Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-21
Extensive GOunterfeitinG- sJO, 900 im Spu-
rious Postal Currency Seizesl-Arrcsf and
Confession of the COunterfeitcr

Confession Of the COunterfeitcr.
An important arrest was effected in Brooklyn New
York, last Tuesday, the particulars of which have
been suppressed up to the present time. The Treas
uryDepartment at Washington have long been aware
that the business of counterlciting greenbacks and
postal currency has been carried on to an alarming
extent at different points throughout the country,
but their endeavOrS to arrest the guilty parties have
with few exceptions, been attended with failure or
only partial success
One exceedingly skillfu cngraver of bogus postal
currency has been especially marked az the most
dangerous operator lnasmuch as his execution was
so perfect as frequently 10 deceive even the Goyern
ment officials and the boldness of the countcrfeter
was almost great as his skill. The man in nues-
ton is English engraver by the name of Charles
j. Roberts. The best Government detectives have
been Oh his track for SIX months. without succeeding
w Was eeeed ana
detectives in the service Of the Treasury Depart
Twenty y-siXth Metropolitan Precinct.
The operations of Roberts have been mainly con-
his money mill was situated. The last counterfeit
plates which he made, and which, in an indirect
issue of 50 cent postal currency They are of steel
and the impression from them is so beautiful and
perfect as to he entirely undstingushable from that
of the genuine plates. '--
But though an engraver, Roberts was not printer
His plate was Perfection but unadcd. or assisted
only by mediocre printers he could NOT produce an
impression equally perfect He therefore ieft Pbiia
delpha short time ago to seek the services of a
Brooklyn printer, whom he understood to have been
known to be mechanic of extraordinary skill. I'm
luckily for the English operator this printer was in
the service of the Government detectives, who were
therefore, promptly informed of the whereabouts of
the game for which they had long been in pursuit
Messrs. Lowell and Otto, with other detectives ac-
cordngly surprised Roberts in his Brooklyn resi-
dence on Tuesday morning last at 9 80, The cOun-
tereiter made desperate resistance swearing that
he would die sooner than be taken; but the detec-
tves were too many for him. He was knocked down
disarmed, and speedily lodged in the Raymond street
Jail. - w.
The arrest was kept profound secret. to give the
detectives time to effect the seizure Of the plates
tools and counterfeit money, already manufactured
at Philadelphia, which they were unable to do prior
to the arrest. They also knew of 900 in the fraud
ulent currency which the manufacturer had brought
with him to Brooklyn. and which they hoped to pro-
cure
After lodging their prisoner in confinement, they
Immediately set out for Philadelphia found the MILL
and seized its contents. comprising the plates TOOLS
presses, $4,000 worth Of the fraudulent currency, all
in 30 cent postage stamps. Some OF it was in
finished state but the detectives declare that the
completed issues would have deceived them instantly
that they would never have doubted their genuine
ness. But they were outwittcd by the prisoner, so
far as the cOunterfets in Brooklyn were concerned
During the absence Of his captorS, Roberts managed
TO have the following letter conveyed to his mistress
and confederate:
BRooKLYN, Nov. -. 1865
MARY: Please go at once when you receive this,
and tell Louisa to come and me at Tell hsr
70 clean things d'caV. | am at Raymond street Jail.
Please go some roundabout way, and take care no
body follows you. Tell Louisa to keep cool. 1 am
al right Do this right away, please, tonight, and
oblige yours, CHARLES j. ROBERTS.
Mrs Lloyd, corner North First street and Third
street, Brooklyn, E. D.
This notewas conveyed to the above address by the
brother of the Sheriff who had the prisoner charge
whence it reached Louisa, who, of course, cleaned
things away" much to the disappointment of the de-
tectives when they called for the purpose of making
the seizure. The guilty brother of the Sheriff has
fed, and has thus far effected his escape.
The detectives are now in pursuit of confederate
of Roberts and they quite confident of soon cap
turing him. Since his incarceration Roberts has
confessed everything lie says that the plate which
has been seized was intended for his final and great
est effort. If the detectives had only held off for
been in Europe enjoying it. We understand that
Roberts new counterfets. to the extent of $4,000
are already afoat.
OvertOn, the counterfeiter of 25-cent stamps, who
was arrested some time ago, pleaded guilty on Fri
day last Roberts will also probably be speedily con-
victed. and. as he is not SO fortunate to have "a
wife and nine children, there is likelihood of his
receiving the hasty pardon which was recently grant
ed to Antonio Rosa a similar criminal.