The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-13
UNCLE SANS SCRAP BOOK.
1T IS FILLED WITH PROOFS OF CoUN-
TERFEIrERs' MAsTEHrTECEx

TERFEITERS' MASTERfIECEx
Careers which Have Ler Traces o. It's
Pakes-NcCartney's Lecture o. Counter.
feiti.g Illustrated by Specimens or His
Own work-Imtat,sg fibrous Paper
Decline OF tho Csunterreiter's Art.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 1l.-Ono OF tho most care
fully guarded possessions OF tho Uritcd States
Treasury 10 scrap book that is always shut
UP In massive burglar proof safe at the Blu
.sau OF Engraving and Printing. Hardly any
body has seen 1t. save high officials OF the de-
partmen,. Its shabby outside gives no sug-
gestion OF the precious contents. Pasted on
tho yellow pages are proofs taken from all
tho important counterfeit plates for paper
money that have been CAPTURED by tho Gov
srnment. In looking over the bulky volume
and examining the vast number OF designs for
bogus money between its covers, ono gets
some idea OF the tremendous eXtent and dan
gsrous character OF this counterfcitlng indus
try. which has been until recently formtda-
bio monaco TO the financial safety OF the ma
tion. employing the highest order Of mechanl-
cal talent and inventive genius.
The proofs referred to were made In every
case preliminary to the destruction OF the
plates. ono COPY Of each being turned of in
the Government press for the scrap book.
There 10 not ono OF them which has not its
strange and thrilling story. On tho first page
is counterfeit flity.cent fractional currency
note with q head Of Washington. Both back
and face are shown and are admirably exc
cuted. 1t Is known that many thousands Of
copies OF 1t were put into circulation up to The
autumn OF 1865, when fire occurred in q
dwelling at Williamsburgh, N. Y. A mattress
thrown from q window broke open. and was
found to DO stuffed with such nfty.cent
pieces. The plates were captured. but the
forgSr. an EnGlishman named Leverson, es-
capped arrest.
There was no ond OF such fractional counter.
feits during tho rebellion. and proofs OF them
MI many pages Of tho scrap book. In those
days any sort OF paper money would 20 with
out scrutiny. The country was flooded with
false currency. and the forgers reapod a har-
vest. The ti!ty-ccnt piece had q vlgnette on
the face representing Justice with her scales:
but. when reproductions OF it OF various de-
Hrees OF merit had been circulated bY injilions.
Mr.. Spinner suggested that the said v.:nette
should be replaced with portrait OF himself
which was done. Unfortunately. the precau-
ton availel very little against the coun-
terfeiter who simply cut tho viGnette from his
plate and put Mr.. Spinner In. Mr.. Spinner
was very proud Of his peculiar autograph. For
some time he signed it with his own hand on
every bit OF fractional currency issued by the
Government, but OF this no finally grew tired
Vast quantities OF this fraudulent currency
were issued by combination in New York
city. which was the most dangerous associa-
ton OF counterfeiters that had existed up to
that time. Its inspiring genius was Tom Bal
lard-a thorou ghly scientific forGer. with
knowledge Of chemistry as we'll as OF engrav-
ing. He was bnck ed by two capitalists-one a
broadway carriage dealer and tho other pol
itician and contractor FAMED Miner. The
position OF all three OF these mon In
the business world was most respectable.
Ballard being associated in the owner
ship OF tho carriage factory. without
exciting the slightest suspicion tho firm
ran q race with the Treasury in the imitation
OF the currency. As fast as the Govornment
multiplied its issues of legal tenders and other
securities to moet the necossitos OF the war,
Ballard turned out fre-h plates. and the
presses at 25G RiyinGton street mn OIL imita-
tons for circulation oil over the ccuntry.
Operations were by no means limited to frsc-
tional money. notes OF all denominations up
to 500 and even 5000 zach being produced In
great numbers. and in such 8 yle OF art us al
most to defy detection. Whom the distinctive
fibre paper was adopted in 1869. it was
supposed to I've perfect safeguard
against counterfeiting but Ballard. who
was IN expert in paper III ing. reproduced it.
The whole gang were finally EXPOSED In 1871
by a "shovor." In tho property captured at
the same lime were plates not yet finished for
anew $1,000 Treasury note. proofs from which
adorn one OF the pages OF the scrap book de-
scribcd. Unfortunately. these and many others
surrendered by the criminals had been rrevi-
ousy eectrotyped. and reproductions OF the
frauds wer0 stored away elsewhere. to be
brought out at a later day and put into use
again. Miner. the promoter of the whole
scheme. escaped sentence by the use OF money
und influence. Ballard broke out OF Jail and
fed. Guiding capture, although reward Of
$1,000 was offered for his apprehension.
Two years later there suddenly appeared an
astonishing counterfeit $500 Treasury note.
specimens Of which were accepted as genuine
ut the Reiemption Agency here IN Washing:
rs the genuine. aud it was printed on tlbre
paper. 1t was traced to Buffalo. and Ballard
was min atnrs Treasury Department. One
OF the rooms was compiete chomlcai labora.
nap .Ss d WAS 10 the e
cravings. dllapidated barn in the rear OF tho
nSds er wers hold il %
casks; because tho purchase Of glass Jars
81 the s1s Ws. ssS CIV
the ream. ms we'll as bond PAPER tinted chsmi-
eaIIy for initiating national bank notes. When
Ballard WAS caught hO was at work on his
Ills 81 tho Bank Of British North Amer.ga at
ali Tss rg
man. whose genius apDi ed in legitimate han
nels would uuuuestonably have enriched HIM
Ten times over, after breaking lail and being
recaptured several times. WAS finally sen need
to thirty years Imprisonment IL The Albany
peutentary.
On another page OF tho scrap book Is tho proof
OF wonderfully artistic 5000 United States
note. executed by the most sEii!u counter-
feitor. with ono exception who has lived The
bill was never issued because tho engrnyer.
Charles Ulrich, was captured in the act ot
finishing 1t. 1t was all complete excopt a patch
ol sky IN the yiCnette on the back, represent
ing Do Soto d scovoriug tho Mississippi River.
The patch had boen erased from tho enGray-
ing for the purpose Of improving It,. and 1t
shows MS u white spot in tho proof. Soma OF
tho 500 bills which Ulrioh !, turned out were so
the reui. His best work WAS tone early In the
seventies. One day Gen, Spinner summoned
George W. Castelar,. chief engra,er for tho
Government. and showed him few notes for
800 each. .
countsrfelts. can hardly believe it. Tell mo
Catiisar picked up a powerful mngnityinp
glass and called The attention OF his SUPERIOR
officer to the iaces of men rowing boat in the
Viyuette on the front OF the note. Throu h the