The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-29
COunterfelting.

Counterfeiting.
ALARMING EXTENT OF COMMUNICATING IN THE
UNITED sTATEs-DIFIERENT NODES OF FRAUD
INSECURITY OF OUR PAPER CURRESCY--THE CAUSE
OF THE EvIL-REMYDIEs PROPOSED.
There seems to prevail an almost universal mat
tention to the alarming extent of counterfeiting in
the United States This is doubtless owing to the
fact that the monstrous evils inflicted are borne by
the people individuals, and not in sections or
masses. IL IL tlerus true THAR spurious naos>sy
of every description Is flooding every avenue Of bus-
ness; Bank Note Defsctors are published almost
daily to keep rscord of the rapid increase of bad
money. II is VIGOROUSLY true that no man takes a
bank note without first instituting an examination
as to whether it be fraud.
Yet with all these warnings and precautions, bad
money circulates, and few persons can boast Of
never having been " stuck with bad bill" In or
der to now more conclusively the alarming extent
Of this evil, the subjoned facts have been CLEANED
from the most authentic source-a record which is
said 10 form the most reliable list Of good and bad
money. From one Of the Bunk Note Reporters are
taken the following
The number Of banks in the United States
whose notes have not been counterfeited OF
The number Of banks in the United states
whose notes have been counterfeited or alter.
ed, "A. ....................... S5A
BY this table il Will be noticed that II ia known
that nearly twothirds OF the issues Of all the banks
in the United States have been altered or counter.
feited. This number Is Independent Of all those
frauds which have not been discovered, and which,
doubtless, exist In great numbers though they have
not been estimated. When il IL further taken into
consideration that there is a numerous class Of
banks whose notes are not worth counferfeiting,
since the originals are worth little or nothing, IL
might be made 10 appear that nearly every bank Of
large circulation and reliability has had frauds and
limitations TO vie with the circulation Of its genuine
notes.
Banks are frequently compelled to call in their
issues and procure new plates, and the Counterfeit
Detectors often give this advice TO their readers
Refuse all notes Of this denomination" counter.
deceive counterfeit admirably DONE &c. In
order TO inquire into the cause OF this evil II mn,t
be appropriate 70 give some data showing the
DIFFERENT KINDS FRAUDS.
BY reference 10 the authority quoted above, aud a
careful analysis Of the different kinds Of fraud there
described the following result IL obtained -
No. Of counterfeit notes described. .......l ,462
No. Of altered notes described. ............10t 9
No. Of notes described as spurious. ....... "a
No. described particularly as altered from
broken banks ................s..... 20
No. described as badly done ................ %
No. printed from genuine plates ........... Is,
These il must be recoected. are merely an emu
meratioa OF the different species OF fraud. How
many Of each species has been issued none can tell
except those ingenious gentlemen who constructed
them. Their elastic consciences alone can crcum-
scribe the limits Of this dangerous currency. which
perhaps equals IL not exceeds, the circulation Of all
the good money in the country. IL " unrAssakably
a pcrtipent inquiry What IL the cause Of the great
extent of the evil To answer this query IL is pro
poeed 10 consider in detail the different kinds OF
frauds, and first Of I'll
CoUNTERrEIr MONEY.
II nav seem to be an Irishsm to say that counter
felt morey IL most always not counterfeit money;
but such Is indizputaby the fact Counterfeit mo
ney 30 called 2ust be executed in mastery man
ner when, amsng all the frauds in the last table,
but ninetyeigAt were Described az badly aone.-
The detectorsl abound with laudations like tbese--
" excellent imitation" admirably done, '" cacu-
lated 70 DECISIVE kc. Tho newspapers abound with
accounts Of this species OF money having been taken
even by hanks and. brokers. Yct every one knows,
or oughs to know, that engraving IL an art which
cannot be acquired without years Of practice and
great aptitude: and there are few Instances. II any,
where one man In capable Of executing. with his own
hands, all the par.s which Il present compose
bank note. Il evident then, hat no unskilfu hand
con construct this money and that the Assistance OF
an epgrsver must be procured
Nov, an eagrayer was never known to tnrn com
terfeiter voluntarily vet his work often appears upon
counterfeit notes. because BY the present system 81
engraving, he may execute part o. bank note
without intending 10 do 40. II y web Known that
bank notes are composed OF various disconnected
parts all Of which parts are ss times used on other
bank notes, snd are n no way identi6ed
| is used Nv many hundred hanks; vet no MAJ. can
because he gels head Of Washington engraved
10 suspeeted of design 10 commercial Cons
auently the Rsak Note Director rives list Of one
| hradrcd ard fcyty ccanterfcits vth the heed n