Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-11
MOSES R0BEN'S LIFE WORK
Most Expert Of Expert Ooiners Now on His
Way to Prison.
BAFFleD DETECTION FOR MANY YEARS
~successful Maker, Shower and In
structor in the Art Finally Over
hauled by the Aid Of
Newspaper Reporter.

Poor old Moses Roben, who in his younger
days was known from ocean to ocean as the
most expert Of the expert coin counter
letters, is ticketed for a term in the United
States penitentiary at Sioux Falls, s. d.,
and the chances are that he will end his
days there, as he is now more than three
score and ten years Of age.
While Moses Roben must attribute his
troubles to recklessly fracturing the laws,
his conviction was due to the fact that he
made too many friends and some of them
upon very short acquaintance. He admits
this and II he had 1t to do over again he
would not take up with a stranger, no
matter how pleasant and agreeable that
stranger might be.
Very little is known OF Moses Roben's
life prior to thirty years ago. when he came
to Omaha and opened a little shop In the
south part Of the city, where he made a
little tinware and repaired leaky articles
that were manufactured Of tin. He was
looked upon as q good citiIen who minded
his W business and had few friends, aside
from the members Of his own family and q
smal yellow dog that was constantly with
him upon his travels about the city. He
seemed to prosper. but why, no person
seemed to know, as he did not do enough
business in his little shop to keep him busy
one hour during the day. He was a great
story teller and always had a large fund Of
war yarns on hand, having been a partici-
pant in both the Mexican war and the War
Of the Rebellion. He drew a pension and II
was presumed that by practicing strict econ
omy his existence was largely due to the
fact of receiving this money every three
months. While he told all kinds of war
stories, in which he narrated many hair
breath escapes. he never revealed anything
Of his life as a civilian.
His Trips Always Paid Him.
After having been here a few years It
was observed that he made periodical trips
both east and west and that when he re-
turned was we'll supplied with money.
Nothing was thought Of this, as 1t was
known that he was a peculiar man and 1t
was supposed that he had a legacy that he
drew upon while absent. At about the same
time 1t was also observed that at intervals
strangers came to the city and visited the
Roben premises, a modest little cottage In
the vicinity of Sixteenth and Vinton streets.
And even these visits attracted little atten.
ton. as 1t was supposed that the parties
were friends Of the old man who had known
him In his younger days. These circum-
stances continued until some time in 1888,
when spurious coins-dollars, halves and
quarters-commenced to be floated about
the city. In appearance they were almost
perfect, having almost the required weight,
a good ring and a milled edge as regular
as that upon the genuine coins.
During the latter part Of 1889 1t was whis-
pered around that Roben knew too much
about the bad coin that had flooded the
market at stated intervals. His neighbors
held up their hands In horror. saying that
not a breath Of suspicion could be lodged
against him. Notwithstanding this, the man
was Swallowed and was finally arrested,
charged with counterfeiting He had his
trial and was acquitted. After that he be-
came more bold and was arrested again dur
Ing the following year. He was held to
the grand Jury and was indicted. The case
was called in the course Of due time and
Roben was ably defended. his attorney lay
ing particular stress upon his war record.
Even this did not save him. for the trial