him to do this is stated
by him in his confession as fol
lows: 81 here discovered through
the medium of the newspapers
and other sources of information,
that the people of the interior
had resolved to establish county
banks, and from the number
which then existed, young and
ignorant as | was, | foresaw that
while such measure would term
mate in the ruin of society, it
would tend to facilitate the views
of counterfeiters, and open door
for carrying extensive schemes
of fraud on the ignorant and
weak part of the community.
About this time he met one of
those tin peddlers or Yankee
Cart Men, running all over the
country at that time to deceive
and defraud the unwary, who
showed him u quantity of coun-
terfeit bank bills which he had
obtained at Burlington, Vermont.
He was persuaded to accompany
the tin peddler to Burlington.
He was introduced to this manu-
featuring association, initiated
into all it's mysteries and became
skilled in making counterfeit
bills a knowledge that he made
good use of in after years. He
then made his first attempt to
pass counterfeit money but found
the Vermontese soil of credulity
too difficult for him, q green
hand, to cultivate and he shifted
to a moro promising soil and
went to work New York and
Pennsylvania. | will give his
reason for this selection in his
own words to avoid having my We
racity impugned by Mr.. Foltz or
Mr. Maurer. 81 knew that in the
latter State Pennsylvania) q
great portion of the population
consisted of Germans, who, while
they are upright and honest
themselves, are unsuspecting of
the villainies of others"
In New York State he met with
success and became so confident
and bold that he laid caution aside
and found himself landed in the
jail at Troy for passing counter
felt bills. 1t occurred in this
way. He had met a Gen. Root
who was on an electiOneering
campaign. He invited Lewis to
drink bottle Of wine with him to
the success of his candidate, Gov.
Thompkins. Lewis fancied and
then bought one of Roots horses
and paid him principally in Bur
lington notes. Not expecting de-
lection so soon Lewis retired for
the night in snug quarters. Root
attempting to pass one of these
Burlington notes the same even
ing, was arrested and being q
stranger would have been com
mitted for trial had not citizen
Witnessed the sale and gone his
bail. Lewis was found after a
diligent search and lodged in jail.
His escape from the jail was
unique. While in the jail he no
ticed young woman from the
hou'e opposite, gazing frequently
at him through the barred win
dow and was apparently deeply
interested in him. She was Il
friend of the jailer's daughter
and, through her, an arrange
ment was made by which the
young woman met him in his cell.
He pretended to her that his ar
rest was an outrage, as he was
entirely innocent of the charge
and that it had been made by
Root out Of revenge, as he had re-
fused to support his candidate.
She believed his story, as a mat
ter of course, and feeling of pity .
for him first took possession of .
her, and as he was handsome and /
plausible, winning and pleasing,
this feeling soon developed into q
violent case of love. Quick to see
an advantage and to seize il. he