Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-01-23
C0UNTERFEITERS.
Their Capture Is an Extremely
Difficult Matter.
They Work in Gangs and are
Ruled by a Chief.

Ieltef is usually man who is intelli-
gent and careful to keep his track well
concealed. The days when he manu-
featured his coin or worked over the
bit of paper to make note in some
country recess are over. The large
cities are now found to be the most
secure spots for the making of
counterfeit money, and there he is
less liable to be discovered.
Al the least suspicion he is enabled
to pack mp and move away on half an
hours notice. The maker of the
money never passes it. He would not
bend to such low work. He is the
skilled artisan who only makes and
sells at wholesale. There is also a
middlemau who buys the stuff and
makes profit in selling it in small
quantities to the men who do tho pass
ing. So the detectives, who find little
difficulty in securing the poor ignorant
fellows who go around to small stores
and buy cheap article and then offer
bad dollar, procuring good change,
meet with obstacles at every step in
trying to get their clutches on the
principals. Often a month elapses,
during which the detectives are kent
busy following up clews, before they
get near the man, and then are baflled
by his suddenly changing his usual
haunts and retreats.
To get the evidence is also a very
difficult matter and the law is strict,
requiring that be arrested man hao
the intent --A-- sud knew L was
counterfeit diygsT, Whine in tdo ease
of the manufacturer the evidence must
connect him with the making Of the
coin. If a quantity of tools are found
in house which are clearly used in
making bad coin the defense will be
set up that the plant was left by a
boarder or some other person and the
arrested party will claim he was not
aware of their nature, and cloud of
reasonable doubt will be raised by the
lawyer defending him. SO the de-
tectives always try to catch the maker
in the act of making.
The detective must use great care
not 10 throw out the least word that
could be taken suspiciously by the man
against whom he is collecting evidence.
Once in a while a passer, when ar
rested, will disclose the maker, but
that is rare, and for the most part they
remain mule while going through the
process of law, and never give hint as
to where they procured the stuff OF
course the old counterfeiters, on com
ing out of prison, are watched, but
not much useful information is gained
in this manner. There are several
gangs of counterfeiters that tie Secret
Service men would ike to get hold of.
The two-doilar crowd are turning out
lots of bad bills. The silver dollar
men are evidently very active, while
there seems to be as many bad quar-
tiers out as ever. The makers Of the
latter class in this city have a large or
ganization which works in apparent
harmony.
For instance, there is a chief who
rules the gang. If he is captured his
mantle fills upon another member of
the company, usually time of service
being the qualification of promotion.
The money is distributed among the
passers, who go out in pairs, one TO do
the SHOWING" coin at time, while
the other carries the bag and watches
for danger. The Italians are the men
who do most of the passing Many
use fruit stands to work off bad coins
in change. 1t is not unlikely that a
good deal of the small counterfeit
money Il made in Italy and Sent over
here.
To get these petty passers the de-
tevtives haunt the saloons, get ac-
quainted with the men, and ingratiate
themselves until they are trusted sufi-
cienlly to be sold the bad coin. Hay-
ing once purchased lot, the detective
pretends that he has passed it, gets
some more, and is introduced TO others
of the gang, and finally, when a good
~ number have been placed, raid is
made aud the men are gathered in.
Many bankers bring bills to the bu-
reau for inspection, and an agent from
the department at Washington travels
through the country, visiting banks
and financial houses, picking up bad
bills. A fine specimen was shown in
this city lately of a pen-and-ink-made
twenty-dollar BILL 1t had been made
by u monomaniac, ana was not for
business purposes. - New York
Tunes.
There isn't much deception about
dre-smakeas. They are generally busy
when they seam-sew.