Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-09-28
A National Rogues' Gallery.

The headquarters OF the Secret Di
vision of the Treasury Department is
one of the most interesting places for
sight-seers in Washington. The "rogues'
gallery" will serve we'll to entertain the
visitor for an hour. On the walls hang
portraits of most of the noted counter
feiters who have been detected, the
collection numbering about 1000. In
one corner OF the room stands large
safe in which is stored $500. 900 in spur
ious money. Near the safe is a press
used by Charles Uhlrich. an ingenious
German who thought it easier to make
counterfeit plates, than turn an honesSS
penny, though he was skilled artist
and could command handsome income
almost anywhere.
A curious article rests upon Uhlrich's
press. 1t is miniature representation
of the old bell and tower of Indepen-
dence Hall, from which was rung out
the decree of liberty in 1776. 1t Is
made from redeemed greenbacks after
they have been destroyed and converted
into paper, the structure representing
about million dollars.
Among the pictures displayed is that
of HaIleck, who robbed the Treasury
cash room OF $4,000. He was employ
ed in the cash room, and by making a
false package for the Adams Express
Company he was enabled to extract the
money from the building. Another
picture is that of Bixley, the counter
feiter, who several times succeeded in
evadinR the law. When captured no
money could be found upon him, but
one of the officers noticed the peculiar
look of can, the prisoner carried, and
on examining the stick it was found TO
be hollow and filled with bad coin.
Other portraits were those Of the Rev.
DIR. Thomas and his wife, who for d
time too successfully carried on their
operations Bailey, the only man who
ever made good imitation of the paper
on which money is printed Brodwell,
on whom was captured 1000 counter
teit $50 notes of the Spanish Bank oi
Cuba Doyle, Brockway, the prince OF
counterfeiters, and Smith, the engraver,
, the famous trio whose counterfeit 81. .00C
bond is so neatly done that it is almost
impossible to tell it from the original.
Most counterfeit gold pieces are made
of platinum. The value of $5 piece
t made of this metal is S4.60, the coun-
: terfeiter only realizing 40 cents for hi
labor. The manner of making counter
j plaster pairs, fffe4gaE g9E is to take block o
1t cast of the genuine coin in the PfaasSteeii BASS
y and after binding the pieces togethe
make hole on one side through whicl
q to pour in the metal. When this i
= finished, thin sheet of silver is presse,
: upon it, and after putting on the serrat
ed edge, the work Is completed. Mos
J. counterfeit silver money is made @
8 brass, which produces a good ring, an,
a counterfeit ffty-cent piece of thi
d kind weighs nearly the same as genuin
coin. A specimen of fine work don
q with pen and ink is twenty -dolla
bill, the difference between it and tn
8 genuine note being 30 small that non
+ expert could not detect it. Another in
y = terestlng exhibit is some raised money
= The V on q five-dollar bill has bee
v carefully scraped off, the fifty" stamI
S on cigar box neatly pasted on, and il
$ some way the whole bill changed. Mos
of this class of work is done by Chimes,
n counterfeiters, and their photograph
e occupy considerable space in the gallery
il A raised check which hangs upon th
. wall attracts considerable attention
The original was check on the Thir
v National Bank of New York for $451
d All of the writing except the signatur
was removed by acids and the amour
/ changed to $26. 96s.75. The check wa
presented at the bank and paid. Th
e plates, by which any fifty-doIIar bill i
Y issue can be counterfeited, are ais
q shown.