Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-29
Those Dangerous Counterfeits.

| The fact that Charles Williamson, the neted
forgcr and escaped convict from Sing Sing, had
been convicted of forgery 10 London, and sen.
| fenced to ten years imprisonment has already
been published. He was said to be confed-
crate of Dan Noble and other noted forgers. 1t
was also stated that he had admitted that be
| was connected with the half million forgeries on
the Bank Of England, and offered to give other
information in relation to forgeries for the sum
of SIS ,OOO., which was refused. The informa.
ton he offered for this large sum of money is
now finding its way to the world at large, and
the emigrant population of Europe in par
ticular.
On Tuesday last the steamer Herder from
Hamburger arrived at this port, having on board
large number of emiqrants. The Polish and
Austrian emigrauts. while awaiting the sailing
of the steamer at Hamburg, stopped With
man named Solomon Myers, or, as his sign read
Solomon Meyers Il Co..
This man kept place which was halt tavern
and half saloon. He compelled the emigrants
to pay most eXorbitantly for their accommoda.
tions, and before sailing told them they ought
to have their German money exchanged for
American currency. he promised them very
IS, 600 and said that for this he would procure
them 50 600 Of our money. Myers took them
to q pretended banker, and this man. instead
of exchanging each mans money on the spot.
took what each had and gave him receipt for
the same. That sam7 night. after dark, the
"banker" went to Meyers place and paid
each man according to his receipt in American
bauk potes, giving to each $50 aud 500 bills
on the n .tioual Broadway Bank OF New Yerk.
The smaller notes given, 80 far as can be as
certaioed, we're genuine. All of the counter
reit money bore the stamp OF H. Plaut, Ber-
lin" on the back.
There is in Hamburgh Danish hotel, kept
by Mr.. Simmons, respectable gentleman:
The Danes of the party went to Simmons
hotel, and he also recon- meuded bis guests to
have their money changed, and sent them to
banker named Levy, who gave them the same
money A Mr.. Percy Joseph of Mississippi
changed his money at the banking house OF
Israel & Co., we'll known bankers, and he re-
ceived TWO $50 notes on the same back. Sew.
eral other saloon passengers did the same, and
these notes were Invariably given them. The
party were thus pretty we'll loaded with these
bills, oae man having no Jess than Sc 600 worth.
After prosperous voyage they arrived here.
And now commenced an experience not antlol.
pated.
Mr.. Joseph went to the Pennsylvania Rail.
road Office. 526 Broadway. and having pur-
chased ticket to New Orleans. rendered
$50 note to the ticket agent, MIR. Wm. Hot:
man, who, not liking it's appearances, haoded
it over 10 Mr.. A. Hollander, the express agent
who 10 turn ssut it to the bank, where 1t was
pronounced counterfeit. At the emigraut of.
fice of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 8 Battery
place, several ticke's were bought and paid for
with this money but Mr.. Brown, the ticket
agent, soon discovered the bsseness Of the paper.
and fund the parties from whom he obtained II
before the train left, and made them take 1t back
In Castle Garden. Mr.. Geo. CConnor, who has
had charge of the present position tor the past
twenty wears, and who, during that time, has
never before taken over $3.50 in base money.
was selling tickets to the emigrsnts. He furnish
cd upward of fifty Of them with tickets via the
Pennsyivsnia road to Columbus, Nebraska one
to Denver, Colorado and one to California, tax
ing psy for tha same in spurious money. The
psrty started, but alter they left the character OF
the money was ascertsined, and the emlgrans
were s:opped by the railroad officers 81 Fits.
burgh. The Austrian Consul wss summond
and placed in possession of the facts. and he I'M
mediatey put himself In communication with
the AustGisn Minister at Washington and the
city authorities. Pittsburg not liking to ADD
ffty paupers TO its population, sent then oil
forward to their destination except the man who
had the Sc. 600. He was detained and sent bsck
to New York the Consul at this port being de-
termined, if possible to recover tor these poor
people the money out of which they have been
so bssely swindled. ,,,,,.
This dou btless is the secret which Williameon
offered to impart There is no doubt that the
sesbosrd of the old country is flooded with this
money, and that many vessels now coming o'er
will bring more or less Of it. The number OF
persons drawn to Europe by the Paris Exposl,
ton offers an excellent field for operations. and
it is certain that some will sufer.-N I. HeI0s.