The sun., 1898-04-10

business it was impossible for him to
visit New York, and suggested to Mr..
Counterfeiter that the mails were safe
medium through which to transact bust
ness and stated that if this was satisfac-
tory he would order $500 worth to start
on.
The reply came back to forward on
the money by mail to name and num-
Der that was given. The officer sent
three good one hundred dollar bills, and
in return received 5000 in tens and
fives. The money was apparently genu-
inc, so the banks pronounced it in BOs-
tor. A week after he received the money
he wrote again to New York, saying that
he thought OF investing on a large scale,
and asked il he could make arrangements
to meet the maker OF the bills in New
York City, at the Grand International
Hotel, at certain time. A favorable
answer came duly to hand, and the de-
tectivc started for New York City. When
Mills arrived at the hotel in question he
was called upon by al old man, who
brought with him valise, which he
opened in the room, displaying packages
of money amounting to $lOO, QUO.
The detective examined the money
carefully, said it would suit him, Land put
his hand in his pocket as il tc bring out
the money to pay for it; but In the place
of money he drew pistol, and placing
it at the counterfeitcr's head made him
prisoner, and took the contents of the
bag into his possession. Upon being ar
raigned on the charge Of offering and
selling what was supposed to be counter
felt money, the prisoner apparently be-
came indignant and stoutly denied that
he ever had counterfeit bill in his life,
and he demanded that the experts EN-
ployeu by the Treasury Department at
Washington be sent for
His demand was complied with and
on arrival of the gentlemen they at once
set about making thorough and critical
examination OF the supposed counter
feits; then submitted their sworn report,
which was as follows: That all these
United States Treasury notes were
printed from genuine plates used by
former worklnen in the Printing Bureau.
They further added that they had long
been aware that some persons had pos
session of a set of plates supposed to have
been furnished by one of the engravers
in the Engraving Bureau, and finally
that the only difference between the
notes found on the prisoner, and the
genuine. lies in there not being SO much
silk fibre interviewer in the paper. The
prisoners counsel asked the Government
experts if they would swear that the
bills examined by them were counter
feits
To the astonishment of every one in
the court room, they replied that they
would not, in fact could not, as they
were positive the bills were as good as
any issued by the Government, and
added that the fault lay III the careless
manner observed in the Treasury De-
partinent in allowing workmen to handle
Government plates, printing inks, dies,
ETC.. as they wished.
The judge had no other alternative
than to instruct. the jury to discharge
the prisoner, who thanked the jury and
quickly skipped out of the court room,
valise in hand, that contained cold
$1,000 of money that was good enough
for the writer at all events. The reporter
was not alone in his envious thoughts,
because from the expressions and sug-
eestive remarks OF some Of the members
OF the jury at the departure OF the pris-
oner. it seemed that they would like to
have few Thousand of the so-called
counterfeits themselves.
To give our candid opinion we could
see no difference in the bills as the notes
were printed IRON genuine United States
plates obtained from the Engraving De-
partment at Washington, by whom it is
not known and perhaps never will be.
As the case now stands some one is get
ting rich in safe, fast and sure manner
at the expense OF the Government.
1t will only bea question OF little
time before we capture the genuine
plates and that will settle it. That is as
'ar as Wilson Or his gang is concerned.
This man Wilson has put the Govern
ment to great deal OF trouble-to say
nothing about the expense-and we
don't propose to let up until we nail him
dead to rights. The Government has as
certained from a thoroughly reliable
source that Wilson had a brother-in-law
employed in the Bureau of Engraving
anu Printing at Washington. This man
is now in Europe and, is being coDtin-
ually shadowed by Scotland Yard de-
tectives. 1t is my opinion that the
original plates are now in Europe and
chat the printing is being done there.
There IL no doubt but what Wilson's
brother-in-law is the thief who stole the
plates from the Department The Dis
trct Attorney was loud in denouncng
this gigantic fraud on the Government.
"Why," he said, IF some law is not
passed Immediately to prevent this man
Wilson from scattering this money
throughout the land (as it is certainly as
good as genuine), it would ruin the ma
ton" "f am somewhat familiar" he
continued with the counterfeiters'
mode of working. The bills are first,
as rule, sold by wholesale to trust
worthy farmers and country merchants
where not one man in ten thousand
knows anything about money--and they
in return are given out as change when
larger bills are. produced by purchaser.
The latter innocently passes the note
upon some one else, and thus they go
through thousands Of hands without any
fear nf detection" A by-stander asked
the District Attorney if he believed an
honest man would enter into such
scheme? what he replied. "l;nter
such scheme? Why my good innocent
fellow, your home is in heaven Hon
esty in these progressive days is a lost
n,t -