Show i from the new york dutchman I 1 CATCH THE counterfeiters COUNTERFEIT ERS BRO HOW PRATT WAS SOLD BY TOM TWIGGS some time since in the year 1847 the little town of G in the state of ohio was the scene of considerable excitement A counterfeiter was among the honesty honest pious and sober inhabitants this counterfeiter was reputed to be one of the most expert and successful of his contraband pro fes bession sion he had for nearly a year been doing ina business on oa an extensive scalo scale throughout 0 ut the entire state in fact had been around in the cities anji and several of the larger towns of ohio ind and made his mark the police had frequently been in pursuit of him had several times cornered him up and just as the indefatigable pursuers thought they had him bim they ab about out the time which I 1 refer to he had bad been circulating his bogus bogas currency somewhat extensively in some of the places he had latterly visited and so enraged had the authorities as well as the swindled become tac t the fellows temerity that they were determined ter to bring c his career to a close they were af after tar nina ELM AC oro r yi 0 w visited sited they tracked him but he always ad to got get scent of his pursuers and when I 1 they entered any town orv or village Wage he lad ad of course sloped but after a long ihasz ha 8 e they finally treed the game in the qui at fc little village ci of G and hence the excitement therein mentioned above it appears that the counterfeiter after eluding his pursuers in every place he had bad stopped finally brought UD up in the village mentioned here li he thought he had bad got them off the scent in fact so confident was he that he had given up thinking of them apparently and was comfortably quarter ed at the test best tavern in the place indulging 11 in all the luxuries and comforts that an establishment could cold furni furnish furniss sl of that calibre 1 I as his account at the bar gave tam ale evidence he was a fine looking Q tall 1 well built with rather it da hair flair and eyes a fine pair nair of w h s and anu ao an ele elegant nant 11 moustache 1 uan man got up in this style of course could not fail to attract the attention of the villagers aaers and he f for or he be had been 11 among r them but a short time when every person knew of his presence and various and numerous were the speculations that resulted thereon some said he was a count while others insisted that he was a soldier some that he was a great english lord while others think very well of him in their opinion he was a bad man when the officers cerra who were in pursuit of b him im rode into town one afternoon about 2 they of course were not long in in ascertaining i certa inin ining g I 1 th the e I 1 location of their man it was very re readily dily pointed out to bothem them there were but two officers cerv who deeming their force too small deputized a number of the vi villagers lagers to assist them giving the necessary instructions to their augmented core and making 11 all th the necessary arrangements to make certain the capture of tae the fugitive the two officers proceeded to the tavern and inquired for the counterfeiter ter feiter Is there anybody here by the name of sharp says one no sir pay aay the landlord of course the counterfeiter green enough to assume any name he had previously y used cawell cc well is there a mr ali here asks the next officer no sir A mr doom no sir sir A mr cheatem no 31 A mr fleeced Flee cem alno no and they continued went through the whole catalogue of names that the counterfeiter had been known by at other places but no person with either of the names they had mentioned was stOR stopping ping at the tavern finally they commenced on description Is there a tau tall man stopp nig here asks one of them ayes yes two or three says the landlord well cawell is there a tall man with big whiskers his here at the present time 11 asks the other yes I 1 black whiskers yes black hair and eyes yes c mustachios yes tall man blaek black hair black bladel eyes black whiskers black chios freyou are you sure says one of the policemen yes sir just such a man 9 says the landlord 1 him ketchum Keto hum exclaimed the officer to the other I 1 ketchum coincided in the opinion expressed by his colleague and said yes tea now weve got him green the landlord was apprised and apparently much toa his astonishment that he had had under his roof for many days a notorious character a counterfeiter and his aid id was sought in an attempt te secure him by this time the fact that a counterfeiter was in the tavern and that police officers were af after ter him had become generally known amo among 11 g an immense crowd that had collected on the outside and they gave gava vent to their astonishment in various exclamations load laud enough to reach the ears of the counterfeiter wao who therefore went coolly to work planning an escape by the ti timea methe he officers had reached his duorte had it strongly bolted and to f force cic it open they were 0 obliged liged to bring into requisition an axe the 9 and in the offia cers rushed eager for and certain of their prisoner but he had va mosed while the officers were busily engaged in beading open the door he had leaped on out t of a back window into the yard sea scaled led a pretty high