Passing counterfeit money.
--Harvey Wash, charged with passing a counterfeit $2.50 gold piece on
Perry Jones, and with having in his possession $500 in counterfeit
gold coin, was arraigned before the
Mayor yesterday.
The wealth and former good reputation of the prisoner tended to excite considerable public curiosity, and a large crowd was in attendance.
The counsel for the accused--
Messrs. Crump,
Nance and
Williams--announced their readiness to proceed, and the witnesses for the
Commonwealth were sworn and examined, as follows:
‘
Officer Keily, of the Police.--I arrested the prisoner.
Found on his person and in his
carpet bag the coin here exhibited.
[The coin is in $1 and $2.50 pieces, amounting to $507] The bag was at
Mr. Perkins', on Broad street, where the prisoner left it.
’
Officer John D. Perrin, of the Police.--Was with
Mr. Kelly at the time to which he alludes.
I afterwards went to the house of the prisoner, in
Appomattox county, and found there a
porte-monnaie, containing $12.50 in coin, which I supposed to be spurious, but
Mr. Pairo has pronounced nine dollars of it good money.
Perry Jones.--Saw the prisoner on New Year's night. He asked me to change a $2.50 gold piece, and I did so, giving him silver in exchange.
This is the piece he gave me. [Exhibited it.] The next morning I ascertained it was not good.
On the following night I was at
Lohman's
lager beer saloon, when the prisoner came in. Told him I thought he had been passing counterfeit money.
He asked me to drink with him, and I did so. He pulled out a similar $2.50 piece to pay, and
Lohman said it was bad. He then took it back and paid a dime for the two glasses of lager.
E
Lohman.--[Related the circumstance of the drinks.] Saw similar money in the prisoner's purse, but couldn't say it was bad. In order to test the value of the piece he gave me, I got another piece and compared them, and found his the lightest.
Prisoner took both in his hand, and threw them upon the bar, asking me if I could select my own. I did so, readily.
D. W. Mahone.--[Witness is employed at
Purcell,
Ladd & Co.'s drug store.] On Thursday morning last, prisoner came to the store and purchased 25 cents worth of medicine, handing me a $2.50 piece, and I gave him the change.
Afterwards found it was bad. Saw him on the street and told him about it. He said he would make it good, but saw no more of him. My suspicions in regard to the piece were aroused by its light weight.
Martin Kahn.--[Employed at
Ezekiel's store.] Prisoner was at the store and bought $5 worth of goods, giving me two $2.50 pieces.
Told him they were rather light, and on inquiry, ascertained they were bad. He afterwards gave a note on the Northwestern Bank.
R. Emerson.--Prisoner came to my restaurant and procured meals last week, and on Thursday said he believed he would settle and leave.
He gave me a $2.50 piece, and I gave back the change.
After I heard of the arrest I examined the coin I had received from prisoner.
It was compared with good money and found to weigh lighter.
[Coin produced.]
Mrs. Rice.--[Witness keeps a school in the city.] I know the prisoner.
One morning last week — I think Wednesday--he came to my school and paid $6.25 for the tuition of his neice, giving me two $2.50 pieces and five silver quarters.
Saw no more of him. My suspicions were aroused the next day by
Mr. Jacob Woodson, who called at my house and asked if
Mr. Wash had paid the tuition of his niece — that he had been arrested.
Got the money and ascertained that it was bad. [The pieces were exhibited.]
John H. Tyler, firm of
Mitchell &
Tyler, jewellers.--[Various pieces of the coin were submitted to witness, who tested it with aqua fortis in Court.] The money is spurious, and very bad. There is not enough alloy in genuine
gold coin to be detected in this manner.
The execution of this coin is very good, and apt to deceive.
Should say, however, that there was no gold in this except the washings.
They are, indeed, brass.
[Witness then tested the coins that had been passed on the several persons present, and pronounced them bad.]
J. M. Bennett, First Auditor.--[A note of the Northwestern Bank, taken from prisoner, was submitted for examination.] Do not profess to be a good judge of money, and would hesitate a long time before pronouncing an opinion where a man was on trial.
Could not say whether this was a genuine note or not.
H. T. Pairo, Exchange Broker.--My impression is that this is a good note.
We object to receiving notes like this, because there is a doubt about them.
At this point
Mr. Crump asked the
Mayor if he was examining the accused for felony and misdemeanor both.
The matter of the bank notes in the prisoner's possession did not amount to a felony.
The
Mayor did not propose to decide that question at present.
It was, nevertheless, his duty to hear the evidence in respect to all the doubtful money in the prisoner's possession.
Mr. Pairo resumed, and examined a ten dollar note on the Bank of South Carolina.
These notes are not received here, and are pronounced counterfeit.
My own impression is that they are good.
They have just made their appearance, and no such plate has heretofore been in use. [The note is like those found in possession of
Riddell and
Chilton.]
The testimony for the
Commonwealth closed here, and as none was offered on the part of the defence, the
Mayor remanded the prisoner to be examined for felony, before the Hustings Court, at its next term.
