Year: 1875

ONE OF TOM BALIARD's GANG IN THE ROLE OF
SUNDAY SCHOOL sUPERMTENDENT-''A
PRovDENTIAL" GIFT THAT SENT HIM TO
PRIsoN-How HE REWARDED THE FRIENDS
WHO STOOD BIZ HIM-ooUNTERFEITER, BURG
LAR, FoRGEB AND DEFAULTER-woRK FOR
THE DETECTIVES.


PoRT JERyIs, Oct q, 1875.
About the tmethe late war broke out there came TO
this place a named Ira 5. Bush He was a man OF
splendid physique, Of more than ordinary
culture and had an interesting family lie
engaged in business as a carriage manufac-
turer Processing the deepest religious convictions he
soon took prominent position in church circles and
became superintendent Of the Sabbath school OF the
Presbyterian church of the place. Being. well ad-
vanced in the mysteries Of the Masonic Order he also
became one Of the leading members of the order in
this vicinity In the early part Of the war he Joined
a company of volunteers and unanimously elected
captain. When the he returned to his
old business and looked upon one Of the most
prominent men in this section, enjoying the unbounded
confidence Of the entire community


RUSH on COUNTERFEIT MONEY


In the early part Of 1867 Captain Bush commenced
making tours through the adjoining counties ostensi
bly, on matters pertaining his business Soon there
after the sections visited by him became flooded with
counterfeit money. Bogus $40 and 500 bills on vari-
Gus banks, amounting to thousands OF dollars,
found IN almost every town in Sullivan county, and
in every case the possessor of bill could trace its
receipt back to the hands of Captain Bush. Many Of
these were returned TO hin, and he redeemed them,
always sending back his pious regrets that he had nno
Gently been the Of such annoyance to his
respondents. But the fact that the passing
of so many of these counerfeits was traced
to him aroused suspicion in the minds of
certain parties that the Captain not issuing
them nnocenty, and they had him arrested So great
the regard for and confidence in Bush among the
people of Port Jervs that the looked upon
as an outrage on a pious citizen. The Rev Dr. Fair.
child, then pastor of the Presbyterian church. de-
nounced the parties active In producing the
conspirators and pledged Bush the support OF the
church in defending his honor and integrity. The
proof strong against him, however, and accumu-
lated fast that many of his church brethren wavered
in their faith and stood aloof from the suspected
Captain.


WELL TOLD STORY


He finally made the following admission to his pas
tor He said that few months before his arrest he
was greatly embarrassed in his financial affairs He
went TO New York day to try and borrow some
money of friend He was unsuccessful and was get
ting ferryboat with heavy heart, to take train
for home when he kicked his foot against package
which lay on the deck He picked it up, and upon
ind that 1t contained several thousand dollars
in bank notes. Believing fervently that tho
money was providentia aid sent to
him, he returned prayer of thanks to God and put
the suddenly acquired wealth in his pocket The first
OF the bills he used was returned to him being
counterfeit Fhen II was that he yielded to the
thought of raising money the counterfeit bills with
the intention OF redeeming them rapidly pos
sble He repented tearfuy of his msstep and prayed
that his brethren would assist him in rightng the
wrong he had been unable resist the temptation of
committing. Dr. Fairchild accepted Bushs story as
the true confession OF sorey tempted and truly peni
tent fellow man, and assured him of his hearty
operation in settling the difficulty But large part Of
the DOCTORS congregation refused to entertain the
idea and the result split in the church.





charge


THE CAPTAIN CONVICTED.


Meantime the prosecution OF Captain Bush
pressed but owing to the efforts of DR.. Fairchd and
many prominent citizens of Port Jcrvs all the
sroyed and the trial delayed TOR nearly four years At
last Bushs case was brought before the at Mon
tcelo and despite the absence of positive evidence
against himthanks to the efforts OF his pastor and
frends-he convicted. But owing to the good char
acter the prisoner had succeeded in showing to the
Court and the peculiar circumstances connected with
the case he sentenced TO but two years nprison
ment in the State Prison


OUT OF PRISON.


AS soon as his time out Captain Bush returned at
once TO Port Jervs and resumed business at his old
stand He gave out that he returned to live down his
misortunes and show his friends that their confidence
had not been misplaced He pushed his business with
more than his woned vigor and il not long before
he had reganed much of his lost prestige He sought
and given admission again to the Presbyterian
church, and again took reading place In its councils
He to all appearances remarkably successful in
business, and his past was almost forgotten.





In the early part of last week he to New York.
he said, to buy some stock. He had not returned
on Tuesday last, and inquiry being made about that
time IL discovered that his family had gone Also
with all their household furniture How the removal
effected without the fact being made public not
known. He leaves behind him Liabilities amounting to
from S. 600 to $40 000 all of which must be borne by
some OF the friends who spent their money to save
him from prison four years ago. they being his in
dorsers 1t has been discovered that Bush is brother
inlaw of the notorious Tom Ballard counterfeiter and
burglar. He no doubt aiding that criminal in 1867
in issuing his counterfeit money this section
IL Is also believed now from certain circumstances
that Bush had knowledge OF, If he active in
bringing about the robbery of the Port Jervis Bank
with others of Ballards gang, in 1869, when some
$4,000 was secured Several notes which Bush
had recently negotiated In this place said TO be
forgeres Two Of his 1.-Two in Poi Jervis but they
deny having had any knowledge of their fathers in
tention to abscond. Bush came from Canada to this
place. and rumors which rife during his trouble in
1867 that he forced to leave there account OF
heavy forgery have been revived Detectives will no
doubt be put on his track piano belonging to him
and waybiled for Utica discovered yesterday in
car in the Eric Railway yard here, and seized by
hfc