Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-01-20


PRINTING FIVE MILLION DoLrARs.-A
story of the late Confederacy. Shortly after the
Cotton States troops commenced their influx to
virginia, a Treasury Department was establish
ed at Richmond. At that time the currency,
outside and silver, consisted Of Stale and stock
banka, which was found insufficient to supply
the demand Of the accumnlating armies Of
nearly four hundred thousand men. Richmond
Delng the headquarters of the rising Confedera-
cy, It was selected by the leading men of the
rebellion as the most suitable place for the Is
suance OF their national currency.
In the Treasury Department there was en-
ployed man by IKE name Of Elan, compost
tor. He was shrewd and tricky fellow, as
the sequel will prove.
Amer rejecting on the great opportunity he
had OF becoming millionaire, lie determined
to strike of large amount ofthis money. No
precautionary measures were taken In regard to
this establishment as all seemed TO be engross-
81 In the furlhering of southern independence.
Dut While Elan was patriotic In the cause, he
had an eye to business. So one night he con-
GUIDED that the opportunc moment was at hand
LOT carrying on his design. Walking along the
street, he met and accosted q man who went
by tho name Of "Napoleon," divulging the OBJ
ect in view, and offering all equal partnership
III the great scheme he had concocted. His as
saham was to.elgner-a native Of Poland and
was nick named "Napoleon" from facial resem-
blance to the picture of the then Emperor of the
French.
Perhaps there never was period, In either
ancient or modern times that offered like oc-
casion for the possession of such wondrous
wealth, considering the slight risk to run and
the small amount of labor performed in its
achievement. Not even Slnbad the sailor, I'm
his most successful voyages, ever met with such
thrilling adventure rs fell TO the lot of these
two men.
Between nine and ten o'clock they entered
the Treasury by the back window and taking
the "cuts from the denomination of S. up to
800, they placed them on the press and printed
off five million dollars. The bonds were prln-
ted on kind Of thick, white paper, with no
impression on the back Of the bills. There was
no more difficulty in printing them than there
was In printing common business card. AT
ter dividing the funds and washing the "cuts, !"
and placing them In their proper places, they
left the house in the manner they had entered
1t, going to their respective abodes, no doubt
in the highest glee Of exhileration, for at that
time Confederate bonds were equivalent to gold
and silver, and In some of the Cotton States
commanded Premium.
The issue was then being signed by young
ladies', AMI there We're more than a hundred 50
employed. Elan had a lady acquaintance or
two In this department, and by this means he
had his own and his partners bonds signed
young ladies went on visit to Lynchburg, lit
tie dreaming of the announcement which was
so shortly TO follow
Napoleon" feeling richer than his name
sake, took one Of the young ladies to a jewelry
store and bought her an outfit Of jewelry, tend
ering hundred dollar bill In payment, for
which he received In change about sixty dollars
mostly In gold and silver. Next door lie pur-
purchased, In dry goods house, silk dress
and other articles, and here rendered another
hundred dollar bill. Late that evening the two
merchants happened to come out on the pave
ment at the same time, and one spoke to other
In relation to business affairs. The jewelry
merchant said times we're flush, and that he
had received u hundred dollar bill of the new
currency. The dry goods merchant said he, too
had taken In one Of the same denominations
After short parley, describing the parry that
had passed the bills, the dry goods merchant
felt convinced that something was wrong. lie
took the bills to the Treasury, and submitted
them to tho scrutiny of the Supedntendent,w who
examined and pronounced them genuine.
But here l must mention the fact that, on
the moi ming after tho pring Of these bonds, the
paper on whics they were printing was missed
by the Superintendent, and no Ice appeared
In the papers stating that this material was mis-
sling, butthere seemed to be no suspicion that
the money had been issued.
The fact that Elan had so uuceremonlou,ly
LETT his employment, taken In connection with
other developing circumstances, caused the ALL
thoritiss to be on the alert. Detectives were
employed to ferret ont this matter, and II possl-
BILE, to bring the guilty parties to punishment.
After using all the facts communicated to them,
In furtheriug their object, they decided to make
bolder move, aud arrest the so called ".Napo-
leon." He appeared to be overcome with ter
ror as the detectives and police approached him
Having many facts of his guilt in their posses
sion, they at once accused him of his crime
Aghast and trembling, he made full confess
sion, eliminating his partner, and giving all
tho facts In detail. He was then incarceIa ated
and dispatch sent to Lynchburg for the arrest
Of ELAN, who was found In all the enjoyme Mt
wealth could bestow. After the arrest of ELAN
and his fair companion, they wero hurriedly
taken to Richmond, but he alone was impris-
oned. No prosecution was brought against the
two young ladies, as all seemed sat tisted In GET
ting hold of the principals.
OF the vast amount Of bonds they printed,
but q small sum fell into the hands Of the ali-
thorities. Only about sixty dollars were found
on the persons of Elam and the young lady who
accompanied him. "Napoleon" suspected, be-
fore his arrest, that he was ''spotted" as one OF
the fraudulent bond printers, and either secreted
or destroyed his portion of this immenss issue;
as it was never recovered.
After short Imprisonment, the relatives and
friends of Elan effected plan for his escape
BY means unknown to the public, he disappear
ed from the prison made his escape north.
ward, for years afterwards no tidiiigs OF his
whereabouts were known. But poor "Napo
leon," after brief trial, was condemned, ant
suffered the penalty of confederate rule-a pun
ishmeut ending on the gallows.-LynchburS
Virgtnian.
Both LEGS AND A HAND OFF.-The Nor
ristown Herald, gives the following details Of
horrible accident occurring to Patrick Walsh, oil
the Railroad near that place on Saturday morn
Ing week.
walsh got ON the cars Of freight train
which he Thought was going to Philadelphia
| but when he reached point near the glas
works, the engineer commenced backing hi
| train into siding, when Walsh finding that tn,
| train was not going In the direction he sup
! posed, jumped off. As the engineer looked