The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-10-14

What man he was. What q boy.
BILL ARP.
TALK ABOUT COUNrERFEITEIs
The Chief OF the United States Secret
Service Talks Abor, the Makers OF
Spurious Money.
Washington Star.
A counterfeit Of the So United States
silver certificate, series Of 1896, has
been forwarded to the secret service
bureau at the treasury department
from Chicago. 1t is the first that has
been received since last January, and
experts declare it clever piece OF
work which would not be detected as
a counterfeit except under close scru-
tiny. 1t has Il number of points about
it which stamp it as being spurious,
but which would not be noticed by the
laity.
81 had been expecting this note to
turn up for a long timc," said Chief
HaZen of the secret service bureau to
a Star reporter today, as he showed
the counterfeit note across the table to
be examined by the reporter. 81 am
rather surprised that we have not Sc
cured it before.
"It comes from Chicago, and from
| certain earmurks which | can detect
about it., it Is the work Of d noted
ccuntcrfeiter by the namo Of John AL
! fred, a,IiKoQg. L'KOOg is d Swede. .abt,ut
35 years Of age, and rather clover as a
note maker. He escaped from Joliet
prison, illinois, last March, where he
had been sent from Chicago for coun-
tcrfeiting, with two other men. They
were coin makers, named Jacob John
son and James Foley. They were re-
| a
but SO far L'kUog has eiuded watchfu-
ness Of the officers.
Ever since his escape we have been
looking out for some OF his work, and
it just turned up. When a man has
started in the business he never quits
it, unless by force Of circumstances.
1t is only reasonable to suppose that
LKoog would return to his Old haunts
and occupation in Chicago, and the
suppositiOn proved correct.
THE last counterfcit note we re-
ceived was from Chicago also. 1t was
$40 Manning head certificate and
center for counterfeiters, as the
workers have often been captured
there"
The chief sat in his private Office in
the treasury building, about which
clings an air of mystery connected
with everything pertaining to the Sc
cret service. On the walls were pic
lures of famous makers and showers
of 1.-THE queer" More were held in
cabinets and records, which if re
vealed would cause sensations through
out the United States, were hidden in
boxes and carefully filed away.
"Countcrfeitcrs might be termed the
aristocracy OF crooks. They are gen
int off i'm, al
vivial, and are naturally very reserved
1t is to their interest to he reticent. It
is q paradox, but there are never
thieves among them. What mean is,
while they follow wcountcrfeiting, which
is one OF the worst crimes Imaginable,
they would not rob or burglariZc.
Many Of them have been known TO be
exceedingly charitable though it may
be said If they are successful they can
easily afford to be so. They are q
milder class than that of any other
criminals. They never cause trouble
in any community wherever they may
happen to be outside Of the counter
feiting.
"There is not so many women in the
business as formerly; why, cannot just
be explained. There are few females
in it now, and those who are engaged
in the business cooperate with their
husbands. The man generally make
the money and the woman passes it,
as she does not find so much trouble in
doing so.
There is more coming OF the queer
in the West and Southwest sections OF
tho country than in the others. 1t
probably started there and has con-
tinued. 1t is transmitted from father
to son, just like any other trade, and
llourishcS in much the same manner as
does illicit distillng.
"It Is q mistaken idea to suppose
that cOunterleiters, as has been stated,
buy silver and mako it into coin, there
! by gaining the profit which the stamp
is supposed to add to 1t. Not by any
means. A cOuntcrfeiter will not pay
GO or G2 cents an ounce for silver when
he can get the same results differently.
He buys antimony tin, plaster Of paris
and other materials, the whole outfit
costing about $l.50, and with these he
/ can got out coin to the face value Of
5000 or $500 They wish to make as
much as possible ont Of as little as pos
possible.
"We recognize the work Of individ-
ual coin countcrfcitcrs by the manner
in which the coins arc finished, as to
! the milling on the edges, and other
dc tails. 1t Is very seldom that wo are
mistaken in this respect Every one
has his own mark.
"The biggest capture we ever made