Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-11
why the Confederate Currency
COlI8DSede

WHOLESALE COUNTRRFEITING-PRoMIN MEN
ENGAGED IN IT-LEADING BANKS IMPLI-
CATED-A REMARKABLE STATEMENT.
Some half-dozen were talking last evening
about the late war,-the question as to who
would be victorious in Ohio having been set
tied. The monetary affairs OF the late confed.
eracy were especially the topic discussed. One
OF the party referred to the rapid and contin-
ued depreciation OF the confederate currency,
and spoke OF the large amount of it that was in
circulation. A gentleman who held an impor-
tant trust under the late confederacy, but who
was neither "Kernel" nor Majah mot.
even a "Jedge," said that the depreciation Of
the promises to pay of the lost cause was not
due wholly to the want OF faith In these prom
tses. There was another cause not generally
known, which had much to do with rendering
almost worthless the money issued from Rich.
mond.
"What was that?" asked THE STAR re.
porter.
Counterfeiting," was the reply. 'The state
ment may seem sUrange, but 1t is, nevertheless,
true that the whole south was flooded with
counterfeit notes. The confederacy did not
last long, but its money was counterfeited to an
almost Incredible extent. Many OF the men
who staid at home during the war by employing
substitutes were engaged in this trade. IN
many instances they were prominent men.
Some of our banks were implicated. Why right
in the little town In which lived one OF the
head men engaged in this traitorous work had
his headquarters. His name was George
B. He settled among us just before the
war, having come from the north. He was very
popular, and to all appearances warm sympa-
thizer with our cause. He succeeded In getting
north through the lines several times, but this
excited no suspicion. He was also closely con-
nected with one of the banks In Atlanta, and
evidently had business dealings with them. He
counterfeit money. he was the go-betwee1
disposed OF the stuff. We ali knew
that there was some counterfeit money
afioat, many believed that 1t was out in large
nfc E,,tp n11rhf fhof fhn
was flooded with it. had my suspicious, but
would never have had them confirmed but for
the dying statement of man In the California
printer by trade. When the first confederate
money was captured and brought north he got
hold Of some oft: he clumsily counterreited it
was called upon by a man named George
B, who, after some bargaining, induced
him to enter into the manufacture Of these
ments were held out to him that he consented,
and turned his shop into confederate counter
letting establishment. B furnished him
circulation In the south, and he struck of the
eounterfeits by the wholesale: B paid
him him for them T., heeraliy He d had deal
The statement Of the printer also mentioned
some names. knew that B had plenty OF
money during the war; that he was connected
section in which lived. These men and banks
came out Of the war with their pockets full OF
money. Men VINO were poor until the last Two
years OF the struggle were suddenly found to be
very wealthy at its close. They made their
money out Of counterfeit money, which they
scattered all over our state and the ad-
Joining states. 1t was such treacherous work
among our own people that did much to destroy
our credit. The printer said that for one Of his
shipments OF counterfeit money south, he re.
ceived $107 900 in greenbacks."
"What became Of bis statement? asked the
ut found its way south and was printed In one
Of the papers there with the names given in iG
slightly changed. It went no further. Th6
issue Of that paper was bought up wherever 1G
could be stopped before Distribution. n0tlceo
mentioned the matter or made any reference to
the statement. 1t caused some talk among the
few who happened to read the statement, but
it was not sufficiently circulated to become
of the banks were connected with this bust
ness?"
ayes; 1 happened to be In such position
that knew exactly OF at least one transaction.
q lot OF counterfeit money to another bank IN
Charleston. The money by some means was
missent and went to the wrong bank. Upon
opening the packages the counterfeits were oS-
sent a detective to Atlanta TO investigate. Aft1
he had looked around and founo now tnines
were, he went back, and upon his adv1ce the
Charleston bank let the whole matter DROP"
DoNALpsoN,s BopY.-Miss Josephine Deland.
aeronaut, writes from Ithaca, N. r, to the edl.
tor Of the n. Y, Cgippsr that the body Of w, h
Donaldson, who was lost on ballon trip ffom
MuskeSon. 81 Tieh., the man who found tie bosr
having Two letters watch and ring which
belonged TO Donaldson