Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-08-30
CLEVER COUNTERFEITERS.

Uncle Sam Has an Exhibit of Pic.
lures Of Those Who Try to Rob
Him.
Special Correspondence Of the STANDARD.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 90, 1895.
The recent arrest Of Brockaway, one
of the oldest and most experienced
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 Sc
cret service in the Treasury building in
this city will no doubt recall the fea-
lures OF Brockaway, who occupies a
place of honor in the gallery, which
has been aptly termed the "rogue's
gallery" Here may be found the
faces of men who for years past have
attempted to make and pass counter.
felt 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
are of more or less interest. At any
rate, whatever the motive, it is we'll
known that everything that relates to
crime and criminals possesses fasci-
mating interest for the average man
aud woman. To crafty this tendency
or weakness of human nature, as we'll
as to furnish practical object lesson
of what Uncle Sam has done in the
past and what he is likely to do in the
future if he finds anybody attempting
to usurp his right to coin money, there
is always on exhibition a collection of
pictures OF noted counterfeiters, and
also of the tools which they use.
Whenever an officer OF the govern
ment seizes a counterfeiter, he confis-
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 inspection
OF visitors. The collection shows some
crude work, as we'll as some exceed.
ingly skillful work. 1t is very evident,
however, even to the casual visitor
who inspects this exhibit of the skill
full dishonesty of the country, that
Uncle Sam has introduced so many
Improvements in the manufacture OF
his paper money, that it is practically
impossible to counterfeit it with any
success.
Even Brocksway, who is admitted to
be the cleverest engraver that ever en-
gagged in the business, was unable to
reproduce the paper itself, and the re-
suit was that the notes he turned ont
were rather easy to detect. In the
production of silver coins, however, the
counterfeiters have more opportunity,
but still such rigid watch is main
tained that it is rather difficult to pass
the coins after they are made.
In the Treasury exhibit are found
the molds and plates and dies which
have been used by those who rob
Uncle Sam. II is not supposed that
the display OF these tools, and the
product of perverted talents, has the
bad effect OF suggesting the idea of 60
ing into the business. The outlook is
not a very encouraging one, as the
records show that all OF those who
have adopted this calling, and who
have earned their place 10 this Ma
tional Rogue's Gallery, have paid the
penalty by terms OF varying lengths in
the penitentiary. Whatever fascina-
ton the business might have, it is not
likely to be increased by looking over
this collection, which represents the
wrong-doing OF men and women who
are made to suffer the penalties of
their crimes.
Some of the pictures of the men
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 ignorantly
yielded to temptation and adopted this
business as an easy way of making
money. 1t is certainly not as hard as
digging potatoes or hoeing corn, that
is in the amount of physical effort
put forth, and then it is usually repre-.
sented that the returns are very large
and the risks small.
Experience generally proves that
both OF these latter representations are
false. but then it is too late to be of
much use to man who has ruined his
life and is suffering the penalty of the
law. However, there are always those
who think they will be exceptions to
the general rule, and this is one rea-
son why the ranks of counterfeiters
are kept recruited and that the secret
service of the Treasury Department
continues in existence.
No appetizer Then do not try to
force food down; but use the most
scientific means for restoring tone to
the stomach. HowH Why, by taking
Ayers Sarsaparilla, and in surpris-
ingly short time, your appetite will
come again, and come to stay.
MRS. Henry Ward Beecher's fad, is