Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-02-03
MAKING FALSE MONEY.
Some Points by the Chief of the
Secret Service.
Clever work by Chicago Counter
feiters-The Southwest Furnishes
the Most Makers of "the
Queer"

A counterfeit of the five-dollar United
States silver certificate, series OF
1896, was forwarded a few days age
to the secret service bureau a the treas
ury department from Chicago. 1t was
the first which had been received since
last January, and experts declared it
is a clever piece of work, which would
not be detected as a counterfeit except
under close scrutiny. 1t had num-
Der of points about it which stamp it as
being spurious, but which would not
be noticed in the least by the laity.
81 had been expecting this note TO
turn up for a long time" said Chief
Hazen. of the secret service bureau, to
Star reporter the other day, as he
showed the counterfeit note across the
table to be examined 10y the reporter.
II am rather surprised that we have
not secured it before.
ut comes from Chicago, and from
certain ear marks which | can detect
sbout il it is the work of a noted coun-
terfeiter by the name Of John Alfred
L'Koog. L'Koog is a Swede, about IS
years of age, and rather clever as a
note maker. He escaped from Joliet
prison, Illinois, last March, where he
had been sent from Chicago for coun-
terfeiting, with two other men. They
were coin makers. named Jacob john
son and James Foley. They were re-
captured and returned to the prison,
but so far L'Koog has eluded the
watchfulness of the officers.
Ever since his escape we have been
looking out for some of his work, and it
has just turned up. When a man has
started in the business he never quits
ii, unless by force of circumstances.
ut was only reasonable TO suppose
that L'Koog would return to his old
haunts and occupation in Chicago, and
tie supposition proved correct.
The last counterfeit note we re-
ceived was from Chicago, also. twas
$50 Manning head certificate, and
turned up January II. The windy city
is a center for counterfeiting, as the
workers have often Deen 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 cab
inets, aud records. which if revealed
would cause sensations throughout the
United States. were hidden in boxes and
carefully filed away.
"Counterfeiting might be termed the
lristocracy of crooks. They are gen
orally quiet. not often immoral or con-
vivial, and are naturally very reserved.
IL is to their interest to be retieent. 1t
is paradox, but there are never thieves
among them. What | mean is, while
they follow counterfeiting, which is
one of the worst crimes imaginable, !
they would not rob or 'burglarize. |
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 a mild
er class than that of any other Grimm |
ais. They never cause trouble in any /
community wherever they may happen
to be, outside of the counterfeiting.
There are not so many women in the
business as formerly; why, cannot |
just be explained. There are few fe-
males in it now, and those who are en-
gagged in the business cooperate with
their husbands. The man generally
makes 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
the country than in the others. Itprob-
ably started there and has continued.
II is transmitted from father to son,
just like any other trade, and flourishes
In much the same manner as does Illicit
ut is mistaken idea TO suppose that
as has been stated, buy
silver and make it into coin, thereby
gaining the profit which the stamp is
supposed to add to it. Not by any
means. A counterfeiter viii not pay
50 cents or CO cents an ounce for silver
TO use when he can get the same results
He buys antimony, tin,
plaster of paris. and other materials,
the whole outfit costing about S1.50.
With these he can get out coin TO the
face value of $500 or $500. They wish
10 make as much as possible out of as
little as possible.
I'VE recognize the work of individ-
lal coin eounterfeiters by the manner
n which the coins are finished, as %
he milling on the edges, and other de-
.ails. 1t is very seldom that we are mis-
AIKEN in this respect. Every one has
lis own mark. "-Washington Star.