Year: 1875




The trial of Philip Lewinski and John and Thomas
Loughery was resumed in the United States Circuit
Court yesterday noon before Judge Benedict The at
tendance was quite numerous, interest apparently
increasing with the progress OF the investigation Of the
mysteries of making minor currency without license.


August G. Lambert, the venerable German engraver
who sunk the dies, recalled for the prosecution
and identified number of spurious coins shown him,
which were made from unlawful dies. bill was then
offered in evidence for services rendered to the
Lougherys which paper was found in their possession
when they arrested July 81. Another paper was
then offered in evidence giving schedule of metal
Witness said he had held conversatinn with
John Loughery with reference to the requisite
strength of the press needed; eight horse power
press was the opinion of the Witness sufficient to
do the work; he generally worked in his house,
but there turning lathe which he frequently used
at Lougherys; the Lougherys working at the
large press; them stamp FIVE cent nickel pieces
with the dies which he had made; the small press was
used for cutting out the coin before they stamped
had them punch out the blank nickels the shop
he had seen them put the ''soundings" unstamped
nickels in the large press and had seen them turn
the press and then take out from it the
stamped five cent nickels; witness dentIned the box
containing unfinished dies, nickes and fine tools,
which found with the Lougherys at the time they
were arrested in New York; he went with the
brothers New York TO look at press the shop in
Lexington avenue, Brooklyn, he subsequently the





casion the brothers, IN company with Lewinsk, came
into the apartments OF witness and showed
him handsful Of the five cent nckes which they had
manufactured Witness said that he had learned en-
craving before coming to America, when he quite
youth; he learned the business as amusement he
had done engraving there for persons who were in the
counterietng business It took from fourteen days
three weeks 70 perfect Of the dies made for the
Loughery brothers; he had received no promise from
the District Attorney that he would be prosecuted
IL he testified for the government by examination of
the coin he could tell whether the CONS
ia frnrn HE dincs fha nnfn hfrht
shown him not all made by the
single die; neither Lewnsk nor Loughery had told
him that they working for the government


Oliver G. Basbyshell assistant TO the coiner the
United States Mint in that city-In the months of jan
uary February and March the mint coined hve-cent
pieces; the fvecent nickel the three nickel and
the e-cent bronze known the minor coinage OF
the government; the machinery in the Marshals Office
is used in the manufacture OF hve-cent nickels
chinery very much like II IS used in the Philadelphia


CAPTAIN Keyser OF the Sixth precinct police testified
as 70 the details OF the arrest OF Lewinsk which the
readers OF the HERALD are familiar with.


James A. Redding, clerk in the SubTrcasury, Frac-
tion Department testified that he had examined the
various specimens OF coin, handed for his inspection
by the District Attorney and found them to be counter
felt nickels; they counterfeit ve-cent coin or the
coinage Of the United States in witness judg
ment they good imitation of the original coinage
and well calculated TO deceive; witness had found
that they all made from the same die.


Oncer Patrick Murphy testified that he saw John
and Thomas Loughery on July 81, 1875 Oliver
street. shortly before midnight; Thomas was carrying
small box John having a case and other articles
in his hands: he overhauled them, and upon inquiry
was told by John that there old German silver in
the box and that he taking the stu to place
tho corner of East Broadway and Catharne street;
that he was bringing il TO lager beer saloon for
man named Lewinski, whom he said was in the
iron business in Brooklyn at the station house
where he took the Loughreys the box found to
contain blank nickel pieces for ve-cent pieccs scraps
OF old metal and pieces of machinery; the captain
asked them II they thought II convenient for them
bring such materials at that time Of night and
they said 'it convenient for them" they also had
in their possession air gum they then locked
up.


Deputy United States Marshal Benjamin W. De Clue,
testified that he had known Lewinsk between one and
two years; knew the Lougherys for three years;
Lewnsk brought TO the Marshals Office on charge
OF passing counterfeit nickel he allowed to 20 at
large for about two weeks TO look for bail August 2
before his rearrest, Lewinski visited the Office and
told the witness that they we're "gving him away"
and he asked witness whether he would not
20 upstairs and tell the District Attorney
would permit him TO do so witness told Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Hoxe what Lewinski had said but Mr.
Hoxio would not accept him; Lewinski said that
"Loughery was the man who had given him away;u
Lewinsk then gave the witness full information as to
where the machinery was to be found in Lexington
place and seized the property; they found
two presses, forge, an anvil and bench
and other pieces Of machinery: the shop was


two story frame buildngtbe front part OF the house
faces the street and IS used stable; knew the
Lougherys when they kept saloon on Myrtle avenue:
improper word Of them before their upon this
charge


onicer Murphy, recalled identified a small memo
randum book which be found on John Loughery aud
which handed him blythe District Attorney.


The Court was then adjourned till noon to-day.