Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-07-17


road, and once had an occasion to
turn and look back at the cabin. As 1
did so I saw the form of man dodg-
ing along between the trees that skirt.
ed the hillside along the road. NY sus.
pieions were aroused at his strange ac-
tions, and kept my weather eye in his
direction until got safely out upon the
highway, where lost sight Of him. A
brisk drive soon landed me back at the
office of my friend, who greatly praised
my obituary.
Il did his local work several days
longer, and when his assistant had
fully recovered from his illness L re-
signed and returned to PottsviIle In
much better spirits than when / had
left it month before.
'sThe next day took up my routine
assignment. and at the morning session
of the police court what was my aston
ishment to see in the prisoners dock
the very same young man whom I had
met among the mountains.
I at once became deeply interested
in his case. He was charged with pass
Ing counterfeit coin. the same charge on
which he was arrested several months
before. His honor concluded, in view
of the serious charge and the fact TINT
It was for the second offense, to hold
him for further investigation.
During the previous six months
Pottsyille had been flooded with bogus
money, and the authorities had offered
reward for the makers and showers
of the queer. Young Barron had been
twice accused of passing the money,
but each time he told such a plausible
story that the officials were Ioath to be.
lieve him responsible for the whole
matter. The situation was becoming
alarming. Detectives had been en-
ployed. but they were MS much Mt sea
as the local officers. AS Inst resort n
reward of $1,000 was offered for the ar
rest and conviction of the offenders.
When no results came of the work that
was being done toward clearing up the
matter and the bogus stun continued TO
circulate, it was considered advisable
to raise the reward, which was accord
ingly increased to 81 800.
This was the status of affairs on my
return from my vacation.
81 began to do little detective work
on my own account. The sum of 81, 800
was snug. one, and began to make
deductions, with the prisoner, Barron,
as starting point.
81 looked back over the trail that
had covered a few weeks before-the
location of the Barron home in Wash
ington county, the situation of the old
hut in the bowl shaped depression
among the lofty mountains, the one
room in the hut with rear door, What
was behind the portals of that rear
door?
Then my Imagination came into
play, ard thought what an excellent
place for counterfeiter's den could be
under the mountain, with the hut as a
shield.
well. to make a long story short,
told the mayor of my suspicious, and
asked for detail of four men from the
force, to so down into Washington
county and investigate. He only
laughed at me, until / made things SO
plain that he was carried away with
enthusiasm over the plauslbllity of the
whole thing and ordered four police
men in citizens clothes to accompany
me to the spot and make a thorough
Investigation.
I'VE arrived at our rendezvous one
evening, having each one gone individ-
ually. so as not to arouse any suspicion
as to our object, and left after nightfall
for the Barron home.
we reached n point about n mile
from the narrow lane, at daybreak,
tied up our rigs and started ON foot for
the hut. We were not long in reaching
the place, and a vigorous rapping
brought the sharp featured woman to
the door. She was rendered speechless
with fright at the sight of five stran-
gers at the door. She was invited to-
come outside and keep quiet. Our next
point was the door at the rear. We
cautiously pushed this open, and the
sight that we encountered was one that
Will never forget.
six men and two or three boys were
busily engaged about swelterIng fur
mace, with n full set Of molds, each at
his particular work. On the floor was a
large quantity of both gold and silver
coins, of dollars and eagles, half eagles
and double eagles.
I've captured the gang without a
struggle and also took charge of the
outfit, which. by the way, was one of
the most complete that ever was seen
outside the United States mint At the
subsequent trial the entire gang, In
Guiding young Barron, were given
strong terms in the penitentlary. re-
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