of this inclination is found in the course he has deemed it wise to pursue towards those who have shown their contrition and a willingness to reform. In the instance of Shelley, who was arrested as already stated, and who expressed a desire to obtain some honest employment whereby he might provide for his wife and children, the Chief placed in his hands the following letter—which enables him now to earn a livelihood in a respectable manufacturing establishment in New York city.
"To whom it may concern:
The bearer of this letter—William Shelley—was for a long time engaged in the nefarious calling of engraving counterfeit plates, for which offence he was arrested by me. But it appearing that his testimony would be exceedingly useful in a case then upon trial against a notorious and wealthy counterfeiter, and still further that he would ever after refrain from crime and earn an honest livelihood by his trade, I have thought proper to aid and encourage him—so long as he adheres to his good resolution. And I have no hesitation in saying that I consider him entitled, thus far, to credit; and trust that no one will hesitate to employ him.
H. C. Whitley,
Chief of S. S. Div., U. S. Treas'y Dept.'
The day of the final trial of Fred. Biebusch came round at last in October, 1870. He was under twenty thousand dollars bail, and over a year and half had expired since the celebrated koniacker of St. Louis had been arraigned under the allegations preferred against him by Col. Whitley. He had not been idle in all that interim. He had sought out the Grvernment witnesses and "cooked" all he could find access to. Not a stone had been left unturned, so far as he
