Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-01

sons should have taken ND the occupation of
eounterfeiting. People of this class bought mr.
! the engraved plates. which were disposed OF
commonly the sole assets OF the burst
| banks. Pretending to carry on a small business
! in the cutting of dog collars and door plates
they would chop the bank plates into pieces.
thus providing themselves with an assortment
OF vignettes and lathe-work denomination
counters. In those days the bank note cornpa-
mics. having few vignettes and but little lathe
work. were obliged to repeat the same pictures
and ornamental numbers to some extent on
every new set of plates ordered nv bank.
Several of the bank note companies having
failed. their stock of dies. plates. &C.. were
bought in at sheriffs sale by the counterfeiters.
Thus the latter obtained possession Of original
plates and dies engraved by the first masters Of
the art. being thus enabled to furnish the pub
lie with notes in absolute fac simile of many
issues. About 1858 the bank note companies
united in AN organization and made it a part
OF their contract with banks that they should
retain possession Of all plates engraved for each
bank. II was at this period that the redoubt-
able Pete Mccartney did his first work in the
profession, which his dexterity subsequently
did so much to adorn. He was employed by .
bank note concern and when engaged in print
ing notes he would slip through the press I'M
observed sheet Of lead foil. This took per-
feet impression of the plate and from it g
matrix an excellent reproduction of the design
on the plate could afterward be made by cleo
trotvping.
But the action taken by the union OF bank
note companies was too late. The counter
feiters wore already provided with all the ma
terials they needed for turning ont indefinite
printers ink and labor. The criminal industry
continued to grow. that many banks were
compelled TO repudiate their own paper money.
AT the outbreak of the rebellion. the coin hav-
ing given out. Uncle Sam obliged to
issue great quantities Of printed currency,
hls raS saix- lyo1 he
fractional currency was run off by sheets at
No. $50 Rivington street. New York. BY Tom
Ballard and his gang, thus producing millions
OF dollars in false cash. They by no means
confined their operations to such issues. but
turned ont notes Of all denominations I'D TO
$500, each production being in such style Of
art as almost TO defy detection. Ii was not
until 1871 that this remarkable conspiracy was
exposed by subordinate engaged as a
"shover." But of all the counterfeIts of that
day the one which made the greatest sensation
was the work of Charles Smith. 1t puzzled
even the banks. being hardly distinguishabIe
from the genuine. This note joo of imi-
tatlve engraving wholly.
In place of notes issued by thousands of
banks in as MANY different designs there are
now In existence only a few kinds of paper
money. all printed by the government By
custom people have become so far educated in
the recognition of Uncle Sans bills as TO de-
tect with comparative ease any imitation of
Them At the same time the limitations at
tempted are 10 longer of good quality or well
calculated to deceive, because the men who
have the ability and information to do such
work are either out of harm way or under the
nevsr-sleeping eve of the secret service. Fur
thermore, there has been an important change
in the law respecting counterfeiting Formerly
a person could not be convicted and punished
unless he was actually caught in the act of pass
ing counterfeits. THUS many criminals got
away without penalty, though their pockets
were found stuffed with false money. At pres
emit 1t is only necessary for establishing a case
that counte-feits shall be discovered in the pos
session Of an individual In short. the net has
been SO closely drawn upon such offenders that
their occupation is gone, and never again will
they be in a position to menace the business
prosperity and financial stability of the coun-
try. RENE BAcHE.