Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-10-12
The Counterfeit Seven. thirties-
and Danserons Character Of the Fraud.

anu dangerous Cnardcter OI tne Ffaud.
The excitement with reference to the newly
discovered counterfeits on the $1,000 plates OF
Seyenthirty bonds continues unaoated this
morning, and the Cfhcss OF dealers in Govern
ment Securities are visited hourly by gentlemen
anxious TO com pare the genuine with the couu-
teriei's on exhibition TO see II they can dis
cover any points OF difference not hitherto dis
closed The counterfeit bonds will not bear
close sc'1tiny under good glass, and coarse.
ness in the engraving is plainly perceptible.
But on Comparing bonds which are known to
be genuine, 1T is found that there are differ
ences in the engraving and printlug, which
certainty Of detecting the counterfeit bonds by
close COMPARISON.
1t Itappeais that the genuine bonds are printed
in sheets Of tour, from at least three, and per-
haps four set OF plates These sets are designa-
ted by letters smaller than the letters designa.
ting the bond. For instance, bond will be
found to haar near the upper rlght.h hand
corner-just absve the red seal-the letter A,
and immediately under it, in the and j
plates wiA be found the letter A or B, and in
the plate the letter c is placed at the right
side OF the large letter The counterfeits SO
1ar discovered are on the and plates.
Therefore those parties having bonds printed
from the plate may feel comparatively safe
that their bonds are genuine.
This revelation shsws with what consum.
mate skill and daring the counterfeiters must
nave pursued their nnsiness. They were not
content with countereiting one plate of four
notes, but made two plates, and from these
~
thoroughly circulated.
The operators must nave been we'll skilled
IN the engravers art. br they have produced
bonds which have escaped detection in the
hands of the most thorough experts.
So perfect is the resem blance that had it not
Deen 1or the duplication of numbers the fraud
mignt not even now have been discovered at
the Treasury Department; and this circum-
stance gave rise to a theory yesterday that the
notes pronounced coun ,erfeit were not such,
but that they had been fraudulently printed
ment.
The description given by authority of tho
Solicitor Of the Treasury, states that the red
seal is larger in the counterfeit than il 10 in the
genuine. 1t will be found that this seal is Of
the same size on the counterfeit bond as 1t is on
the Legal Tender Notss, from which the oper-
ators doubtless copied.
We desire to caution private holders Of ST 200
even.thirty Bonds against being too confident
OF their ability to detect the eounterfeits with
out the aid OF experts. In all cases OF doubt a
little trouble should be taken to ascertain the
truth, and in this way the labors Of the detec-
ives who have this matter In charge will be
lightened.
Holders should observe whether heir bonds
are from the A, B or q plates, by the irstruc-
@ nons gwen above, and if from the a and
plate, whether the numbers are included with.
in the 10000 or % 900, W hich are already known
to have been duplicaAd.
1t is as yet impossible to say to what extent
these couAterfeits hare been "shoved." Large
tardy intelligence comes 10 the Department
that new discoveries Of counterfeit bonds have
been made.
Mr.. Clark, Superintendent Of the Printing
Bureau at Washington, left this city this morn
ing, after having devoted all his time yester.
day In putting IN train the measures for tracing
the counterfetts, and there are now in this city
some OF the most expert detectives of the Treas
ury Bureau engaged in "making up the case "
1t is not impossible that the Treasury De-
partment has paid the June coupon on three
counterfeit notes, and perhaps the coupons
due at the previous dates. Examinations are
now being made to ascertain il this has been
done, and the result will show how recently
they have Eeen Manufactured.
II they were made and issued before June
last, the presentation of the duplicate num-
bered coupons will show 1t, and if made after
that date thar fact will be disclosed.
The fraud is Of immense magnitude, as is al
ready known, and no pans or expense will be
spared TO detect the perpetrators OF it.
As is stated else where the Government will
not lose by this operation, even il the coun ter
felt bonds have been received at the Depart
ment
The parties sending IN the bonds for re.
demption are known, and will be req uired to
make good to the Government the value of the
bonds.-N. !. Commercial, 1lM-