Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-29
M0rtester Daily Syn.
How an Expert COunterfeIter was Dis
covered.

their design and engraving, forgery OF one
OF them is now extremely rare. The notes of
the Bank OF France are considerably more or
nate and limitations OF them are less rare. 1t
would seem, indeed, that the more complex
the design, and the more elaborate the execu-
ton OF bank note, the less difficult is its imi-
tation. On the same principle, in initiating
handwrltlng-a plain signature will often BAT
he the tOrger, while an involved one, with the
addition Of a rubricd, is readily copied. So,
We dare say, painter could more readily pre-.
sent the lines and wrinkles OF an old, than the
roundness and freshness and grace OF bloom.
ing young face.
We have to relate an anecdote, connected
with this subject, which lately reached US from
Paris, says the Philadelphia Press, which will
give some idea OF the real manner in which
artists lin the criminal Incl execute their
work -
For the last ten years number of forged
notes have been presented - the Bank of
France for payment-the imitation so well ex-
ecuted that it required the practiced eye and
touch OF very experienced clerk to detect
the fraud Year after year, the bank miro.
duced notifications in the design Of their
notes; but after little time each of these was
noticed and accurately copied by the forger-
In fact the sole means Of detection was by the
capital letter, making the series not agreeing
with the number of the note.
French, unlike English bank notes, are mum.
Dered III the corner in small figures, so that on
receiving them as payment few persons notice
the number. The forged notes were inyaria-
ply OF ZOO francs denomination, (equa to $40
each,) and not more than 81 ,eOO worth was
issued annually. The game was played SO
long that the bank cashed an amount OF about
S5o,OOO, without gaining any clue as to the
Identity OR whereab outs of their expert com.
petitor
The Bank OF France, interested in not throw
ing dlscredit upon its small notes-100 francs
being the smallest legal denomination-always
casied the forged oues. The secretary gen
eral OF the bank, greatly and constantly an
noyed by the pertnacity of the fraud, the non.
prevention Of which wounded his amour pro
pre-, talked about it, rot long ago 10 a commits
sary OF the Partisan police, and asked him
whether lie knew any able to suggest a
modification i'll the form or design OF the
notes, so as to render it impossible to initiate
them. The police officer answered that he
believed he knew such man. Gle is an old
friend of mine, he said, land lives on his
property in the country. He amuses himself
by engraving, quite en- amateur, and is as skill
tul as regular artist. He will be charmed at
the opportunity of being OF service to the
bank. When next he comes to town, shall
make point OF bringing him to you"
In a short time, the "amateur" visited Paris
and was introduced to the secretary OF the
bank. They had very long conversation,
III which the country gentleman exhibited a
particular and curious acquaintance with the
various changes which had been made in bank.
notes, for several years, 10 battle imitation.
he showed himself so thoroughly acquainted
with all the processes Of BANK mote manufac-
ture as to awaken suspicion in the mind of tile
secretary, who, however, did not let him Oh.
serve it, as he politely entertained him at
dinner.
The amateur" left the table early, desiring
to go to the opera, and the secretary and the
commissary ofpolice remained tete-a-tete. White
engaged in the operation of making cafe a.
gloria, previous to breaking up the sitting, the
bank secretary quietly said to his friend of the
police, 81 am much indebted to you for max
ing me acquainted with your clever friend
from the country. L think l have clue to
the author OF the forgeries, and could lay my
hand upon the man. In one word, if these
forged notes are made in France, your friend
is the manufacturer" The police officer
laughed at the idea, and said ''You are wholly
mistaken. Monsieur Mounier is most re.
spectacle man. He lives in the country, on
his own estate, in the environs of Angoueme.
He receives all the authorities-the bishop, the
project, the imperial procureIT, all the officials,
in fact" THAT may be, the shrewd secrv tary
retorted, "but it strengthens my conviction.
Know that all the forged notes reach US from
Angouleme"
Nothing more was done at the time. NJ
Mounier was permitted to return to Angou-
leme without knowing that he was spotted as
an object OF suspicion. The bank secretary,
who had no idea OF letting him escape, had in.
quries secretly made at Anguuieme, and
found that he really did live in a respectable
manner, on an estate near Angouleme, worth
about S25OO year-a comparatively large
income Tor gentleman in the rural parts OF
France. But 1t came out that, though certain
ly living within his income in the country, NJ.
Mounier frequently visited Paris, and lived
there in great style.
The bank secretary arranged with the COM
missary Of police that he should accept an in
vitation from M. Mounier TO spend part Of his
annual holiday month with him at Angou-
leme. The VISIT nominaly under the pretext
OF shooting, was actually tor espionage. He
had his sport, and was hospitality entertained.
One day. while they were out in the fields,
the commissary artfully suggested some i'm
provemenls in the grounds. His friend
shrugged his shoulders, and objected to the
expense. "Nonselse !' said the commIssary,
steadily fixing his eyes on Mouner's face
"When man has the power OF coming
money, as you have'-at which his hosts
counIenance flushed all over.
Nothing more was said, and, at the end of
the week, the commlssary took leave of his
friend, who was i'll some doubt whether any.
thing was meant by the allusion to coming
money. The commssary returned 10 Paris,
fully persuaded OF his friends guilt, and re.
solved 10 arrest him. Two clever detectives
were despatched 10 Angouleme to study the
ground, and pick up intormation-for it was
very serious thing TO arrest a wealthy gentle
man who was on intimate terms with the
bishop, the project, the prosecuting attorney,
and all other magDates of the capital OF the
department OF Charente.
These detectives, gentlemen OF address and
= education, managed to become acquainted
with Nj. Mounier, at the projects table, and
were favored with an invitation to have
day shooting on his grounds. lie gave them
an excellent breakfast, and accompanied them
to the field where several birds were killed.
While thus engaged, the officer commanding
the gendarmerie OF the department, one OF M.
Mounier's most part Cular friends, accidental
ly joined the party. After some conversation,
as they walked along, the officer expressed
himself struck with the beauty of his friends
fOwl4ng piece, and admired it the more when
he learned that it was a chef d'euvre Of his
own manufacture, asking permission to exam
inc il, The moment it was in his hands, the
worthy pendarme pulled warrant out of his
pocket, and arrested M. Mounier, whom he
had SO adrotly disarmed.
M. Mounier conducted himself with cool
ness and propriety in this unpleasant situation
accompanying his captors back to his house
without any resistance, and calmly submitting
lgaIs l,,1 Il, b...,.