Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-27
THE QUEER.

| KeulhrAADie COuNAerIeit of Large
Denomination Discovered in CHI
caRO.
Washington Special to Chicago Times.
The treasury department warns
all business people against a new
counterfeit S. bill that is to be
thrown upon the market tomorrow
or next day. The issue counter
feited is not given, as this is with
held until the counterfeiters can be
caught. Trades people are warned
to closely scrutinize every S. bill
offered them by strangers. 1t is
believed that Chicago is the base OF
operations for this new gang. The
most dangerous, and consequently
the best counterfeit now out, is one
upon the issue of $1,000 greenbacks
Of 1869. Seven of these bills have
been captured by the secret service,
but as yet no trace Of the operator
who makes them has been found.
This almost perfect counterfeit has
been received at the sub treasures
of New York, Chicago and st.
Louis. Only last week one was re-
ceived at the treasury department
of the United States from the SUBJ
treasury at Chicago. This bill
passed through the Office of the
redemption agency here and was
within an ace of being cancelled as
a good bill. If this had been done
there would have been an end of its
discovery. This bill was discovered
by woman by the name of Leon
ard. She thought it did not look
right, and called special attention
to it. 1t was then discovered that
it was a counterfeit after several
experts had passed upon it. This
bill was returned to the sub-treas-
ury at Chicago. The sub-treasurer
has since reported that he received
it from the First National Bank OF
that place. Beyond that it has not
been possible to find any trace OF
the bill. Treasurer Gll6llin is very
sensitive upon the subject of this
bill being actually received at his
department, and says that it was
through carelessness in the redemp.
ton bureau. A woman was put on
as a counter who has mot handled
money for two years. Besides this,
she was intrusted with the Chicago
packages, the worst packages re-
ceiyed at the department. Packages
from the Chicago sub-treasury are
poorly sorted, while the money re-
ceired from this point is more worn
than from any other Special in
structiens are given to carefully
inspect the Chicago packages.
The omission to obey this order
led to the reception of this coun-
terleit the other day. The history
of this remarkable counterfeit is
quite as noteworthy as its perfect
fectness. In the first place it was
made by a man Of a higher talent
as an engrayer than any man in
the government employ; for with
out the perfected processes of the
government to aid him, he has yet
turned out SO good a bill as to de-
ceive nearly all the good experts
not specially warned. Its discovery
dates only four months back.
How much longer this dangerous
counterfeit has been in circulation
is not known. The operator is
very careful in his movements, put
ting out only a bill at time, and
then in such u way as to battle de-
lection. The bill is now regarded
as one of the most difficult to work
up ever undertaken by the govern
ment service. -Four months ago a
woman Of pleasure Of st. Louis re-
ceiyed into her embraces a man
who had upon his person three Of
these bills. The woman robbed
her lover during the night, but
supposed that she had only 500
bills The next day she sent out
three different negroes each with a
bill to get them changed. Two
went to the oustom-house aud to
the sub-treasury also. The negroes
were smarter than the strumpet,
and seeing the large denomination
of the bills did not dare to offer