Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-18

printed In Dig amounts by eo-callOd business
colleges has caused an immense amount of
annoyance. Most commonly it has initiated
the national currency more or lees and ID il
constantly pslmed off upon immigrants and
| other ignorant people. Millions of dollars
worth OF 1t In value represented have been
seized.
WORK OF LUNATIc.
The most extraordinary counterfeits which
have ever come under the attention of the secret
service were recently captured in Indiana
They were executed by lunatic confined in the
central Asylum at indianapolis. Notice was
attracted to his work by two Of his notes, each
for 80, which were found in circulation and
weil worn. Three others, which were still in
his possession, were secured. They were made
without the knowledge Of his of6cial keepers,
and he will not be permitted to turn out any
more me notes, which are preserved as curl
osities at the Treasury Department, are all of
them done with the pen and black and red ink
his man, however, is not the person who for
many years past has been uttering the remark
able pen-and-ink bills which have puzzled the
authorities so hopelessly. Tho latter IL evil
special hobby, and his workmanship is In SO
superior a style of art that banks have accepted
his productions as genuine. He makes only
two year, and they turn up with surprising
regularity from all parts Of the country, no
, two OF them being passed in the same city.
The work cannot possibly pay, being a fad Of
some eccentric
The general effect Of the lunatic's notes is
good, though the workmanship is crude. But
the most remarkable point about them is that
they do not pretend to initiate any particular
bllls, being q mixture of various designs on
dlherent varieties Of the national currency,
with some original additions out Of the crazy
Drain OF their author. For example, one Of
them is q 800 note. with the face Of q treasury
note and the back of a national bank note. The
head OF Washington which adorns the face is
an absurd caricature. On the back instead of
the usual engraving of the signing Of the
Declaration of Independence there is a group
OF figures representing Christ and His
Apostles. Christ has a long spear in his hand.
One OF the apostles wears a stovepipe hat and
another an has dagger. Instead of the seal of
the state at one end there is picture of a SOW.
The geometric lathe work is laboriously imi-
tated with the pen.
$50 note has likewise the face of treasury
note and the back Of a national bank note A
portrait which may represent Jefferson is ON
.ne front. On the reverse. in place of the
proper design representing the embarkation of
the Pilgrims, is a scene that is evidently of
religious character, with saints, &c. These
nl8hly original pictures are in the very crudest
style OF art They seem to have some allegori-
cal meaning. There il a similar vignette on
the back of q $40 note taking the place of De
Soto in his great act of discovering the Missls-
sppi river. By some accident another 8 10 bill,
which is silver certificate. has both sides fairly
correct, though the inscriptions on it are in
exceedingly bad English.
THE SWEATING OF COINS
One Of the most curious of modern methods
of attacking the national currency is the Sweat
ing" of coins. The process 10 both simple and
profitable, though it requires some expertness
An electric battery is employed, in connection
with a small tank filed with solution of CYAN
ide of potash. The operation to be performed
is merely that Of electroplating by the de-
position OF metal A copper wire, connected
with the battery, is 30 arranged that it's
two ends are immersed in the solution. To the
end which is the positive pole is attached a
small lump Of platinum zinc, while to the
other extremity, or negative pole, is fastened
go gold piece, for example. The current
being turned on the chemical solution alb
serbs gold from the coin, and after 1t has taken
up as much of the precious metal as it can hold
the surplus OF the latter begins to deposit itself
upon the lump of zinc. This process may be
continued until all of the gold in the coin has
vanished, transferring itself to the zinc.
However. this is not the object contemplated
by the swindlers. Their purpose is merely to
take from the coin portion of its material 80
small as to make no easily perceptible differ
ence. Accordingly, after allowing the opera
ton to proceed for a short time with one piece
Of money, they substitute another. Rarely do
they attempt to remove more than rs cents in
value after this fashion from q double eagle
With smaller pieces the percentage taken away
is proportionate By exercising discretion
they insure safety. Gold pieces from
which SO small a fraction Of their weight
has been subtracted by sweating bear
no altered aspect to the inexperienced
eye. An expert perceives by the feel AN I'M
healthy smoothness, the sharp lines made BY
the die being softened down. This 10 very diff
ferent from the effect produced by the abrasion
incidental to ordinary wear
But the quality which betrays sveated coins
to the adept is just what is most likely to de-
ceive most people. Naturally, their outer coat
having been removed they are exceedingly
brilliant when newly put in circulation. They
are as bright as if fresh from the mint. This
very popularity exctes the distrust Of persons
who are acquainted with such matters. A good
many OF them reach the treasury here to be
Immediately stamped with the word slight" and
rejected. But coins which have been sweated
are mostly issued and circulated in parts of the
country far away from Washington and
from the subtreasuries. This is
purposely done in order that they
may escape detection. On the whole, consider
ing how simple the process is, it is rather sur
prising that this kind Of fraud 10 not more
widely pursued. So long as it il done dis
creetly there is comparatively little chance Of
detection.
THE SAME PROCESS TO SILVER DOLLARS.
Just as nuggets of gold twenty-four carats
fine can be produced at home in this interest
ing fashion SO Jumps Of virgin silver may be
formed by applying the same process to silver
dollars. The solution Of cyanide of pot
ash will serve for the white metal also
and the method Of operating is precisely
the same. Of course the great point
is no. to be too greedy. That is where the ex-
pert differs from the amateur. The former ia
modest, contenting himself with the subtrsc ton
of a small percentage from each piece Of money!
When the work is well done 1t is hardly possible
to detect coins that have been thus treated, save
by weighing them. In the west, where the
bulk Of the money in circulation is in the shape
of silver and gold, this peculiar industry has q
good chance to prosper. The materials cost
very little and ordinary electric light current
serves to accomplish the work.
Few people know how the secret service
started. 1t began June. 1861. when LAFAYETTE c.
Baker was appointed by Secretary Seward ASIAN
federacy, Baker was arrested On suspicion,
brought before jefferson Davis for examina-
ton. imprisoned and threatened with hanging
His ready wit and nerve not only carried him
through the ordeal, but caused him to be ap-
pointed as a confidential agont Of the confed-
eracy. In this capacity he was sent north in
quest Of special information. Preserving his
loyalty to the Union he performed some
extraordinary feats, gathering about him .
| set of men as daring as himself. In
| 1852 he and his corps were placed under the
| War Department In 1854 Congress gave $780,
600 for the purpose Of suppressing the crime Of
counterfeiting, which was appillingly on the