The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-10-23

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was 10 produce a perfect counterfeit, as
much for the satisfaction he would derive
from success as because Of tile profit dc.
rivablc. Said he: II wanted TO get up a
half dollar That would pass unquestioned
over the counter OF tho United States
Treasury" He had nearly attained this
perfection, his product requiring only to be
plated u few gains heavier to pass the
ordeal. =, ~, ~ 'Sl gss4qs[ G.
This morning u reporter called upon Mr..
McSweeny and was invited to examine
the paraplernalia captured at Taylor's
shop and dwelling. z 1t included every
article necessary to the Manufacture OF
bogus coin, except the lathe, this being too
ponder0us to bring over to the United
States District Attorneys Office. aTaylor
made oil the appliances Of bis illegitimate
"nd"s'ry." "A copper mould was exhib.
itcd which was perfect specimen OF work,
and worth, in skilled labor, Mt least 500.
Two.milling tools, one an old and discard.
cd one, the other, an improvement, were
the product OF this ingenious mans art. A
complete electro.plating machine and no
end Of odds and ends OF tools were exhib.
tied in the order OF their uses in the pro.
cess OF counterfeiting. There were nlso
metals, nntimony, bsmuth, lead, arsenic
and silver, and coins in various stages Of
Manufacture; The finished halfdollar
would deceive any person not expert, un.
less very careful examination and com.
parlson were made. .sl.g .5.- ~
The production Of coin requires, first,
the moulding, then the lathe to trim down
tue edge, then milling the edge, then cleo.
troplating, and finally rubbing slightly with
wet powdered emery to take Off the gloss.
The result is half dollar that few persona
even in banks would decline 10 take,
Secret Service OAicer McSweeney selected
one otthem, and remarked that lie could
go down stairs to the stamp window and
pass It without difficulty. The only loose
point about Taylor's coinage is the weight,
the pieces lacking a few grains. They have
n genuine ring and an honest appearance.
and the eleclroplate is so heavy as 10 resist
the acid test. 'nsh hya Et @
1t will readily be inferred that Taylor
was dangerous man 10 be at large, and
that he will require close watching after
his aholt term shall have expired. lie
says, however, that he llas been taught a
lesson ind will employ himself at honest
labor when discharged from the penitcn-
tiary. 'In that case" said Mr.. McSwecny
to him, you should tell me where to find
the frames for your plaster molds, and the
fifty half dollars you were 10 have furnished
me-" F& -s1l .=.T1 .,-zI.r l7 H.
"All right" Taylor replied, "you 70 10
my house and over my bed in the wall you
will see nail hole. Poke wire into that
hole" rs. 1l :"
McSwceney followed the direction and,
10 and behold, little door flew open and
in this nook was found the articles. Taylor
had fitted up this hiding place himself and
bad accomplished. the work so skiliully
that the hole could not have been discov-
cred unless by carefully sounding the wall
The door was fastened by a spring and
running the, wire into the nail mark
touched the spring-and "open sesame"
q Taylor had habitually scattered his ap-
planes in crooks and crannies and unex-
pected places in store, shop and dwelling.
When through with a nights work this
scattering and hiding followed regularly.
He explained TO the officer the use OF sew.
eral articles that had been found, but Tint
could not be placed sintellgently. lie
confessed, also, that he had been counter
feiting during the last three wears. 55lIi
"What are the peculiarities and profits
OF the bnsincss?' inquired the reporter.
s.usually .counterfeiters work in gangs Of
three, for the reason that only in rare in
stances a man is so ingenious as TO be able
to get up the tools and understand all the
processes. Taylor is ono OF the; rare in
stances He worked ut night only, and
could make about $500 in halves between s
O'Clock and midnight. These be would sell
Wholesale at from 30 to IS per cent OF the
face, depending on the number bought.
Counting his labor ut solid figure they
cost twenty per cent Of their face, so that
he got from 10 to Is per cent ior the risk.
A ! knowledge Of this teaches the detective
how to measure queer dealers. II a man
should offer me halves at 40 per cent I
should know he is a jobber, though he
might be manufacturer; II the offer is 50
per cent know for certain lie is retailing,
You see the counterteiter wants to clear
from 10 to l5 per cent over expenses in.
cludius his own skilled labor, the jobber
wants his profit up to so per cent OF the
fnce, and the shower wants 30 per cent for
his risky end OF the bnsincss" 49, |
:, 1T is difficult to get t'on to- counter
letter, isn't it?" Iliilf1& T.;
j"Very difficult; moro especially when n
smart fellow like Taylor Is the man. / re-.
cciyea information through United States
District Attorney Stones office in August
nat that there was considerable bogus coin
Oh the South Side, but where it
came from nobody could hint. LOCATED
It twice before concluded Taylor was the
person to investigate. a detective must
how counterieiting Is done to
work UP case. lie must know every pro- |
cess and every material, in short every lit
tle point in the business, and more palpa.
bic clues failing to appear, must use all this
knowledge. 1t was the purchase Of a bottle
of cyanide Of potassa put me after Taylor,
lie wGs apparently respectable and doing
paying business, but that didn't count with
nc. went to him in the guise OF q crook
md had to visit him several times before I |
gained his confidence. lie was remarkably
llert aud | had 70 carry out my part with
he utmost care. mado him feel finally
!l,at he could repose confidence in me- The
FIRST day met him he said frankly that
he didn't believe l was crooked. what
do you take me for?' l asked. For So
cret service officer, he said. told him, II
you don't believe AMI crooked ask The
police il they don't want me for stealing a
watch Taylor kept thoroughly posted ia
The Secrect Service force. He knew tile
name OF a member l didn't know NV.
sell, though l discovered lie was cor
rect. lie bousted that he could new.
er be caught, but you see he rot
to have great confidence in me and