Marshall, James A.

1858-1859       117 Main Street, Fitchburg, Massachusetts.[1]

1858 September 24.  Fitchburg Sentinel.  (Fitchburg, Massachusetts.)  September 24, 1858, Vol. XX, No. 39, P. 3.

J. A. Marshall, Photographic Artist, Octagon Building, 117 Main st.  Work executed in all branches of the Art in the best manner, and at the cheapest rates.

Imperial Photographs, For one half the usual prices for 90 days from date.

Advertisement ran from September 24, 1858 to February 25, 1859.

1859 February 25.  Fitchburg Sentinel.  (Fitchburg, Massachusetts.)  February 25, 1859, Vol. XXI, No. 8, P. 2.

Photographic Counterfeiting.—James A. Marshall of this town, a daguerreotypist, was arrested on Monday, and held for examination on the charge of counterfeiting, by the photographic process, and circulating notes on the Manufactures’ Bank of Providence, R. I.

William Barr, of Harvard, who recently went from this place,, was also arrested on suspiction of being concerned in the matter—and in his possession were found two of the counterfeit bills.  The notes were of the denomination of two dollars, but few of which were circulated, and it is supposed all have been recovered.  Marshall and Barr were brought before Justice Ware on Wednesday for examination, and were bound over on two complaints each, under bonds of $2000, for trial at the May term of the Court of Common Pleas.  Being unable to procure bail, both were committed.  Marshall is only about twenty years of age, and has heretofore borne a good character.  The counterfeits, it is supposed, were made by him as an interesting experiment in his art, and in an evil hour he yielded to the temptation to pass them.—Barr is a middle-aged man, and is supposed to have been instrumental in leading Marshall into the business.

1859 February 24.  Lowell Daily Citizen and News.  (Lowell, Massachusetts.)  February 24, 1859, Vol. VIII, No. 866, P. 2.

Photographing Counterfeiting.  In Fitchburg this week a young daguerreotypist named James Marshall has been arrested for making photographs of bank bills, and one Barr of Harvard has been seized as an accomplice, having in his pocket some of the counterfeits.  The latter were all $2 bills on the Manufacturers’ Bank of Providence and were accurate imitations except that the paper was to coarse and thick to deceive any person of experience.  The Reveille expresses much sympathy for young Marshall, who, it says—

Has hitherto borne a good character, and has been carefully and well educated by an excellent mother, now a widow, and crushed with the weight of this great affliction.  It is now supposed that he committed the crime from a deliberate purpose formed beforehand, but having attempted the counterfeit as an interesting experiment in his art, yielded to the temptation presented by his success, and so, in an evil hour, for the first time, departed from the path of honesty.

1859 March 4.  Hartford Evening Post.  (Hartford, Connecticut.)  March 4, 1859, Vol. 1, No. 279, P. 1.

James Marshall of Fitchburg, engaged in the daguerreotype business, has been arrested on the charge of counterfeiting by the photographing process, and a man named Barr has also been arrested on suspicion  of being concerned in the matter.  He had in his possession two of the counterfeit notes on the Manufacturer’s Bank of Providence.

1859 May 27.  Fitchburg Sentinel.  (Fitchburg, Massachusetts.)  May 27, 1859, Vol. XXI, No. 21, P. 2.

James A. Marshall of Fitchburg, says the Palladium, plead guilty to an indictment for photographing bank notes; but upon representations made by Hon. N. Wood, Hon. Moses Wood, and Hon. E. Torrey, of that town, the Court directed the indictment to be placed upon file; first cautioning the young man to such a course of conduct as would save him from being brought in for sentence at any time upon the charge against him.


[1] A Directory Of Massachusetts Photographers 1839-1900. (1859)

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