The daily gazette., 1882-12-11
AN EASTERN sHo. SENSATION.
Two Young HiIlsboro, Md, COunterfeIters
Notes Which Were Almost Perfect
Fine Plates Found

Notes Which Were Almost Perfect
Fine Plates Found.
Hillsboro' Md. letter says under date of
DEC. 10 For over week the most intense
excitement has prevailed In the three
counties OF the Eastern Shore Caroline.
Queen Anne's and Talbot-which meet In a
point in the outskirts Of this town.
For nearly two years two young men, the
sons oil prominent aud highly-respected
ciEzens OF this neighborhood and not yet
twenty-four years OF age, have been engaged
upon what they said was a new invention.
They worked secretly aud kept everything
carefully under lock and key, so that no
prying eyes could discover their valuable
secret before they could secure a patent.
Their fond fathers dreamed of the wealth
and fame that would soon flow In upon
their sons; for, latterly, these young
hopefuls assured them that their in
ventlon was rapidly nearing compile
tion and bid fair TO reyolutionize
the world. Now II turns out that they were
engaged In making and perfecting the
plates and dies with which TO manufacture
counterfeit money. They carried on their
operations Ia an upper room Of an old frame
farm house near this town, in Talbot
county, belonging TO r. A. Stevens and In
the tenancy of Mr.. Dulin. They manu-
dollars, q counterfeit S5 note Of National
Bank of Sandusky, Ohio, and counterfeit
$40 note on one Of the National Banks of
the State of Vermont. The counterfelts are
all exceedingly dangerous. A counterfeit
$3.50 gold piece resists the acid test
and can only be detected by
pair Of coin balances, being q very little
short In weight. The plates from which
the notes are printed are said to be the most
perfect ones ever executed by counterfeiters.
All that part of the note including the red
seal, known as the Treasury work, Is abso.
lutely perfect under the microscope. 1t has
been stated, whether authortatively or not
is not ascertained, that the United States
authorities have offered $4,000 for the pro-
duction of the plates and dies. These arti-
cles are believed to be secreted somewhere
in this vicinity and the detectives still have
hopes of unearthing them.
HOW 1T WAS DISCOVERED.
Two or three weeks ago these young men
made q descent on Centreville, Queen
Anne's county, and passed considerable
quantity of their counterfeit gold on the
unsuspecting merchants of that town. A
few DAYS later several citizens OF Denton,
Caroline county received letters from party
In Baltimore, signed ID. G. Clarkson, offering
TO sell them counterfeit money NJ the rate
Of 500 counterfeit for $50 of good money,
or S25 counterfeit for IS of good money.
One of the citizens of Denton who was
thus favored handed his letter to the cashier
of the Denton National Bank and he for
warded it to the postmaster of Baltimore
city. The post Office authorities at
once took the matter In hand and
soon succeeded, by means of decoy
letters, In arresting one of the young men
before referred TO, who gave the name of
Thomas Gale. When arrested he presented
a written order for the mail of ID. c. Clark
son. This young man turned out to be
Thomas G.. Atkinson, eldest son of DIR. Z.
Atkinson, of Caroline county, Maryland,
who was recently appointed to position in
| the Baltimore Custom House. He is the
| same party who hast summer shot William
Ringgold of Caroline county during dis
putc about some peaches, and is now under
| indictment for assault with intent to kill In
| the Circuit Court Of Caroline county, AT
the recent October term of the court he was
released from custody under bail in the sum
| of 50 800 for his appearance at the April
term of the court, at Denton, to answer this
| charge.
The other young man, who is the son oi
one of the largest farmers and peach.
| growers, (whose name is withheld for the
| presen) took the morning train at Ridgely
Caroline county, one day about week ago
and has not since been heard from. 1t !;
currently reported, however, that he is
rustlcating in Canada.