The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-21
And Spoiled a Promising
Plot
COSTA RIGA couNTERFEITs
ARE PUT IN CIRCULATION PRE-
MATURELY
High oficials Implicated in Gigan-
tic Swindling Scheme-A Con-
federate Makes Confession
Associated Press Special wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
NEW YORK. July 20-Ricardo de Re-
quesas. the principal conspirator in the
plot to flood Costa RIGA with counterfeit
bank bills. who is now in Ludlow street
jail awaiting trial. has made written
confession. His confession duplicates
! three wealthy coffee planters in Costa
Rica-Jose Campos, Jose Villalobos and
Salvador Ecampo of Santo Domingo.
Costa Rica--and nephew of Quires. the
present Minister of War of that repub-
lie, of the same name. Indeed De Re-
quesas intimates that the Minister had
something to do with the counterfeiting
business. His confession in part is as
follows:
About July 10, 1894, Senior Jose Cam
pos and Senior Jose villaobos came to
this city from San Francisco. Cal. bring
ing with them two stones already en-
graved for the printin of 500 bills of the
Bank of Costa Rica. Campos showed
me in my office a 500 bill of said bank
and asked me how much 1t would cost TO
print 10000 of them. making $1,000,000,
adding that he had had the stones made
in California. answered that that kind
of WORK could not be done by autograph
ic presses but by steel plates. lie asked
me then how much 1t would cost TO make
the steel plates ana print the pliis. l
said s50oo. and would take the Jop IL
he would advance $lO00. He agreed ana
gave me the money. Inc following Gay
Campos and Villalopos lett the city ana
went to London, expecting that on their
return here the notes would be deilvereo
to them. but mad Done nothing ana nao
no intention OF doing anything IN the
matter.
1t was seven months aiter mat IN the
month of February, 1898, that became
acquainted with Frederico Mora. HIS
visit to my office was In regard 70 Inc
publication of pamphlet, When cam
pos and Villalobos returned from Lon
don 1 got Sl000 more from tnem' anu l
let them go to Costa Rica under the I'M
preston that would DO the 1op ana seno
the bills to them. They promised TO pay
me $4,000 more on delivery OF the pliis.
Then Campos came TO New YORK ABOUT
July, 1895, and urged me to DO the Work.
I promised him to do 1t II he gave me
| piVvV Sooh a. oHSS' -@> N'~ ~ $500
that amount in making proofs on copper
plates by photo-engraving process.
showed Campos these plates. he went
back to Costa Rica, and never tnougnt
OF the matter any more. Flnally ne anu
Villalobos became disguised ana sent
Senior Quires here TO push the WORK.
Senior Quires was the connoentlai sec
rotary OF Seniors Campos and V1llalopos.
He Is nephew OF senior Jean Quesaoa
Quires, Secretary OF war IN PRESIDENT
Iglesias' Cabinet, which makes me sus-
pect that the Secretary had something
to do with the counterfeiting business.
Senior Qulres promised me slooo upon the
delivery of the notes. This was last NO
vember. 1 had copper plates made by
photo-engraving. for which paid about
$500. l gave the plates to Mr.. Dohmer's
son. who transferred them to lithograph
stones. Mr. Dohmer spent several weeks
lin doing the work and finished 1t last
February. He made Sb4O0 by this. senior
Quires saw them and was very much