fence and was like a racehorse race horse the officers gave we toe alarm the crowd got a sight eight at the fugitive and about half a dozen of the more energetic and courageous courageous put after him and then there was a rape and such a race if it did not exceed ip in swiftness that between mack arid and fashion it certainly did in novelty the counterfeiter took the lead some distance ahead then came the village blacksmith just from his forge a bull necked ath athletic letic fellow all soot and ration then followed waxy the shoemaker in his shirt sleeves leather apron on and presed presenting ting an appearance grotesque and ludicrous in the extreme putting patting in to kill next came a fat lumpy grocery keeper puffing and blowing like a Missi mississippi sippi steamer his stomach and wind stand it he caved in in a a short time A number of boys and the two officers brought up the rear all shouting like a party of Ga manches stop castop thief catch him head him off ac C ac the pursuers had bad a great advantage over the pursued the latter alt although bough be had bad the start had bad less knowledge of the highways and the bye ways of the locality ue he finally apt crowded pretty hard and dove antola grocery store the doors of which were standing open As thoon as he be did this be 8 slammed the doors to and securely barred them with a huge piece of iron usually used for that purpose presently the pursuing party came up out of breath and nd blowing and snorting like race horses after a two mile heat anxious to get possession of their fugitive the two officers were tb the e first to make tin an attempt to force open t the he huge doors of the grocery but bat it ife was no go they not only resisted the muscle of the two officers but that of the unit 1 l JI Wj 5 1 avs a one u v vuu ax gers putting his mouth mout ha to the key hole and addressing 0 the I 1 grocery keeper who was inside secure him shouts another rope him says sava a third but bat pratt feel inclined to f ollow follow either of these suggestions pratt wes was a quiet peaceful barm harmless less man he was a deacon in the village church officiated occasionally casio nally in the ministers place when that worthy gentleman was called from home pratt was also a man of a limited amoun of muscle and a smaller quantity of courage therefore to attack a man of such a formidable and ferocious appearance as his mysterious visitor presented was an 1 idea that pratt entertain mt ertain for a moment besides there was a huge bug e sharp cheese knife lying on the counter within the reach of the counterfeiter and pratt readily the idea that that individual might i i ht use it should he attempt to interfere with him so pratt kept quiet while the crowd outside were making various threats to break down the acors if they were not admitted As soon as the counterfeiter had recovered his breath sufficiently to articulate he walks up to pratt and says he Is there no place that I 1 can get out of the back way no window dooroo door or hole of any kind pratt said not a word but with a mouth month wl wide de open distended eyes and shivering 11 frame he pointed to a closed window at the back of the house and quick as lightning the counterfeiter had bad it open and out he popped pratt felt relieved but not for a few minutes did he date dare to open the doors notwithstanding vit the crowd were shouting making all sorts of threats and in fact were attempting to batter them down As soon as pratt opened the doors in rushed the crowd en masse led by the two officials where is he exclaims one seize the scoundrel shouts another lets hang bang him suggests a third but no counter counterfeiter counterfeited feite was visible A search was made for him bim under the counter behind and in the sugar flour and other barrels indeed some went so far as to look into stone atone jars but he to be found wheres the man who ran in here authoritatively asks one of the policemen pratt was about as much frightened at the threatening aspect of the official as a he had bad been previously at the ferocious appearance of the counterfeiter and it was not u until after a great effort on his part that he was enabled to inform the former that the latter had bad made his bis exit butof out of the back window A shout shoat and simultaneous rush out of the doors by the crowd succeeded this information off they went on the keen jump the yards woodsheds wood sheds cisterns ac in the vicinity I 1 n ity and rear of the grocery were searched fo for r hours but without wit bout finding the counter fetter feiter he had bad escaped and the crowd and police officers be coping aware of that fact gave cave up further pursuit went home of course much chagrined at their failure and tather rather down on pratt for displaying so much mu about a year after the above event the same counterfeiter turned up tip again in the same place disguised of course so that I 1 lie he could not be recognized he thought lie he would pay a visit to the place 1 bb where he had a year previous had such a narrow escape the grocery store of deacon pratt the deacon was setting quietly and comfortably fort ably behind the counter probably meditating di on the quantify of red sand his new invoice of brown sugar would stand and other speculative subjects when in walked our