The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1895-08-30
CLEVER COMMENTATORS.
Uncle Sam has an Exhibit of
Pictures of Those who
try to Rob Him.

one OF the Oldest aud most experien-
ced counterfeiters in the country, has
called public attention afresh to that
branch OF the government service
which is organized for the purpose Of
protecting Uncle Sans money.
Those who have visited the Office of
the secret service in the Treasury
building in this city will no doubt re-
call the features Of Brockaway, who
occupies a place OF honor in the gal
lery. which has been aptly termed the
"rogue's gallery" Here may be
found the faces Of men who for years
past hvve attempted to make and pass
counterfeit bills and pieces Of money.
1t is one Of the most interesting
places in the Nations Capital, and It
is perhaps due to the fact that, as the
bulk OF the community lead honest
and industrious lives, the careers of
those who pursue the opposite course
or Of more or less interest, At any
rate, whatever the motive, it is well
known that everything that relates to
crime and criminals possesses a fasci-
mating interest for the average man
and woman. To crafty this teuden-
cy or weakness of human nature, as
we'll as to furnish a practical object
lesson of what Urcle Sam has done in
the past and what he is likely to do
in the future if he finds anybody ats
tempting to usurp his right to coin
money, there is always on exhibition
a collection Of picturesof noted coun-
terfeiters, and also Of the tools which
they use.
Whenever an officer OF the govern
ment seizes a counterfeiter, he conhs-
Gates all the spurious money which
he is able to find and the best speci-
mems Of the skill OF these men are
framed and hung up for the inspec-
ting ofvisitors. Thecollection shows
some crude work, as we'll as some eX-
ceediugly skilliul work. It is very
evident, however, even to the casual
visitor who inspects this exhibit Of
the skillful dishonesty ofthe country,
that Uucle Sam has introduced so
many improvements in the manufac~
ture Of his paper money, that it is
practically impossible to counterfeit
it with any success.
Even BIockaway, who is admitted
to be the cleverest engraver that ever
engaged in the business, was unable
to reproduce the paper ITSELF and the
result was that the notes he turned
out were rather easy to detect. In
the production of silver coins, howev-
er, the counterfeiters have more OPP
portunity, but still such rigid watch
is maintained that it it is rather diff,
cult to pass the coins after they are
made.
In the Treasury exhibitare found the
molds and plates and dies which have
been used by those who rob Uncle
Sam. 1t is not supposed thdtthe dis
play OF these tools, and the product Of
perverted talents, has the bad effect
of suggestion the idea of going into
the business. The outlook is not
very encouraging one, as the records
show that's all Of those who have adopt
ed this calling. and who have earned
their place in this National Rogue's
Gallery, have paid the penalty by
terms ofyarying lengths in the peni-
Tertiary. Whatever fascination the
business might have, it is not to be
increased by looking over this collec-
ton which represents the wrong
doing OF men and women who are
made to suffer the penalties II their
crimes.
Some of the pictures Of themen and
women who have been arrested for
counterfeiting show that they are not
of the ordinary criminal type, but are
evidently plain people living in the
country, who have perhaps ignorant
yyielded to temptation and adopted
this business as an easy way Of max
ing money. 1t is certainly not as
hard As digging potatoes or hoeing
corn, that is, in the amount of physi-
cal effort put forth, and then it is usu-
ally represented that the returns are
very large and the risks small.
Experience generally pioves that
both OF these latter representations
are false, but then it is too late to be Of
much use to a man who has ruined
his life and is suffering the penalty of
the law. However, there are always
those who think they will be except
ions to the general rule and this is one
reason why the ranks Of counterfeit
ers are kept recruited and that the
= ron,