New-York tribune., 1891-08-27
HE HAD A PRIVATE MINT.
A SHOEMAKER TURNS coUNTERfEITER
s1s WIFE AND CHILD PUT THE COIN IN cIRcu-

FIs WIFE AND CHILD PUT THE COIN IN cIRcU-
LATIoN-rHE METHOD OF MANUFACTURE.
Michael porrets an Italian, was, until not long ago.
y maker and mender Of boots and shoes at NO. 4oo
Eghth-ave, but he had soul which was above his
humble calling. He felt fitted for moro e1altcn oc
eupation and casting his eyes the various meth
IDS of earning livelihood, came 10 the conclusion .hsu
manufacturing coin about the most satisfactory
business. The little circumstance that the Onltcd
States Government claims monopoly OF this ana
Furnishes any OF its rivals whom IL detects ana captures
did not swerve the shoemaker nom his purpose ~
merely made him exercise secrecy.
Porrett opened his new business ON a modest scare
as beftted man whose life had been spent ON shoe
makers bench. "s1nafl safes and quick prohts was
his motto, and ne content to turn OUT muies
quarters ana halfdollars As ne grew proffcent IN MS
new craft no gave mp his Old trade and devoted ntnse
entirely 20 competing with the United STATES nl's
His work excellent, but II must be coruesseu '
he palmed OF shoddy material on his customers. Wmie
the Government silver, ne made ms COINS ol uu
and antmony, having to use tho cheaper maenai W
compete successfully With the business rival winch
manufactured on SO much larger scale thnn he dlo,
Porrett would send his wife Margaret, aId Ms
daughter Josephine fourteen years oo, out 10 uiSPoe
of his wares They would buy FOOD, ero', LOT lio
family and its two boardcrs and by maRng numerous
nurcbases for small amounts would return from Their
sboune trims with considerable sums OF good money
received As change on March ID last, however, the
two passed bad coin on Mrs. G. c. Young. baker NO
1b9 slxthsve. and were arrested by Policeman John
lO'Ieary of the Nlnth Precinct The mother was soh
10 hand thirteen bad dimes and one bad quarter 70 te
daughter When the two tried in the United
States Circuit Court Judge Benedict ordered that te
child be acquitted on account Of her youth. The jury
listened sympathetlcaiy TO the womans story OF aav
ing received the money when she had a % Dill
changed, and acquitted her,
Chief Agent j. p. Brooks. of the New York Division
of the Secret Service Of the Treasury Department nov"
ever was not convinced by the fearful prOtestatons
and the jurys verdict but assigned three of his men,
Matthew Griffin John Webb and Thomas Callahan 10
watch The woman and child. They were able aiter
time TO verify Mr.. BrCoks's suspicious They iound
that the mother and child passed large quantities VI
the bad coin, many of the victims being cOuh'ryeh
who sold their produce at the Gansey0ort Market Inc
detectives also the girl Josephine ouy th anu
antimony at store in Eighth-aVe. warrants Wcl0
accordingly issued the arrest OF the three members
of the family Yesterar morning the three oelectVes
and Deputy Marshals John Thomas and George H.
Brockmeier went TO thel house in TTenty'seventhst'
and arrested Porrett and his wife and child
search Of the premises was well rewarded be
hind q partton over sink were found 200 or 800
bad dimes Under the bed were three iron cruciDes'
and el,ewlere were found about fifty Dimes lOo
Quarters and fifty half dollars. all counterfeit mould
frame bottle of Vuic acid. pot on charcoal "hieh
was used in blackenins the CONS TO give uieh INC
appearance of being wOt ana Otlef dltlcleS useu III
making the coins. Most of the money was IN an uii-
finished state and needed 10 be trimmed before peng
ready for circulation. Porrett moulded the coins IN
plaster of Paris. piece of creased glass hted IN inc
bottom Of a frame about two inches high, two inches
and half vile and sin inches long -Four good CONS
were laid on the glass and plaster of Paris paste was
poured into tine mould. When the plaster had par'N
hardened it was taken out Of the frame the COINS
were removed. aud the plaster was baked
When this mould had cooled tle coins were re-
placed and small holes were dug in its face Then wet
plaster Of Paris was poured the baked mass When
the TOP LAYER had hardened Bit ii was taken OIL ana
baked The projections on the second layer Of course
exactly ponded with the holes in the hrst one
co the two fitted each other with perfect accuracy
Porrt then had merely 20 pour his molten metal IN te
bottom .Iodd and 10 place The other on toP U! H. II,
Wbcn &yoins had been trimmed and blackehed theY
The W,oners were arragned before Commissioner
Ucncoc ard held in ~ 900 each for examination 10
rnOr,ow FORFEIT, Adan-like, laid the blame on ms
wife The capture is an important one, as II mas
always boon dincult arrest the manufacturer OF Dad
coin. The counterfeit money made by PJfrett mas d
good ring and appearance but is OF course oil hEht