Attempt to Swindle

 Marietta Intelligencer, January 2, 1845

A few days since a stranger called at the Grocery of one of our citizens, Mr. Lindner, and pretending to have a large quantity of counterfeit coin in his possession, offered to dispose of it at a low rate. Mr. Lindner, wishing to detect the rogue, affected to be willing to buy the coin, and an agreement was that the transfer should be made of $250 of good money for $500 of the counterfeit at Belpre in this County on a subsequent day.

Mr. Lindner after advising with Justice Browning of Belpre agreed that a seizure should be made of the Coin and the villain, in the very act of transfer. He was accordingly arrested with an accomplice, and a box, which was in appearance like a box filled with specie, was discovered hidden under the bank of the Ohio. On examination however it appeared that instead of being filled with counterfeit money, it contained nothing but some old iron and sand. The plot undoubtedly was to induce Mr. Lindner to bring a large sum of money, and if possible persuade him to buy the box as containing the specie, but if he should refuse to do so, to take his money from him by force. 

They were committed to jail, but being brought up before the Associate Judges of the Common Pleas were discharged - they having done nothing which under the defective provisions of our Laws is punishable.

The oldest of the two calls himself Simmons - sometimes James and at others William. He is a man of some 50 years of age, with prominent features, and of a rather repulsive appearance. The younger is about 25 or 30, and calls himself Joseph Wright. We advise people to be cautious, as they will probably attempt to swindle in other places. They represent themselves to be from Guernsey County.