Early Governors' Papers

Knoxville December 17th 1805

Sir

I have reasons to believe that Allen Twitty,. Abraham Collins, James Rutherford and - Read have gone into the Cherokee Nation with a considerable Number of Counterfeit bank notes, with an intention of passing them to persons resident in the Nation - and also have reasons to believe that they passed some of their notes which were Counterfeits to Citizens of Blount County as they were on their way to the nation - If it should be in your power I think it will be well to have them apprehended and sent to this place in order that their Conduct may be inquired into by the authority of the United States - It is reported that Twitty and Collins have escaped from North Carolina and as is thought

that Rutherford and Read are connected with them in making and passing their notes- If it should be in your power to have any of them apprehended while the Bearer M^r James Edinton is in the nation, he will assist in conducting them to this place.

Ihave the honor &c

signed

John Sevier

/Copy/

Letter to Major William L Lovity Cherokee Nation 17 Dec^r 1805.