The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-11-29
Terms $500 per onnune, d, adrance.

tered with pile ftorn up letters and news
papers. Light was admitted tbrouoh the
ground-slass upper half of the door ana
through the window, the lower half of which
was pasted over with paper. The furniture
consisted of a small office table and two deal
chairs, the former bearing writing materials
and candle in rough wooden candlestick
Both being seated, the man offered cga.
rette and interrogated the reporter as to his
name, residence and occupation. To these
questions suitable replies were returned, the
reporter naming his birthplace, town at
distance, as "the place where he came from"
The answers seemed satisfactory, and the
swindler produced from a pocket book, as
samples OF his wares, twenty-five and fifty
cent cent hote, national bank bill and three
treasury notes. The Denominations of the
p pnls were Ssl, 81, So and $40. This money
Doie no marks of spurious origin, or, at least,
none that could be detected by an inexperi-
enced eye. 1t is not unlikely that part or all
OF IL was genuine, being used as bait for Gus.
toners.
Fisher asserted, with apparent frankn,ss.
tina. the fifty cent note had once been spotted
as counterfeit, but that the rest of the curren.
cy had never been suspected. He was dispos-
ed to be somewhat reticent in regard to the
details OF his business, communicating them
only in reply to direct qustions. Omitting
the latter, the following is the sum OF the an
sTers received:
these bills are made from the very latest
plates, by the best talent in the country. In
making them we have to take three different
impressioDs-on stone, wood and steel. They
are all correctly numbered, for we have rule
to guide us. There are four classes of bills,
A, b, G and d. Now, if you divide the num-
ber of any bill by four, the remainder, after
dividing, if there is any, is always the same in
all Dllls OF that class. For instance, in class
3 the remainder is always two, and in class
ID there is no remainder at all. The only
thing that we can't get is the paper. fhe
genuine is silk, and this is only lambs wool.
However, there is very little danger in pass
ing it even if you are new in the business.
Most men merely glance at bill they lake,
and then fling it down. If you get it off your
own fingers, that's all you want. II any one
should object to bill, just take it back. Mon
ey is less likely to be suspected when it looks
little worn and crumpled. It's easy made
to look diney with a little soft soap and a
brush.
"lhere's no danger of our establish nent
here being detected. We are too old hands
in the business for that, and have got things
down TO fine point. We have been in the
business ever since the go yernment began to
issue paper, and we've never been detected
yet. We have been established on our pres
ent basis live months, and have three hun
died agents scattered over the country. There
are eight OF us in the firm. Pm the only one
who stays in New York, and stay at the Of
hce here all the time. The others have
charge OF sending out the circulars, or are at
the place where the bills are manufactured,
which is hundred miles fiom here. We
never keep any counterfeits at this Office ex-
cept the specimens l showed you. If a cir
cular should get sent to the wrong man, and
anybody should come down On us here, they
couldn't prove onything. Besides this busi-
ness, we do large legitimate trade, buying
goods on commission for our agents. For in
stance. If one of our country agents is H.
quor-dealer we buy liquors for him. / have
two large offices here for that business, and
employ twelve female clerks. Women are
not so inquisitive as men; besides you always
know when woman is coming.
Il cant let you have any while you stay in
the city. We never sell any to be used in
New York, for fear they might get traced
here. You can have $1,000 for So The
least we ever sell is $500. You call in here
couple of days before you leave town, and
give your order. The money will be sent to
your address by express, done up tight in
strong paper box. You'll find me in at al
most any hour of the day except from 1890
till l."
The plausible swindler (who looked con-
siderably younger than he said he was) gave
this information with the calm and compla-
cent air OF pious moralist. He inquired
somewhat anxiously what the reporter had
done with the circular he received, and re-
quested him to bring it with him the next
time he called, or else destroy ii himself, as he
did not like to have such things "lying round
loose" Duling the interview he was several
times called out by knocks at the door, and
conversations in low tone were held outside
Having betrayed as much ipquistiveness as
he thought prudent. the reporter at length
withdrew, limiting at future call not likely
to be made.