The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-08
THE SCIENCE OF GENUINE MONEY

In the matter OF the United States VS.. b. N.
and Il. II. Rocks. which has been up for exami-
nation several days before United States Com
missioner Lane, and In which tho defendants
are charged with selling and using counterfeit
United States notes, the government detect
i've does not seem to have made out much Of
q case, II We may Judge from the reports III
published In the various papers Of the city.
The most telling thing against the prisoner
Ia the large amount Of counterfeit money
found In his possession; but. II his state
ment be true. and there seems to be ample
confederation Of It by O number Of reputable
citizens, that his occupation Is Coaching the
science Of genuine money" then he would
undoubtedly need a considerable amount In
order to successfully prosecute his business.
His statement is quite interesting, whether
true or false:
b. N. Rocks. sworn. testified TINT he arrived
In tits city two weeks ago last Saturday: thnt
he came here on account OF his Wttas hDnlth
and for the Durnose OF practictng hs profes'
sion. which no said was teaching tho science
Of u genuine money!" which business hs had
been engaged IN since 1867, commencing t4e
business at that time while IN college. in order
III. ag f. lsn hd1 AK ehp t Z f .pba taG Gn lah, tW ~, years H,a1,
ness profitable. he had abandoned the study Of
law for that OF counterfeit money, and had
could Ill tell The best counterfeits. ut d glance.
After leaving college. he said; he had Practical
hts profession TO- that State, ~ braska, Illinois.
lucky. West Virginia. East Virginia. PennsyIva-
MT. Rocks stated that in order to perfect him
self in tho art. he WIS compelled to have genu-
inc impressions from the Treasury Depart
ment, which he stu ,ied. analysed and system
atizsd, comparing them witt the last counter
feit+, until he thoroughly und srstood the
science Of detecting the one from the Other.
Without the coun .erfoits. Mr.. Rocks said 1t
three brothers, who were all older than he. had
given instructions in teach'nE the science OF q
genuine money" some OF the c2unterfeits
by another brother. o: P. Rocks. They had re-
ceived their counterfeit money from various
ETC.. and when they allowed him tue use of 1t.
the numbers. were taken and a specia! agree,
ment entered into that 4 they snonld net pass out
gathered his collection from hunks. United
States officials. marahals, sheriffs. postmasters.
county treasurGrs. etc. he said ne mad ocea-
counterfett bills: that he had never sold or put
any such In circulation. never used he coun-
terfaits az money. and that tho largest counter
felt oil In his possession. whom arrested. were
Of the denominations Of one hundred.
The fact Of his teaching others how to de-
tect counterfeit money was proved by a num-
Der of well known gentlemen employed in
banking business in this city, and the only
point to be determined Is. whether while en-
gagged In that business he has been, in the
language OF the detectives, Showing the
queer" himself or furnishing it to others.
That Is a very important point, and we do
not Offer any opinion thereon. not being
familiar with ali the facts upon which the
government rests its case, butt would appear
that q knowledge Of the science Of genuine
money" Is q very essential one In these days
when the science of counterfeiting has at
tanned such perfection as to produce money
which passes readily from one to another,
and can only be detected by skilled and spe-
cially trained experts, who are rarely found
outside OF banking institutions. The photo
graphic art, among others, has recently been
brought into reauisition by counterfeiters
and the finest engravers In the world are be-
lieved to be engaged In the nefarious busi-
ness; hence it is not wonderful that the paper
money of the government Is reproduced with
such astonishing accuracy as to every detail.
whether OF paper, coloring or engraving, as
almost to defy detection. The most reputa-
bic citizens are constantly In danger OF re-
ceiylng and passing counterfeit money, and
Instances have recently occurred OF gentle
men, whose characters nre above suspicion,
being arrested for passing these spurious
notes. Not one man In a thousand can detect
a well-executed counterfeit, and Ii all those
who pass them i~gnorantly are to be subjected
to the same pains and penalties as those who
make a business OF it, then the 'science OF
genuine money looms up as, a necessary part
Of the education Of every man and woman In
the land. A difficulty, however, at once pre-
sents itself. How is anybody ever to learn IL
those who propose to teach lay themselves
open to arrest and imprisonment In the peni-
Tertiary? Clearly something will have
to be done to smooth away the diff
Guilty. The Secretary Of the Treasury might
give special permits to proper parties to en-
gage in the business, placing them under
bond and issuing them counterfeit bills, OF
which due record should be kept, and colleges
! might be empowered TO establish chairs for