The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-28
A 50 BILL WORTH $4,000.
1t Is Lost as Far az the Real Owners
of the Rare GreenbacI& Know.
From the Chicago Tribune.

of the Rare Greenb3ck Know.
From the Chicago Tribune.
One missing s. bill is making a heap of
trouble for the receiver of the National
Bank of Illinois This is not an ordinary
cheap. everyday IS bill, but one of great
historic interest and was the property of
the Chicago Press club when the bank
closed its doors.
This bill is the first IS greenback that
was printed under the act that was passed
during the great civil war authorizing the
United States to issue money to carry on
the conflict.
This bill was presented to the Chicago
Press Club about ten years ago by George
Schneider, who was then the treasurer Of
the club and president of the bank. Being
a piece Of currency of great value because
of it's history, it was placed in an envelope
and left with the bank for safe keeping.
Ii was placed In a pigeonhole in the
vaults When the bank closed its doors
and Jonn McKeon took possession as re-
ceiver the bin could not be found, nor has
IL been traced to this day. Every effort
has been made TO discover 1t, but no clue
has developed that would lead to the
knowledge of its possible wherabodts.
1t was not placed in the bank as a sps-
cal deposit. but kept there as an accom-
mediation to the press club, which had no
facility for protecting it from theft
THAT bin came to The bank" said
George Schneider lin the regular course
of business. When l saw its importance
and value as a souvenir | presented it to
the press club. IL was of series A, No. 1,
and the first IS sreenback printed by the
government under Abraham Lincoln's adj
ministration lis monetary value can
ftasr a . ts.ss4
ical value cannot be questioned.
"When / gave il to the press club I was
asked to keep it in the bank vaults for
safety, as the club had no way of protect
ing it, and it was Of too great value to be
publicly exposed. Therefore, I had it
placed in an envelope and sealed, and
placed ii In a pigeou-hole in the vault OF
The bank. No. 1t was not marked, either
as to its ownership or it's contents, but
kept so as to be recognizable whenever it
should be demanded by its owners. ] don't
believe there was any record of 1t on our
books OF special deposits nor was there
a memorandum regarding ii In the papers
OF the bank"
1--WE have made search for that bill, e"
said John c. McKeon, vice. president OF the
Commercial National Bank and former re-
celver of the National Bank of illinois,
"but We could find no trace of il, high
or low. / had every box and paper opened
when ] took possession OF the bank as
its receiver. but no such s. bill ever was
discovered. have not given up hope yet
that the bill win be found. for its value to
collectors of these things is too great for
It long TO remain hidden" rfz.
A coin and currency dealer told re-
porter that he would give $1,000 IN cash
for such a rare bill. Tor the greenba cks
had all been called in. and No ] of the
first series would have value to collec-
tors of these things that no one could
compute collector Of rarities of this
sort would, no doubt, be glad to give 3d.
600 for such a prize. But. then" the
dealer continued. title must be perfect
as in a piece of real estate II would be
hard 10 dispose Of unless the person SELL
ing could prove absolute ownership"