Page:Memoirs of the United States Secret Service.djvu/91

 other large sums of counterfeits, in the western country. Biebusch had been hunted down, systematically, and when "pulled" he resisted, fought the officers, was floored and ironed. He was then searched and "marked" money found on him, which he had received from one McCabe for counterfeits he had sold him. This in February, 1869. Prior to this, it was averred that he had employed and paid Bill Shelley to cut counterfeit plates, for three years, or more, etc., etc. Shelley gave his evidence clearly and without faltering. He swore to the facts above briefly enumerated, and voluntarily stated that he had had no promises of reward, or of leniency towards himself. His object was to tell the truth—as he had previously stated to Col. Whitley and his officers—in justice to himself and the U. S. Government. Having made a clean breast of it, and reiterating that he had not been under restraint, or in any wise prompted or induced to give his evidence, save from a sense of what was right—at last—he retired, and Biebusch plainly despaired of further escape from the event which shortly overtook him. In the midst of this trial, originally, one of the jurymen was approached covertly, by Biebusch (as a final resort,) with the offer of $1000 cash, if he would hold out on the verdict, against an "agreement." "I want to hang the jury," said Biebusch to this man, "and thus turn the tables upon John Eagan and the rest of the U. S. Detectives." But this dodge failed him. The juryman was found impracticable for his purpose. He could not bribe him. At the last trial, it was aimed to impeach Shelley's evidence, by the defence; but this did not succeed. A large amount of damaging correspondence between Biebusch and his pals was shown up by the Government; testimony corroborative of Shelley was brought forward in abundance by