The sun., 1890-09-19
COMMUNICATING HARn COINS
Secret Service Men Visit Toronto 60 Follow
Up Cius to the CouaterFsiterA.

Secret Service n1en Visit Toronto 20 Follow
Up Ciue to the CounterEsiterA.
OTTAWA. Sept. 18.-superIntendent George
@. Bell OF the United States Secret Service nr-
rived in Toronto from Buffalo on Sunday night.
accompanied BY two detectives, one Of whom
was despatched with ria to tho country, while
Mr.. Bell and his companion retired TO the Sc
cluslon OF q room In the Queens Hotel. The
officers have In hand one Of the most oxtraor
dinary cases OF counterfoitipR that has taken
place In America for many years, and the In
vestigation, as far as II has progressed,
indicates that regularly organized gang
OF counterfeiters have been at work
for years manufacturing base coins, moro
particularly copies OF rare coins, plate.
and other ourios. It has been discovered that
some OF these counterfeits have been manu-
factured In the neighborhood OF Toronto and
expressed to tho United States from Oakvile
and other small stations In the county OF Peel.
The investigation has been conducted secretly
for six months. but as yet the counterfeiters
have not been run to earth. Superintendent
Bell will this morning consult with the Toronto
detectives in the hope Of locating the Canadian
workers in base metal
When the fret counterfeit was discovered
It created great deal OF excitement among
dealers in old COINS and the Numismatiss As
ISOLATION Of the United States started the Sc
oret Service on On investigation that has 30 far
resulted In the discovery Of extensive counter
feltnG both In the States and in Canada The
one dollar issue Of 1904 was recalled, and four
only were left In circulation. Each Of these
coins is now valued BY numismatists ut 5000
led to the frst discovery. A dealer in Phiis.
od.si% q ol% coins. .s Ard among the packages
dollar coin. apparently of the 1904 u.s. is
sue. The coin, however. appoared TO be TOO
different appearance TO the genuine article.
Among those v no attended the sale was Col
ss Of De
ihe names q the Ioar men who held ths only
four coins OF 1904 in circulation. and this led
cred the fraud. and afterwar ID noticed that the
OF dollar Of 1905 Issue. Of which there arc
plenty In eirenlation. and the hole was then
30
that none but an exnert. with the aid Of o
E9werful maanifyinR glass, could detect i;
OF the mints in the state Of Louisiana, and
among the stuff seized were many counterfeits
While the inquiry was, being prosecuted an
incident occurred in the Michigan prison.
Michigan City. that throw some. light on the
Secret Service 10 Toronto. In this prison there
ts confined a notorious counterieiter. Peter
@ years H1rsHtf saoft time sso estSr
was received at The prison from McCartney's
wife 70 her husband. In which was enclosed an
piece Of ribbon. The letter explained that att the
coin was sent 70 Pete as a souvenir from his
afreotionato wife. but whom the officials discov-
concluded that the wife had sent 1t to
show that the old game was being continued.
The Secret Service men were notified and o
detective was placed on Mrs McCnrtney's trail
He aoon discovered that she lived In NIGGA. ILL.,
and that che had as an associate, one Dr Baker
its to NIAGARA Falls and Toronto. sometimes
getting of at Oakville. and occasionally at
whore he sent small packages by express to
dinerent dealers OF old coins IN various cities
despatched to Oakve, and 1t is alleged that 4
short distance from the village, In the garret
OF an unoccupied building. he found an almost
complete counterfeiting outfit Superintend-
ent Bell and bis companions came to Toronto
to follow up this clue.