Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-26
DANGEROUS COUNTERFEITs.
Spurious United states Bank Notes Ina
Circulation.


The number of counterfeit nationa
bank notes now in circulation through.
out the country, and particularly in tn,
West is a matter to which the secret
service of the Treasury Department ar,
at the present time giving their almost
undivided attention. Special Agent
Hall, chief of the service in the West
reports the coney" men and their CO.
adiutors, the " showers" " as energetic and
daring in their crooked work. The Chi
Cago Times says:s
Mr.. Hall has in his possession AN inter
csting collection of spurious notes. Tho
largest is IA sI0OOUnitcd States note, dated
March 10, 1862, bearing the signature OF
l.. + Chittendcn, one of which turns up
about every six months. The only de-
feet noticeable in this bill is the letter
IN in Chittenden's signature. which is
very defective. In many of the bills dis
covered the defective letter has been de-
stroycd, as il picked with pin. The
circulation of this bill has been mainly
confined 10 New York, Boston and
Philadelphia. where "A number were sue
ccssfully exchanged. The next is $500
United States note, series of 1869. But
few of this issue are said To be in circula-
tion. and il is believed that the plates
were thrown in the Hudson river by the
uttcrer several years ago.
OF the 800 denomination there are
three distinct issucs-on the National
River bank. Of Boston. the Merchants
National bank, of New Bedford and the
Second National bank. of Wilkcsbarrc,
Ia All these closely approach the gcnu-
inc. The only defect noticeable in the
WilkcSbarrc bin Is the omission of the
word Liberty from the crown on the
head of the female figure in the vigncttc
Only four of these notes have been dis
covered n yet. The River bank bill has
u marked defect in the face Of the sailor,
and the general execution is pronounced
second class. 4 large number of this
issue are in circulation throughout the
West. The paper used in the New Bed
ford bill is lighter than the genuine. In
the counterfeit the loop of the "y" in
the name Of Colby" dcfaces the " NJ "
in Mass while in the genuine il
crosses over the first "s."
The Third National bank. Of Buffalo.
and the Central National bank. of New
\ ork, are each honorcd with $50 imita-
tiOns. All notes of the former bearing
the name of l.. T.. Chittcndcn as register.
are pronounced counterfeit, while the
same applies Ia the second Both the
blilN were struck from the same plate,
and have each wide circulation. Spuri-
ous $50 notes are also very generally cir
Cuiatcd ON the Tradcsmcn' National and
National Broadway. Of New York City.
Several crooked - issues ARE known
to b" in extensive circulation, principal
among them being those on the First
National bank Of Tamaqua. Pa. and the
First National Of Hanover. 4 new issue
of this denomination on the National
bank Of Pnwling. y. Y. has Just come
into circulation. There are two other
counterfeit s. plates known 10 b. in cx-
iStrucc. but the issue uf bills from them
has not been discovered for several years.
From eight Ia ten spurious : platr-. and
perhaps ike number Of - plates. are
also known tn be- in existence. and 10
have sent out large supplies Of counter
felt bills