The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-06
FLIGHT OF A CoUNTFRFETTER.
ho was Customs Officer at Port
IoMnsend I'll Found Ont

fort Townsend. May 5-Special.-Th
ponce nave unearthed and broken up the
formation OF a plan 10 Hood the Lower
souhd with counterfeit money The prin-
clpsI In the game was a United States
customs inspector. Jack Miller. who as
soon as he learned that the officers had
heeen apprised Of his plans to rnanufac-
ture spurious money. rendered his resig-
nation 10 Collector OF Customs Saunders.
The matter Of his resignation was kept
secret for several days. and before the
police were aware that he had terrnin-
ated his connection with the government
Miller had left the United States He has
been In the customs service since July
1885
For over two years Miller has openly
lived with a French prostitute. A few
weeks ago he hrutally beat his mistress,
and she sought the protection of the po-
lice Then In q 1T Of madness and des-
peration, she disclosed the details Of a
plan which Miller was working on 10
manufacture bogus money. She told the
police where the plant could be found
Knowing the character of the woman
and that IN few days her erstwhile dIf-
ferences with Miller would have been
mutually adjusted. Chief Of Police Wilkes
decided TO search ,lis apartments Be
meath his bed were found three ladies Of
different sizes used for heating metals
and a model for mold. AT the foundry
Miller had placed an order for another
mold OF such a character that II could he
filed with plaster or wax and the perfect
Impression or a silver dollar obtained
Every statement made by the woman
was verified except that the officers we're
unable 20 find any counterfeit money
Around town, however. for several
months there have been more or less bogus
slollars in circulation. hut they could
never be traced 70 Miller.
Subsequently the woman was released
from prison. Miller was notified that the
police had searched his room and seized
the ladies' and molas hut ne made no pro-
test and quietly rendered his resignation
20 the collector Of customs and left on
one OF the midnight boats for Victoria.
Usually all counferfeiting done IN the
country has been from dies stolen from
tho mints or facsimihes made from hard
metal. The present plan seemed 20 have
been far more Ingenious. and after
manufacturing all the money wanted the
plaster OF paris dies could be destroyed
and the evidence Of having coin dies in
the possession OF the counterfeiter could
thereby be removed. chief Of Police
wilkes gave out the following informa-
tion:
The mold IS composed ~ two pieces Of
iron attached at one end by "a kind Of
hinge ana opens al the other. something
like a lemon squcezer. in fact when Miller
took his model 20 Mr. Thurl0w. manager
OF rhe foundry the latter suggested that
= lemon xqueezer could be bought cheaper
than no could make A. Miller replied that
no was not after lemon squoezers. The
entire mold IS about eight or ten inches
long. the body being perhaps three inches
wide and six long the remainder extend
ing oui fn two handles used 20 squeeze or
iu,preSs whatever Is in the two small
plates on each side In these shallow
spaees it was undoubtedly the intention
- pour soft plaster ~ some kind. after
which a silver dollar would he placed on
The surface and squeezed down. some
kind az oil being used 20 prevent ~ from
sticking After the cement hardened 81 Is
Thought th. dollar g. then knocked out
when behold there Is a perfect impress
sior OF the coin. which is as good as a
die II - then comparatively easy 20 melt
whatever the opera roT intended using N
.ha ladies' found. and transfer II - The
s-,r~essfou II that Way ;he country could
ha aoosea with spurious coins. and after
each hatch was run OF me maker could
destroy the plaster.
,,tTcr O-ss taken - the private Once of
.%a ~hfef and confronted with me tools
,-4 n. the same time told that n' rad
baen given away by a pal He Stoui3y de-
rt.a NowexNr having done AnN wrong.
,1.h,,.,h he could give no satisfactory ac-
.-. - ma. no Intended - 30 V1th the
1 A. che same time another man
- ,,s,~~4 b., sail on suspicion ~ know
49,. s,,,,rthlrr about the affair ff" also
=. ,.fsase4. as there was no evidence
aaeinsi hin. ,..-. At.
..ts.--sa ont-klv followed a"t ne pair
. .,,.,r.ossf % haze gone 70 'auf-
',,,s,.~ hv occupation Is a sailor Rn1
.,'i,-.- n, hl-th Two wears after his ar
- rere he vas appointed - tne posi-