The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-03-16
MAKERS OF BOGUS MONEY
Some Curious Facts Given by an
Ex-Secret Service Chief
Italians Predominate Among the For
eIgners In This Country Who
Are Engaged In Coun-
terfeiting.


A. L. Drummond, late chief of the
secret service division of the treasury
department, was an efficient officer,
and his report contains a summary of
operations which show that the di-
vision during the last year has not
been less active within its province and
has accomplished results no less de-
cided, important and valuable for the
government than in previous years. 1t
is among the particular functions of
the United States secret service to
trace, arrest and secure the conviction
of counterfeiters and those who en-
bezzle and misapply the funds of ma
tional banks.
According to the statement of Mr..
Drummond, says the Chicago Times,
there were, during 1892, 494 arrests for
manufacturing, possessing and passing
counterfeit money. 1t appears that
this species of crime is indulged in by
the native Americans to greater ex-
tent than all the foreign-born popula-
ton, as 252 of the 494 persons arrested
claimed the United States as the place
of their nativity. Among the foreign
born counterfeiters the Italians were
by far the most numerous. The Chi
nese contributed but one arrest.
One of the curious features of the re-
port is the statement that fractional
paper currency, representing the value
of $402, was counterfeited during the
year. Little spurious copper coin was
made; it's amount was less than $64.
The greater difficulty in successfully
Stimulating coinage is indicated by
the fact that $S,591 of counterfeit
gold, silver and copper coins was made
against $22, ,1es counterfeit paper
money. Among the contraband prop
erty seized We're limitations of the OBJ
legations, securities and coins of the
United States painted in oil and wa
ter colors, photographed Autographed,
printed on paper, and struck and
stamped in metal The eX-chief ex-
presses the hope that, as the later
amendments to the laws prohibiting
such limitations, for advertising or
other purposes, become more generally
known their issue will cease.
Mr.. Drummond recommends the
present congress to pass an amend
ment to existing laws preventing the
making or issuing of private scrip or
metal tokens in denominations of less
than $5 in payment of debts. The
recommended prohibits |
the words .spay in trade y ''in goods
or sin merchandise or any other ex-
preston intended to convey the mean
ing that the value will be furnished |
the holder in lieu of the lawful money |
of the United States. The penalty is |
fixed at $500, or six months imprison-
ment, or both This bill was read |
twice in the last congress and referred |
to the judiciary committee. The cur
rency stringency last summer and au-
tumn brought into use a considerable |
quantity of such tokens, many of which |
were prohibited under the law as it |
now stands. The proposed amendment
extends the scope of the statute.
The eX-chief makes another impor-
tant recommendations the statute
of limitations which now bars the pros
ecution of national bank officers after
the lapse of three years from the time
of alleged offenses committed be ex-
tended to five years. The present three |
years limitation, his investigation has
is too short period, as in a
of instances frauds on national
banks were found to have been com
mitted many years before discovery.
Mr.. Drummond sagaciously observes
that the longer the period the statute |
of limitations has to run the more diff
cult will it be for bank official to con-
ceal his crime.
The present congress is also asked to
amend the law requiring national bank
officers to stamp all counterfeit notes
as such. There is a law requiring this,
but as no penalty is named for the
failure to carry out its provision it is
not enforceable, although partially OBJ.
served. This amendment makes the
failure to brand such notes punishable
by a fine of $780, The retiring chief |
also repeats the recommendation made |
often to former congresses-that an
appropriation be made as a sanitary |
measure, as well as to make counter
feiting more difficult for retiring from |
worn and soiled notes. Mr.. |
Drummond asserts that his twenty-five |
years experience in hunting counter |
feiters has taught him that anything |
which gives note soiled or worn ap- !
pearance is great and effective help |
to the counterfeiter.
Domestic Use of Dynamite.