The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-11

How 1t Deals With Counterfeiters' Prod.
ucts and Mutifated Coins


The secret service is a bureau in the
treasury department, whose head is an OK
pert detective and whose subordinates are
unknown to the outside world. But the
ramiiicatious of this service reach out to
the different cities Of the Union aud ex-
plore the secluded launts in quiet country
towns.
Up in one of the numerous rooms of the
treasury department we find n small cham
Der which is museum in which are col.
lected the tools, pictures and work Of the
counterfeiters. On one side is o case of
ugly pistols; on the other, frame full OF
photos OF famous ''shovers of The queer
while behind glass are numb erlcsa Rpeci,
mems of counterfeit or bad money in bills
and coins.
10 those whose curiosity is excited by
the queer exhibit the polite chief clerk is
always ready to give information
There are many little things Of interest
In the service outside of dry statistics.
For instance, 1t is not generally known
that IL is against fhe law to print, photo.
graph, engrave or paint facsimile of a
United states note or coin, but such ia the
case. We have there, be continued, point
ing to large plGcard bearing an engrap-
ing representing So bill "a picture which
was placed in q window to advertise some
.t2sshoes. This drawing was seized by the
officers. A photographer had as an adver-
tlsement representation of s. note, md
this also was eonfiscated.
This photograph OF man seated in
chair and held by two others 4. the pic
ture of famous counterfeiter. lie was
determined we should not catch his face
so, you see, lie has wrinkled it up so as to
be almost unacceptable.
Zone of the easiest WAYS of counterfeit.
ing is to change bill from one denomina-
ton TO another-say $40 bill to a 500
note, or 500 10 1900. But, as a rule large
bills are not those most often counterfeit
ed, for the reason that 1t Ia much easier TO
pass ~ note undetected than it is one
for 81 900. A small note passes unnoticed
where lnyge one would be challenged
"Of course the counterfelters are fine
engrayers, and their work is simply won
derful Still, they never get off as good
specimen as that put out by the govern
ment. The lines in the portraits are not
near SO fine,
When fellow has made false money
his first object is TO give II an old look, so
IL can more easily escape detection. Some
10 this by rubbing IL new note in the sweat
from an oyerheated horse, ms this gives n
soiied, oily look, and others use coffee or
tea to effect stain.
We have in the department here lady
who is remarkably gifted with such del
icate nense of touch that It is simply i'm
possible to pass counterfeit on her. One
bad note which had passed the subtreas.
Hry in New York was detected and thrown
out while passing through her hands.
'Mutilating coin is foolish habit with
some people, aud they do not sem to re
ailze that they are practically withdraw
ing it from circulation. For instance the
10 cent pieces used by ladies for bangles,
or on which initials are cut, can only be
redeemed as bnllion-they are money no
longer, as they no longer represent the
coin of the realm. n--Washington Cor.
Philadelphia Times.