The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-18
A Farmer COunterfeiter Gets
Two Years Sentence.
Flooded Northern Portion Of
State With Bogus Coin.
MADE $40 GOLD PIECES.
Lightning Struck Him and
Court Was Lenient.
Made Appeal of Guilty and an
Agreement Reached.

Leavenworth. Ian. 1s.-The Times
says:
Enos Perkins. the Cambridge, Neb.,
farmer brought to Leavenworth Janu-
ary 20, 1903. and held IN the county Jail
on the charge of counterfeiting, later
called upon to appear in the United
States court here for trial and unable
to do so because he was struck by
lightning, was sentenced in the United
States court in Kansas City, Kan, by
Judge Pollock, to serve two years in the
federal prison Attorney Nirdlinger,
who defended Perkins. got his man off
lightly as it was thought Perkins would
surely go up to prison for the limit. He
WIS indicted on seven different counts,
and the penalty is from five to ten
years on each count
Perkins, case IS a most peculiar one.
Twenty years ago he filed and proved
up on a homestead 20 miles from Cam
bridge, Neb-, and paid up all Of his
debts. To all outward appearances he
was a prosperous farmer. Later he dis
appeared from the vicinity and was not
heard of for some years when he re-
turned flush with money, bought back
his home place and appeared to be
farming again He would leave there
at intervals and come into Kansas, pre-
sumably TO look after his farming in
terests near Sabetha, Kan, but It was
noticed that Coincident with his visits
gold pieces would be in circulation. How
ever, Perkins, who was looked upon as
a common everyday prosperous farmer,
was not suspected.
One day a gold plating outfit arrived
9. o. D., at Cambridge and the man to
whom it was consigned did not have
the money to pay the express charges.
Perkins, seemingly a good hearted fell
low, stepped up, paid the charges and
remarked that he would keep the ma
chine for a little while and do some
plating for his friends. This act
aroused the suspicious of the authori-
ties and Perkins was watched.
It was noted that after Perkins went
to aiaWatha on a visit a stream or
bogus $40 gold coins was left. in his
trail and his arrest followed. Perkins
was taken first to Omaha, later brought
to LeavenWOrth and here released on
bond in the United States commission
er's court to appear for trial last Octo-
Der.
On the date for his trial here Attor-
ney Nirdlinger appeared in court with
a telegram which stated that Perkins
had been struck by lightning on his
farm near Cambridge and would be I'M
able to attend. The judge did not seem
to relish this bit of information and
United States District Attorney Dean
and United States Marshal Maekey had
their doubts, but kilograms sent to
Cambridge corroborated the story and
Perkins trial was put off until the
january LSOO term OI the COuAl III LAsll-
sas City, kan Perkins realized that
he was up against it, and after con-
ferring with Attorney Nirdlinger, an
agreement was reached whereby he
would plead guilty to counterfeiting
providing he got no more than two
years and this sentence was passed up
on him by Judge Pollock. Perkins had
with him in the court room at Kansas
City, Kan, a coat with a burned place
on the left breast where he claimed the
bolt of lightning struck him and burn
ed its way through the cloth.