National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-14
NATIONAL RoGuES.
A Glance at the Pictures in the Secret
Service Gallery.

Glance at the Pictures in the secret
Service Gallery.
The secret service division was estab-
lished in April, 1865, and has become an i'm
portant aid to the Government in the detection,
punishment and prevention of crime, particu-
larry in the detection and prevention of passing
counterfeit money. The chief office, under the
direction of Colonel James Jay Brooks, occupies
a small and retired room in the Treasury Depart
ment but its agents at work all over this great
country, and many curious things have been
brought to light by them, which are preserved IN
the Office and are open for the inspection of any
one wishing TO examine them.
\ large number of counterfeits no doubt III
circulation which have not yet been detected, but
the most Of those already discovered have been ar
ranged in 8 large album. Among them is twenty
dollar note, which has been so successfully, exc
cuted with pen and ink that few persons except
they are experts can detect the difference between
the counterfeit and the genuine. 1t is the work
OF conSummate artist, and first passed at New
Orleans, and was circulated throughout the coun-
try and finally captured at Buffalo. The counter
feiter is still at large and doubt is busily en-
gagged in preparing more Of the same kind.
1t is curious that the plate for the genuine thou
sand dollar bond and the counterfeit also should
have been engraved by the same person; it isyery
rare that persons employed by the Government for
this purpose prove false to their trust. This man,
Charles Fl. Smith, was arrested October u, 1880,
and is now serving term of thirty years in the
penitentiary
five dollar note has been changed to fifty dol
lars by taking cipher from dollar note, or
from revenue stamp, and FASTING it on. The note
is still good for five dollars and the Government
would redeem it at that value
There are two beautiful one-hundred- dollar
notes of the issue of 1862 which it is hard to
realize are not worth the paper they are printed
on.
The highest note which has been counterfeited
is the one thousand dollar note.
There is an unfinished ten-dolar note in the
album which was captured in Buffalo, November,
1874, and was the work of the famous Ballard
family. This family were all notorious counter
feiterS male and female.
Tom, the leader escaped from Ludlow-street
Jail while awaiting trial, and the Government
offered 5000 reward for him. He was sfterward
retaken and convicted, and is now serving term
of thirty years III Albany penitentiary.
Fibre paper was first used by the Government in
1869, and it thought impossible to counterfeit
it; but the men who are too indolent to work and
depend upon their wits for a living soon found
way 70 initiate this. It is done by scratching the
plate.
There are number of molds in the Office which
five-cent pieces and some for halfdollars, and
some plaster molds for making one dollars The
latter ara more frequently used than the metal
melds.
A number of pictures of criminals have been
collected, and they make an interesting study.
In almost every case I" criminal" is branded upon
the face.
One very repulsiye face was pointed out as that
of young man who robbed and burned the post
II
history is remarkable. She has served q term in
prison. her first husband died in prison. her father
was criminal her nlaw is serving fifteen
years in prison, and her present husband is in
prison in Louisville, KY.
The pictures of the three men who stole the
s47,097.65 from the Treasury Department In June,
1875 have prominent place. A very bad face
belongs to Nelson briggs, from whom was cap
tured 100000 at one time. He is now serving
term in the prison at Joliet, Ill. An old father and
three sons, all notorious counterfeters, several
very ugly and stupid-looking women, number of
colored persons, group of Sicilians, and several
children fill the pages.
Those persons who claim it is impossible TO
Americanize John Chinaman will be obliged to
change their opinion after look into the RogIeS
Gallery. They not only expert counter!eiters,
but are the most adroit passers OF the spurious
money.
Some of the criminals object very strongly TO
having their pictures TAKEN and not long since in
New York an officer was knocked down and
stabbed by one he was forcing to be photographed.
Many articles are resorted to for concealing the
false money. One of the most common is the cane
device. hollow tin cylinder is made about the
size of heavy walking stick: into this is fitted
wooden stick followed out. The notes rolled in
this and attached to wire, SO that one can be
taken out at q time In of the Southern States
a quantity of counterfeit money was put into cir
culation, and it seemed almost impossible to dis
cover the source. Finally suspicion was directed
toward old man who carried heavy cane, but all
search failed to discover any money about him
but he was put under surveillance, and one day, !
going into store where the detective was stand
ing he accidentally dropped his cane The ears of
a detective well as his eyes are always wide
open and, as the cane had very peculiar ring, he
decided to arrest the man and examine the stick,
when 10! the secret vas out, and the money dis
covered.
Charles Johnson was one of the cane criminals, !
and having club-foot had good excuse for |
carrying heavy stick. He was arrested June Il, |
1879, at Erie, Pa, and his brother Thomas at the
same time; one was sentenced to eight years and
the other ten. Their father arrested i'll Can |
ada after this and the plates we're captured by the
Canadian authorities.
in the Office over the gaslght which was ell !
graved by counterfeter, one Charles Clrich, |
while serving his term of twelve years in the peni
Tertiary at Columbus, Ohio.
Being so large and with more opportunities of |
escaping arrest. New York Is the headquarters for
criminals of this kind. The last arrests were
made in that city between the 9th and ith Of De-
cembcr last, when eleven were captured and their |
tools with them.
A manufacturer Of counterfeit money never ,
passes it himself. but sells it. as far from him as
possible, and it is astonishing TO learn how many
women are engaged in this business. Some of |
them are middle-aged and quite respectable
looking.
1t is said that Tom Ballard offered to show the
Government process of making money which it |
would be impossible to counterfeit, and vas will
ing to remain in Jail while it was being tested, |
even if it required years: but the Government de-
clined, as it could have no dealings with criminals
Mr.. George \. Rock Is the custodian Of the |
plates mOlds, arms, &c, captured from time TO |
time and, as he has been III the Office ten years,
has quite fund at his command of facts, Incl !
dents, &c. connected with the business.
Immigration Last JANUARY.