Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-23

few weeks ago short paragraph ran the
rounds of the papers that counterfeit nickel
hve-cent pieces were becoming very plenty in
the city. of the hundreds of thousands who
read the paragraph probably there were not
half a dozen persons who knew the reason why
the spurious coin was becoming so plenty or
whence it came. the information, however,
was not news TO the officers of the New Eng
land bureau of the secretserviCe division of the
treasury department. They had become aware
of the fact that many OF the five-cent pieces
current in the city never saw the inside of the
United States mint; indeed they had never
gone out of the city. The hiding-pace of the
coiners was soon found, but the utmost care
was necessary not TO scare the cOinerS or to
cause them to suspend operations until the
chain OF evidence was complete. The very para
graph 10 which reference has been made caused
so much dismay that the men did not touch
die for a fortnight.
By careful watching the officers became salts
fled that the work was done in the upper part of
the store, 1913 Congress street, which is occupied
by VIM II. Morey, dealer in hides and goat
skins. Upon inquiry Of Mr.. Morey he told the
officers that the room had been hired last Sep:
tember by man named John A. Lumberg, a
Swede, about forty years old, who was a die cut
ter in the employ of the II. NJ. Richards iewelry
company at Green street. Lumberg represent
ed that he wanted the room for the purpose of
storing some machinery which he had used in
the manufacturing OF patent models. Mr.. Morey
did not know that the room was ever visited,
and was much astonished when informed that
on the first day OF every week, regularly every
Sunday from morning till night, that innocent
looking machine was in use turning out fiye.cent
pieces of base metal.
OF course he offered the detectives every assist
ance, and close watch was set day and night
Lumberg and his partner-a young Irishman
named Dennis Kelley, about twenty years old,
who was glider and bronzer at 8 Green street
Il hnn FfV,aa At. a.
metal, which subsequently proved to be nickel
plated composition Of zinc or tin. Yesterday
it was thought safe to make descent, and two
officers went up there about noon, burst in the
door and grapped the two men in the act OF
coming. Kelley surrendered at once but Lum-
berg showed fight. One of the officers got
back holt upon him, however, aud he con
cluded to give in.
Finding denial and sullenncss of no avail, they
made no secret of their operations. They got o
key to the outside door very soon after storing
the stamping machine, and worked regularly on
Sundays. They turned out coin representing
about $40 q day, which they divided and
worked off during the week without exciting
any suspicion. Lumberg himself cut the dies.
and they were really well done. One was cap
tured in the machine, and another they found
all worn out by use There was also found a
handsome machine for rounding off the edges,
which must have cost about S75, while the
stamping machine was worth several hundred
dollars. In fact, all the circumstances and the
system with which the affair was managed 20 TO
show that the scheme was well planned and eX-
ecuted with unusual care. OF this the fact that
such work could be prosecuted for seven months
in the heart Of the city without exciting the
least suspicion is certainly sufficient evidence
By the courtesy Of Chief Savage the prisoners
were placed in the tomhs, and will 90 before
Commissioner Hallett to-day.
Specimens of their work are now before rs
The die was most defective on the reverse of the
coin; it was badly worn on the date dS71) and
the legend In God we Trust the letters being
very indistlnet, though slightly larger than on
the genuine coin. The engraving of the shield
is almost good as the genuine. On the reverse
the stars are a little smaller than on the genuine
coin. while the letters Omitted States of Amer.
ca" are larger, as are also the periods at the end
Of the inscription. The inieriority of the metal
is seen in its refusing to take so clear stamp as
the real nickel Some of tue coins were slightly
bronzed, so as TO give the appearance of age as
the metal used is not so bright as the true coin.
Another popularity is that in the genuine the
word cents" comes directly under the figure
20, while in the counterfeit the final letters "ts"
are directly under the cure. As nearly 5000 of
these coins are in circulation, it is not al all inn
probable that some Of our readers may happen
to get one Of them.
Too much credit can hardly be given TO the
officers Of the New England division of Colonel
Whitley's secret service, who have made such a
complete seizure and secured such an irrelrapa-
be chain of evidence. There is not weak
point IN 1t, and yet case of coming is far more
difficult TO work up than forgery for counterfeit
bank notes can be traced where coins cannot
Boston Advertiser.