The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-11-03
COFFEE FOUND GUILTY.
First OF Sextette Of Alleged Counter.
feiters at Atlanta Is Convicted
on Two Counts Of Indictment. -

on Two Counts Of indictment. =
The first Of the sextette' Of alleged
counterfeiters, P. S. Coffee, of Upson
county, was placed upon trial in the
United States court at Atlanta Monday
morning and after hard legal battle
in which the best of Atlanta's legal
talent was engaged was found guilty
on two counts of the Indictment,
The jury by its verdict asserts that
f.P. s. Coffee has been guilty of causing
to be made counterefiting plates and
causing to be issued therefrom spu-
rious ten-dollar notes of the Buffalo
series. 1t was Coffee's testimony, or
statement, that was the principle fea-
kture of the days session.
The witnesses for both government
and prisoner had been completed when
Coffee was called to the stand. Be-
fore he was introduced to the court
and the gathering the jury had
been secured and a number of wit
nesses had been presented and exhaus-
lively examined.
Facing the jury with composure his
story in part was as follows:
Il never saw Wynne in my Life,
he said as Attorney Rucker made
plain what he wanted the defendant
to say as a witness, until was con-
fronted with him in the Fulton county
Jail. No, l never had any conveirsa-
tion of any kind with him relative to
counterfeiting plates or the making OF
counterfeit money"
He told of his arrest, and continued:
I'VE came to Atlanta and I was
taken to Captain Wright's office in
this. building, where l was questioned
about this counterfeiting. knew
nothing of it, and so told them. Then
Rebb McMichael and Little were
brought in. They were handcuhed.
Rebb and McMichael were chained to-
gether. Little had a pair Of cuffs to
himself. 1 was questioned again in
the presence of these me-"
"Who did the questioning?" asked
Attorney Rucker.
Gall of 'em. Who were there? Why,
there was Captain Wright, Mr.. Camp,
Mr.. Covington and the others l have
named. I was asked every question
that could have been framed in such
| q form that the anticipated answer
would have been the same as a con-
| fession. When l attempted to ask
either Retb, McMichael OF Little a
question was requested to keep quiet,
! the officers asserting that they would
do the questioning. No, at no time
did in any way admit having had any
! part in the work in any way what
soeyer.'
Il have known Little for a long
| time, and while was in business in
| Atlanta" Coffee went on, Il had him
for a customer. We had many busi'
ness transactions, and l always found
him straight"
Reference was made to MIR. Coving'
tons testimony and the witness was
asked about what had passed between
him and Mr.. Covington.
why" he replied. "Covington and ]
were raised in the same section. We
had known each other for years. He
took ME aside and said he hated to
! prosecute because of that old child
hood association. He then advised me
to confess, to make clean breast OF
it, saying that it would go much easier
with me. In his eyes there were tears
and he begged me to confess, saying
that he would do everything in his
power to help me out; that he would
see that it was made light for. me. |
told him then, as tell him now, that
I had nothing to confess"