The Virginia Gazette

WILLIAMSBURG, May 15.

A Person who calls himself by the Name of John Keef, and has lived in this City for some Months past, as a Painter, having offered to dispose of three Dublin Bank Notes, of considerable Value, to a Gentleman here, it was suspected from several Circumstances, that he did not come honestly by them. Information being made to the Governor, His Honour ordered Search to be made for the said Bills, which were found at the said Keef's Lodgings, as also His Majesty's Commission to Post Leonard Craddock, Coronet of the Scotch Greys, under the Earl of Stair, signed Carteret. Keef being out of Town, a Messenger was sent for him, who return'd with him the next Day, and he is now confined in the Public Goal. One of the Bills is for 206 l. payable to Miss Catherine O'Brien, or Bearer, Signed by Richard Brewer, for John Wilcox and John Dawson, the other two Bills, one of which is for 206 l. and the other for 500 l. are signed in the same Manner, and payable to the Bearer, all dated at Dublin, in 1749. Keef came to Virginia, sometime in the Year 1750, in the Duchess of Cumberland, Capt. Dixon, as an indented Servant: He told the Ship's Company when he came on Board, that he was an Officer in the Army, that he was going to be married to a young Lady, Miss Catherine O'Brien, but some of her Relations interposing, he wounded one of them, and was obliged to fly, a Reward of 200 l. being offered for apprehending him. On his Examination, he made no other Defence, than insisting that the Bills were his Property, having received them of Miss O'Brien, for a valuable Consideration. He is a Man of a middle Stature, very much pock-fretten, stammers in his Speech, and has a down Look; as it is not doubted, he used some unlawful Means to procure these Bills, 'tis hoped the Truth of the whole Affair will come to Light, before his Releasement.