The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1904-09-01
COUNTERFEITERS HELD.
Gang Captured In Atlanta Gtven Pro.
liminary Trial in Federal Court
and Heavy Bonds Assessed.


Oscar L. McMichael, Clarence W..
Rebb, j. N. Little and p. S. Coffey, the
! four men charged with countorfsiting,
waived preliminary trial In the Uni.
ted States court at Atlanta Tuesday
morning and were recommitted to jail
in default of bond. The bonds of Lit.
tie. aud Coffee were fixed at $4,000
each. and those Of McMichael and
Rebb at $4,000 each.
That was the criminal side of the
first arraignment of the men who were
bold and daring enough to make $50.
900 worth Of counterfeit money in the
very heart Of Atlanta;s but there was a
dramatic and pathetic side Of the in
vesugation, and scene was enacted
in the United States court room which
made grown men turn away to hide
the tears that filed their eyes. When
the lawyers had talked; when the
bonds had been fixed; when the iron
cuffs were about to be placed upon the
mems wrists, old mothers, young
wives, sisters and brothers crowded
about the railing to say a word Of
goodby and give parting kiss.
The brief history of the crime had
been given in full, with all the details
Of how the man Coffey bought + les
for making counterfeit money from
William l.. Wynne, and how Coffey
and the man Little got McMichael and
Rebb to print the spurious money at
| the dead hours of night in the rooms
of a job Office in Atlanta. AS Coffey
Is countryman, and has never been
known to have been engaged in any
such crime before; as Little is a labor.
er, whose previous record was good,
and since Rebb and McMichael are
two young pressmen who scarcely
knew the enormity of the crime they
were committing, 1t is believed by
many, including officials. that these
men were the dupcs of scheming ras.
Gals. belonging to a gang of old coun.
terfeiters. II this theory is true. the
inspectors may yet find others to pros.
ecute in ..e case.
Coffey is man about forty-five
years OF age, with fiorid complexion
ant reddish hair. A heavy sweeping
red moustache adorns his face He
appeared to take matters coolly.
Little Is SO years OF age, and is a
large man. with heavy jaws and q
short black moustache. He was chew
ing tobacco all the while, and was not
at all at his ease. He gazei about
him continually. and when the law
yerS were talking became restless anC
nervous.
Rebb is. o medium size man will
dark complexion and black hair. A
short thin moustache and a beard O
few days growth gave him an un
kempt appearance.
McMichael, who is about twenty-five
years Of age, Goes not look to be more
than eighteen or twenty. He has &
bright attractive face, with clear eyes
that look straight ut you. One coulc
uaiuiy. plCh Out man VINO would lOOf
less like criminal.
The men will be held until the Uni
ted States grand jury convenes, wher
they will be indicted. Each prisoner
Is charged with three separate counts
involving the buying and having DOS
session OF the bogus plates, the max
Ing Of the money and having it in
their possession and the passing O!
some Of it.
The only one OF the prisoners, 1t Il
said, who Is likely to give bond is Cof
fey. He is reputed to own a flour anc
grist mill in Upson county, neal
Barnesville, and it may be possible 70,
him to raise enough money to make 6
$4,000 bond.
After tbs prisoners are indicted the,
VIII be tried in the United States dis
trict cour. at the October term.
William. Wynne. the fifth prisoner i,
the case. is still in ST. Louis where
he was arrested. He will be brougb,
to Atlanta in day or two, when h.
VIII also be given a preliminary tria
before Commissioner Colquitt.