Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-03-22

got up In Cnc mOunIaln Uney DullC "
fire and Lavelle took metals and a
mould from the bag and proceeded
to melt the metals and cast half dol
lars and quarters. They made nine
fcoins, but six of them were poor and
were thrown brck into the pot.
That ended the nights work. Gan
sci possessed himself of one of the
moulds by representing that he
wanted to make some changes in it.
This he turned over to Constable
Hess about 2 o'clock the next morn
ing, together with one of the coins.
The next day Lavelle twas arrested
and few days later Gansel was
taken into custody by Secret Service
Officer William Flynn, on informa-
ton furnished by Lavelle.
Constable Hess corrobOrated GAN
sci in some respects, althouge he de-
MED that he had requested Gansel to
engage in the counterfeiting. He
told. d.of getting.theEmould and coin
from Gansel.:sandLof otherss moulds
and pieces of metal found on the
site of Lavelle's tent after it was
moved away aud of similar finds at
the spot in the mountain where Gam
sci said the coins were manufacture
ed. He said that Gansel told him
when they We're going to make coins
and asked that they be followed and
arrested, as he was afraid Lavelle
would kill him because he was op-
posed to the idea of engaging in
counterfeiting.
Lavelle tells an altogether differ
ent story. He said that about Oct.
10, last Cansel came to him and ask
him to send for babbit metal, block
tin and plaster of paris. He said he
wanted them to manufacture ma
sons plumb bobs. On Oct. 20, Gan
sci invited Lavelle to accompany
him on coon hunt. They started
out but did not do anything that
night. 1t was then rrranged for the
following night and Lavelle, at Gan
sells request, took with him a bag to
carry apples. In this he placed his
revolver.
When he started out with Gansel
the latter had neither dog nor gun
with him and Lavelle suggested it
was queer way to go coon hunting.
Gansel replied that he had traps set
in the mountains. When they got
up in the mountain Gansel built a
| fire and after time undertook the
task of manufacturing spurioui
coins. Lavelle had no wish to be
mixed up in any such transaction
and left his companion. Lavelle's
attorney in opening to the jury said
they would show that Gansel while
in Lycoming county Jail after his
arrest told number of persons that
Lavelle was not guilty of counter
feiting. Several witnesses from
Honesdale testified that he was a
mad of good reputation and honest.
The following witnesses in addition
to Constable Hess, testified for the
government: Bert Craft, A. j, Brad
lev. Herman Mittendorf, John Big
gar, II. j. Shaffer, Philip Rider, OF
Sullivan county; and VIM. Flynn,
secret service officer.
The jury was not long in delibera-
ing when they returned verdict
of guilty for Lavelle and acquital
for Gansel.
IIavelle was then sentenced to
undergo eighteen months imprison-
ment in the Western penitentiary at
Pittgburg.
Lavelle had an able attorney in c.
l.. Peaslee, of Williamsport. He
painted black picture OF Gansel,
denouncing him as ga liar and vii
llage loafer," and of his crude mind
in trying to concoct a story that
would incriminate Lavelle.
| w. NJ. Stevens addressed the jury
in behalf of Gansel, arguing that
the latter was only an inexperienced
country boy without the knowledge
or skill to manufacture spurious
coins.
United States Attorney Daniel b.
Heiner opened his arguement with
the trite saying that "when thieves
fall out honest men get their due
He declared that there was little foi
him to say. He, too, discredited
the story that Gansel made the
moulds, and said the moulds are not