friend good morning ll says he to the deacon c good morning sirl sir replied the deacon what can ahn I 1 help you yon to sir I 1 ah ohl 1 nothing bothin 11 nothing sir I 1 just called in to pay you yon a friendly visit you yon dont seem seem to recognize me sir says he adjusting his spectacles and examining his visitor more critically ahem no n no muttered the deacon who are you yon the counterfeiter after taking a survey of the premises pie and satisfying himself thiet no one was present besent replied I 1 about a year ago sir you will recollect lek there was a person in this illis village who was called a notorious counterfeiter ye es ye ve veo ajea exclaimed exclaim pd the Dej deacon somewhat agitated well sir I 1 lam am that person ob lor si si r r r ll 11 says sava the deacon much agitated and trembled in his boots dont be alarmed sir dont be alarmed says the counterfeiter the kind manner in which the latter spoke calmed the old Deacon a little and the counterfeiter after closing the doors of the grocery continued cc yes sir you see before you a man who h has as been beed guilty of a great deal of wickedness during hi his s lifetime life time but one thank the lord who has seen the error of his ways dayi atad and is is now a reformed man amen ll exclaimed the pious deacon ats 11 continued the counterfeiter cc 1 I have haie led a life of wickedness from my bo boyhood y up have committed com innumerable sirls sins but am now endear endeavoring ang to make up my I 1 past offen offenses ses seg by serving the lord amen put in the deacon again the counterfeiter resumed my business here said he clis is particularly to repay a debt of gratitude due dua to you sir to me yes sir to you when I 1 was pursued by a parcel of bloodhounds hounds I 1 found a shelter in your store sir you refused to give me up and pointed put gut a way by which I 1 might escape and by which thank th eLord I 1 did the deacon was silent ill am a rich man continued the counterfeiter ter feiter A relation of mine mime died lat lately e I 1 y leaving mo me a princely fortune now sir sir for your kindness to me on the occasion I 1 refer to I 1 wish to make you a present of fifty dollars so dont say no for you must take it IN N n ow pray dont think of it sir air I 1 I 1 I 1 im very glad indeed sir air that I 1 did it very glad says the deacon 1 11 I insist upon it A sir air you must take it I 1 dont drw you can gi gie i g pi 0 or buy some presents f for or your children oh ob f I 1 insist upon it you must take it urged the counterfeiter he then took outa out a well filled wallet and selected a a one hundred dollar bill from the good sized roll handed it to the deacon who took it with welL feigned reluctance there 11 saiz saya the counterfeiter is a hundred dollar bill the smallest I 1 have got you just give me afif fifty tv in small bills if you have them and retain the balance the deacon went to his desk muttering thanks protestations of future friends friendship bi P unbounded liberality and counted out fifty dollars in am small all bills and handed banded them to the counterfeiter how long do vou you intend to stop with us sir asked th the e deacon oh some days sir air but pray dont mention the fact that I 1 am here or the little circumstance that has just transpired particularly ticul arly the latter for like e everybody erv body I 1 have my peculiarities and one is that id rather remain remain f in all matters where you vou might term it my liberality is concerned I 1 no sir depend upon it I 1 shall ahall say nothing says thy the deacon good day sir air good day and the counterfeiter walked out A gentleman a perfect gentleman sol the daacon is as he be sat behind the counter after sec securely arely locking up his money strange too iery very strange now I 1 suppose if dominee nealy meekly knew what had occurred he would say that I 1 was wrong to take lake the money that I 1 had ought to have given the man over to the officers of justice well lot let him have his opinion ive got mine besides hell never know it il if I 1 dont tell and I 1 wont do that you can depend upon it TW the next day the deacon tho thought h he would take a ride over to the bank situa the adjoining town about four miles distant and deposit what money he had on hand band so much money he bo thought safe in his possession he rest it was banked so off be smarts arrived at the bank the gentlemanly teller greets him with a 9 smile and a good morning deacon pratt 11 I 1 god morn morning ing sir sir ii what can I 1 do for you today to day says the teller ill 1 I hava bava a small amount I 1 wish to deposit says the deacon ali ah yes yea air and the small bramall amount being behig handed over the teller proceeded to count it when he came to the bill he hesitated held it up to the light gave it i a bri critical examination and pronounced it A counterfeit A counterfeit exclaimed the deacon ayes yes sir a counterfeit certain replied I 1 the tealler tel ller the deacon was horror stricken fifty dollars good money given away f for or a worthless bill the thought drove him almost mad without saying a word he r rushed saed out of the house mounted his horse hors e pa put lit spurs to the animal apical and in a i short ort time tima he was in his own village making diligent search and earnest inquiries after |