The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-03-18
Confederate Securities.
THE DEATH OF A MAN WHO COUNTER.
fEiTED THEM BY MLLI0Ns-AN
INTERESTING SECRET CHAPTER
OF THE WAR.


FEiTED THEM BY MLLIoNs--AN
INTERESTING SECRET CHAPTER
OF THE WAR.
San Francisco Chronicle.
The reported death of Chas. A Ac-
ton from mining accident in the
northern part Of this State, brings to
light an extraordinary story. Acton
was formerly PRIMER In New York,
and during the war was engaged IN
counterfeiling the paper currency Of
the Confederate States. In this busi-
ness he accumulated a fortune, which,
according to the statement which he
made to the writer hereof must have
amounted 10 more than $l,000000,
This he subsequently lost in stock
speculatIons, aud after the catastro.
phe Of Black Friday, lie came to CAL
ifornia and worked as miner. The
story, as told by himself aud in his
own handwriting Is as follows:
In 1850 several Southern States
passed an ordinance Of secession, and
appointed delegates to meet OH the
4th Of February, lS6l,a Montgomery,
Ala. At this convention Jefferson
Davis was elected President. Steps
were at once taken TO raise money.
On the 2lst Of May, 1861, the capitol
of the Confederacy was removed to
Richmond. Bills were adopted au-
d. orizing the issue OF treasury notes
Of various denomination go, $40, $50
$50. 800, etc.) So scarce did silver
aud gold become that corporations
and individual firms were compelled
10 issue notes. These were generally
printed from types aud ON common
paper. Tho city Of Richmond issued
notes printed from u wood cut. The
limited mechanical resources OF the
Con leracv compelled il to resort 10
the use Of common photographic
printing, aud i, printed its notes and
Its bonds from photographic stones,
making transfers from old bank.noie
dies which had found their wry into
the hands Of some photographic es.
Establishments IN the South. So prim-
tive was the appearance Of these
notes that they were eagerly sought
for IN the various Northern States as
curiosiiics. Some of them reached
Washington shortly after the first
emission, aud mn cnierprising news
dealer, named Hanrv, from New
York, who supplied the soldiers and
officers stationed IN mud around the
Capital with Northern publications,
conceived the idea of printing fac
siniles OF these notes aud selling
them as curlosiiics. With as many
different kinds ne he could procure
he hasieacd To New York aud gave
printer (Acton) an order to set up
In type aud cngrnve on wood imita-
lions of five or six notes OF denomi-
nations from one TO ten dollars.
THE FIRST ORDER
was for about 5000 or 1000 noics.
The demand was so great the plates
were elcclrotyped, aud 10000 ., ",
0O0 copies per day were turntd o IT..
These were sold In all the cities at
the North, by newsboys aud news.
dealers. AS the rebeIlioh prog es ed,
the soldiers In the army fcnnd the e
notes, poorly printed rs they were,
more potent In procuring supplies OF
farm produce, chickens, ETC.. from
1.-The co!ored people than our own cur
rency. In fact, there were many
persons In the South who would
not take any other. A gentleman, a
pro fessor Of music, Geo. ii. Briggs,
living Mt Atlanta, Ga, while passing
through New York on his way home,
procured from the newsboysa supply
OF the fac-simile notes with view OF
getting up better limitations. On his
arrival at Atlanta he made arrange
lmcuts with w. IL. Teller (fornerly
from Hartford, Con,,) paying teller
or officer in the Bank Of Falton at
Atlanta, to procure better imitation
of the larger notes, which were lith-
ographei and printed at Richmond
4 and used by the banks In the South
This bank officer, having knowl'
edee vi Wn"' o""N "o IL.
had no aifiicuity III maN,ns su'es, =,
| he was usually called, with the ncces'
sary lunos nc sem. n,u, ~ 80" ~, a." 40
TO procure ihi'a'9ms ,' ~ m'o s.0,.. us ,os ro
siraoie Kinas. no p'o,esso '''s o,,,i %
qnl.e q soc'ap.o pc.so"' WV ,;nom,n @
ndapt mmss'. 70 a'n,o.. MY . 'o Mor,h
stances, anu 'e'gnius " " " n,.;',,o, M
erh oorh, w sons" on",rac, @ Mi,
@ Sim Soy ongroviny ana printing $40
$40, $50 and $lO0n notes and bonds. a
deposit of $500 secured the com
mencement Of the work. In few
weeks the fac.similes were ready,ant
J arrangements made 10 pay for thu
balance of the printing on deliver!
of work. The professor procured |
large trunk, with false bottom, ant
packed what represented nearly W,
oO0,OOO IN this money, and left New
York about the latter part of Sep
tember, 1862. He passed through
our lines at Paducah, Ky, and sue
Q cecacd in reaching home In about tw'
: weeks time, safely conveying thes