Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-13
The Counterfeit One Hundred Dollar
Compound Interest Rearing Noits.

IL was stated in a Washington usna,ch
few days since, that there vas reason 70 sus-
pect that the Government authorities had been
successful in ferreting out and securing the
original plates from which the celebrated coun-
teTfelt one hundred dollar interest bearing
notes-seyen hundred and fifty thousand doll
lars OF winch are now in circulaton-wPre
printed, and that the authors Of this stupendou.
scheme TO defraud the Treasury of the country
Were wei known and would soon be- arrested
ana receive their wnll-merlted reward. Sub
sequent examination, In this city and Brook
lyn, has resulted IN confirmation of this SUM-
position.
An officer Of the Department came 10 New
York last week TO see what had been done and
was about 10 be done in regard TO the case
This officer was Edward Jourdan, Solicitor of
the Treasury. He held q secret session of de-
tectIyes at the Office Of a well-known law firm
on Nassau street, where he had Mr. X r
Lowell, the chief of the New York force, be.
lore nm, with several Others, and lengthy
and critical examination Of the wonderful
fraud was entered into. He was well satisfied
that Mr.. Lowell had done well with the co.n-
terfeIters in this vicinity. Ii is now thought
that one result of this interview was the can
ture OF the plates, paper, ink, presses and ma
chinery OF the operators and its transfer 70
Washington, never again To be used by illegal
manufacturers OF paper currency. The prom
erty, II ls understood, was found in the city of
Brooklyn. The principal actor in the prPpa-
ration Of the plate, ana the one who worked
directly upon the Treasury Department at
Washington, has probably made his escape
from all terrestrial punishment. He was sud
dt My attacked with Nlrulent disease, which
ended his life ere he could be brought 10 trial,
and even before he was suspected of his crime
All the parties concerned in the crime are
known TO the detectives. and will soon be
brought before the proper tribunal for trial.
An interesting history is connected with the
plate from which the backs OF these one hum
dred dollar notes are printed. II cannot all be
given al present, but will be unveiled before
the courts. 1t is sufficient to say that a former
employee OF the Department was seduced by
the counterfeiters and became their most ef-
hcient ally and confederate. Ii was through
his agency and that of a woman who figures
somewhat In the affair, that the IA ccessfu iui-
tation Of the back of the bill was accom- ulished
Some of the most skilful engravers in the conn
try were engaged IN producing the plate for
the face OF the note, which, with only one or
TWO very unimpOrtant variations was also a
copy OF the Treasury Departments genuine
article. Then the new banking institution
went INTO operation, and for a while did q
thriving business. The result as has been
stated, was the issue of seven hundred and fifty
thousand dollars in the new currency before
the trick was discovered and the game ex-
ploded.
Considerable censure has heretofore been
uselessly and unJustly expended upon q bank
note engraving concern in this city, as thew
were at first supposed TO have been in a meas.
ure responsible for the imposition which has
been practiced upon the public, and the con-
seqnent circulation given TO bills which are in
u1nslcaIly worth no more than the paper upon
which they are printed. To set that firm rieht
before the people it may be stated that thew
had no more to do with the game of the conn
terfelters than the tabled man in the moon
Nor were any persons at present engaged in
the Treasury at Washington. The facts soon
TO be brought out upon a legal Investigation
Will substantiate all the preceding Statements
ActC IOrl Herald