The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-02-09
THE COUNTERFEITERS.

began with the hrSt SreenDack anu sn-n
plaster issued. and though the Govern
ment officials broke up many gangs dur
ng the war, five new ones started in
where an old one was dispersed. 1t was
a safer business than ever before and
more profitable than it will ever be again
unless we have another war. Much of
the stuff was worked off through sol
ders, and it was only the very prudent
citizen at home who stopped to scan
and criticize his money.
In the spring of 1864, $50, 900 worth
Of counterfeits were sent to one Indiana
regiment in the field, and scarcely any
attempt was made by the recipients
thirty or forty in number-to conceal the
fact. At the same time citizen who
was at the front to sell postage stamps
and stationery to the boys was quietly
selling counterfeit 81 bills for ffty-fve
cents each. One brigade, as had posi-
tive knowledge. purchased 81 :, 900 worth
of the goods" inside of three days.
The soldiers purchased this money on
the same principle that a respectable,
law-abiding citizen smuggles a suit of
clothes across the border. 1t was not
considered crime in any sense, and
many instances came to my knowledge
where commissioned officers were as
deepIn the mire as private soldiers. In.
deed, paymaster was said to have paid
on. several thousand dollars worth of
counterfeits to the troops in the regular
way A secret service detective finally
appeared in camp, and was detailed to
assist him in securing clues and pointers.
Such was our luck that was discharged
from the service in the field and taken
into the bureau at Arlington.
AS q soldier and lone of the boys"
had but little trouble in ascertaining
where the counterfeit money came from.
1t was made in several Northern States,
but the most perfect bills came from
Mitchell County, Indiana. l got hold
of a circular which read that perfect
counterfeit one and two-dollar bills,
warranted to pass anywhere as genuine,
could be had at sixty cents on the dol
lar by addressing ~. +. NJ, Shoals,
Mi chell County, Indiana" wrote to
this address from our camp in the
Shenandoah, and inside of a week re-
ceived twenty 81 bills. They were fully
up to the guarantee. l could have
passed every one of them on the sutler.
When therefore reported in Washing
ton for duty, l was all ready to move on
the enemy. l was green in the detect
i've business, of course, but as there
happened to be rush of business Just
then was ordered off to Indiana on NV
own hook, and that almost without in
structions. first visited Madison and
New Albany, but not q counterfeit was
afoat and not q person could be found
who knew of anything wrong at Shoals.
l then proceeded to the town direct,
giving out that l was looking for loca
ton to start . big cocperage business.
l had made up my mind that the post
master had something to do with tn,
business, but 1 changed it as soon as
saw him. He was an old man, simple
minded and honest from top to bottom
As he was the owner of piece of lanG
which l had thoughts of buying, Wal
in his company more or less, inside and
outside the office. He had never, so f.;
as he knew, been stuck with counter
felt, and none of the business men il
the place had any trouble. This salts
fed me that my pointers were only ski
deep. VIII lie the gang used the Shoal
Postoffice their headquarters m ght be
long distance away.
My lay was to keep my eyes open TO
AZ. E. NJ" and whole week went b,
before l made discovery. was at tn
Office every time the mail ctme in, bu
no one inquired for those initials. Coz
respondents were not told to address il
care OF any box, but l wss satisfied tn
letters were placed in one. BY persist
ent observation got to see most Of tn
mail taken out, and one day l saw tn
postmaster throw seven letters aside q
h sorted the mail. These were after