Page:Memoirs of the United States Secret Service.djvu/75

 and undoubtedly a valuable assistant, by the way, in his counterfeiting labors—was to act as guide to Eagan; and when the "two high contracting parties" met, Mac was to make propositions to be submitted to the Chief, regarding the coney, the plates, etc., and was not then to be molested.

The programme was carried out, to the letter. McCartney was first on the spot, in the darkness. Eagan proceeded with the wife, unarmed but watchful, and then and there McCartney agreed to place in Eagan's possession certain valuable counterfeit plates of different denominations, and "coney" to the value of at least $50,000. Two men in McCartney's interest escorted Eagan to the corn-field, and stood with loaded weapons pointed at him during this interview, while the single Detective (unarmed, by agreement,) stood facing him, (on the other side of a rail-fence,) as Mac held his musket towards his breast, and they talked this matter over, in the darkness. At the close of this meeting, Eagan retired, declining to enter into any promises as to the future. But shortly afterwards, the programme submitted in the corn-field at midnight was consummated, though not upon the terms dictated by McCartney at that interview. He was soon afterwards secured by the U. S. officers, and compelled to make a surrender of all the counterfeiting materials within his knowledge, which, it was found, exceeded $65,000 in nominal value, and numerous counterfeit plates, dies, &c., &c.

The capture of this large amount of bogus money, and the obtaining of the spurious plates mentioned, was a very important move, and the result was highly creditable to Messrs. Applegate, Eagan and Lonergan, who so shrewdly managed this dangerous and subtle offender, throughout the trying scenes attendant upon this interesting adventure in their experience.