The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-25
SECRET SERVICE BUREAU.
Some Of the Difficulties in The Capturing Of
C6Ilt8TiGitgTS.

The Secret Service Bureau in this CITY ia
not a widely advertised place ana the
methods used in detecting the counterfeit
money men are kept as close as the name
of the bureau would imply. Outside of
the Office itself there is probably not any
one who knows how many men are CHI
ployed in running down those who make
and sell the base coin or counterfeit tine
bills. This kind of detective work is ore
of the most difficult, as the cOunterfeiter is
usually a man who is intelligent and care
full to keep his track well concealed. The
days when he manufactured his coin or
worked over the bit of paper to make a 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
At the least suspicion he is enabled to
pack up ana move away on nail an hours
notice The maker of the money never
passes 1t. He would rot bend to such low
work. He is the skilled artisan who only
makes and sells at wholesale. There is
also middleman, who buys the stuff ana
makes profit in selling it in small quaint
ties to the men who do the passing. 81 the
detectives, who find little difficulty in secur-
ing the poor ignorant fellows who go
around to small stores and buy n cheap ar
ticle and then offer a bad dollar, procuring
good change, meet with obstacles at every
step in trying to get their clutches on the
principals. Often a month clauses. dUrfnp
which the detectives are kept busy following
up clewS before they get near the man, and
then are baffied by his suddenly changing
his usual haunts and retreats.
To get the evidence is also very difficult
matter, and the law is strict, requiring that
the arrested man had the intent 10 pass aid
knew it was counterfeit money, while in the
case of the manufacturer the evidence must
connect him with the making of the coin
If a quantity of tools is found in a house
which are clearly used IN making bad coin
the defense will set up that the plant was
left by b0arder or some other person. and
the arrested party will claim he was not
aware OF their nature, and cloud of reaSUa-
able doubt Will be raised BY the lawyer de-
tending him. So the detectives always Try
to catch the maker in the art OF making.
The detective must use great care not TO
throw out the least word that could be taken
SusplciOusly by the man against whom hs IS
collecting evidence. Once in a while 4
passer, when arrested, will disclose the
maker but that is rare, and for the most
part they remain mute while going through
the process OF law, and never give hint as
to where they procured the stuff. OF course
the old cuunterfeiterS, on coming out OF
prison, are watched, but not much useful
information is gained in this manner. There
are several gangs of counterIeIters that the
Secret Service men would like t. get hold Of
The s. crowd are turning out lots of bad
bills. The silver dollar men are evidently
bad quarters out as ever. The makers of
the latter class in this city have large
organization which works in apparent har-
mOny.
For instance, there is CHEF who rules
the gang. II lie is captured his mantle faAs
upon another member OF the compaIS,
usually time of service being the qualifca-
tiOn or promotion. The money is distributed
among the paSsers, who go out in pairs one
10 do the Showing" a coin at time, while
| the other carries the bag aud watches for
| danger The Italians are the men who do
most Of the passing. Many use fruit-stands
10 work Off bad coins in change. 1t Is not
unlikely that good deal of the small cOuu-
terfeit money is made in Italy and sent over
here.
To get these petty passers the detectives
haunt the saloons, get acquainted with the
men and ingratiate themselves until they are
trusted sufficiently 10 be sold the bad coin.
Having once purchased lot, the detective
! pTetends that he has passed it, gets some
more and is introduced to others Of the gang,
and finally, when a gOodly number have
been placed, a raid is made and 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 bulls. A fine speci-
men was shown in this city lately OF Il pen
and-Ink-made $50 bill. 1t had been made by
monOmaniac and was not for business pur-
pOSeS.-N. \. Times.