Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-05-04
PASSING The "QuEER. :
winchester Has Flood Of Counterfeit
silver Coins.


Mondays Winchester Star says:
The large amount Of spurious coin
being circulated in Winchester recent
" has led to the belief that a regular
ly organized band of counterfeiters is
at work in this vicinity and already
steps are being taken to capture them.
For several months back various
merchants have complained OF at
tempts made 70 pass counterfeit
money upon them by customers. A
majority Of the latter unouestionably
had in their possession the spurious
coin unwittinglv and were innocent
Of any intention of wrong doing, but
there are several cases in which the
people believe the parties are either
the counterfeiters or employed by
them to dispose of the queer F"
money.
Within the last ten days the money
was circulated in flood here and on
last Saturday one merchant alone had
eleven counterfeit coins offered him
at different times. The money is priT
cipally of the silver dollar denomina-
ton, although halves. quarters and
dimes have been frequently circulated.
The dollar bears the date of 1880
and is a good imitation to the mex
perienced person. 1t has good
"ring" to il but when taken in the
hand it presents a soapv surface and
is discolored.
The local police were informed of
the unusual presence of the counter
felt coin and they are at work on the
case. 1t is likely that the United
States Secret Service will be asked to
aid in running down the counterfeiters
Careful inquiry disclosed that with
out an exception the persons having
the counterfeits in their possession
came from q certain section of north
Frederick county and further inquiry
developed that the merchants of that
vicinity have been frequently victim
lied.
This discovery recalls the famous
band of counterfeiters and their hid
dent cave about which so much ro-
nance was written many years ago
Located in an almost impenetrable
mountain fastness between Big Sandy
Ridge and the Little North Mountain
near Shockysville, two men, brothers,
discovered cave over forty years ago.
In it vein of silver of fine quality
was found which the brothers began
to smelt. They always kept the place
secret from the neighbors. although
there is now one gentleman in Win
chester who knows its exact location.
Then this section began to be flooded
with counterfeit coin although no one
at first suspected the brothers. One of
them passed his output in Winchester
and the other went to Cumberland.
Finally they were suspected and fol-
lowed to their hidden retreat.
Here the government officers found
a complete counterfeiter outfit.
Part of the outfit was carried away,
but number of the dies and the
smelling pot were left behind and to
this day it is said, this outfit may be
found there.
One of the brothers was taken to
Cumberland for trial and sentenced
to the pentinentary but the other
was acquitted in this city lawyer
yet living in Winchester was coun
sci for the fortunate brother who upon
his release paid considerable fee in
counterfeit money.
All this was a long time ago but
more recently about four years ago. a
man named Campbell was arrested in
the county charged with passing sup
rious coin and when he was searched
large quantity of the queer money
was found on HIM and a number of
dies were also taken from the prison
err. Campbell got three years in the
penitentary and was released only
about nine months ago. 1t was
thought at the time that the brothers
or one of them, had perhaps Unmarried
to Campbell the location of the mys-
terious cave and silver mine and that
he had taken up the nefarious bust
ness Where they had left off At any
rate the brothers so far as known.
never returned to the cave after their
release from the penitentiary. The re-
appearance of counterfeit money in
such large quantities now recalls the
famous cave and its band of counter
feiters and, as all the money comes
from that direction it is believed that
another band of counterfeiters is at
work.
sHOTGUNS FOR SMALLPOX.
There are three cases of smallpox in
IarIa,,1 In 10 10. nd