Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-11-02
A SPURIOUS NOTE
a Clever Counterfeiter Converts
One Ten Dollar Bill Into Two.
h'v. John Lotion, OF Norr"ih. Arrests
ed 4" North Carolina, on Charge
Passing one Hesf or,he DIvld-
ga BiiI.

<Aa arrest was made early this week
at Winfall, N. c., which furnishes one
of the cleverest items of news lately
handled. The warrant was the result of
a clever crime. and the arrest of n
clever bit Of detective work by United
States Deputy Marshal j. T., West.
Just where the story opens is at pres
ent unknown, as the first two chapters
are still In n fog, but the third chapter
begins in Norfolk and on Church street
at the store of Mr.. Seidenberg. a cloth
ing dealer. During the evening Of Octo-
Der tth, 1t Is related by MIR. Seidenberg
that a colored preacher by the name
Oh Jonn Lotion, residing at 20S Fen
church street, called at the store and
IN payment for some purchases tender
ed $40 note, which was accepted. and
the next day was put in the bank re-
ceiVed there and sent with other cash
to Washington to the treasury where 1t
was pronounced a counterfeit, sent
back. It's source located and q warrant
Seidenberg.
LOTION LOCATED.
To locate Lotion was the next thing
Deputy United States Marshal West
went on trail. and calling on Lotions
wife, found that her husband was out
| of the city. By clever Discrimination he
! secured a postal from Lotion dated at
Winfali. n. C., stating that he had been
there one week, proving that he must
nave left Norfolk within As hours after
passing the note
LOTION ARRESTED.
| Communication was opened with
united states Deputy Marshal Charles
A. Banks, of Elizabeth CITY. and he
went TO tVjnfoI1
arrested Lotion and Jailed him, where
he now waits Mr.. Vests arrival with
the necessary papers to bring him here.
SPECULATION.
Whether Lotion Is himself the coun-
terieiter, or an agent, or passed the
bill without Knowing its worthlcssness
1t is unknown, but the keen United
States deputy marshal is on the track
| OF this part OF the story and will prob
ably soon unravel it. This will furnish
chapter two. Perhaps chapter one
should deal with the counterfeit itself,
and this is pronounced exceedingly
clever, as it must have been to pass
through SO many hands unsupported.
THE COUNTERFEIT.
The bill is a $40 United States treas
ury note, and one half of it Is genuine,
and 1t takes close scrutiny to tell which
half is true and which false. To make it
a genuine $40 bill was split and two
bills made, one of which is genuine on
the face and counterfeit on the back,
the other with genuine back and
counterfeit face. The latter is the bill i'm
the hands of United States Commits
sioner Bowden, and is securely locked
in his safe. There is difference in the
two sides of the bill, and close scrutiny
reveals the fact that the silk weave is
absent from the counterfeted half, and
that the signatures of the treasurer
and registrar are blurred, but as by
careful smoking and preparation the
Dill is given the appearance of age and
much handling this Is not easily de-
tected and one not an expert would
have 10 study some time to decide on
the falseness or genuineness Of the bill.
Therein lies its greatest danger, and It
is acknowledged by government off,
Gals to be dangerous and clever bit of
work. As natural result the Treasury
Department Is anxious to get the coun-
tcrfciter.
WILL BRING LOTION HERE,
\ Lotion will be brought here by S1r.
west as soon rs he has reqnistion pa
pefS (Which were expected from Rich
monA last night and taken before
commissioner faowtien for ina ton.