The Elk Mountain pilot., 1899-04-18
LIGHT ON SUICIDE.
WAS THIS LAWYER A COUN-
TERFElTER?
Death of Alfred c. Kreps of Lima by
His Own Hand a Year Ago AasocIated
with Discovery of Counterfsiting
Plates.

when the Home Safety Deposit
company of Toledo, Ohio, opened one
of its strong boxes recently, on which
the rent was overdue, a most startling
revelation was made. In it was found
$4,000 in silver certificates, the plates,
etched on zinc from which they were
made. also the numbering type, extra
paper, ink. etc.
The company Immediately tele-
graphed Chief Wilkie of the secret ser
vice, asking for instructions. An agent
Of the service was directed to get all
possible particulars in the case and
send the materials found on to Wash
ipgton.
Investigation brought out the fact
that man calling himself Alfred
Kent, book agent at Tittin, Ohio, had
rented the box on Dec. 20. 1897, pre-
sumably for the purpose of depositins
valuable books. proofs and plates. He
was described as being six feet in
height, weight 155 pounds, dark com
plexion, hair and mustache; age about
25 years. AS soon as a description of
the bills was received Mr.. Wilkie com
pared them with those in an album
kept for counterfeit bills and coins. 1t
Tailed exactly with a $40 silver GER
tificate that was received in January
1898.
The history of this certificate was
looked up and the fact revealed that
on Jan. 4, 1898. a well-dressed lawyer
named Alfred C. Kreps, of reputable
firm in Lima Ohio, had tried to pass a
ell in
Ind. His actions becoming suspicious,
the matter was referred to Mr.. Wilkie,
who ordered his agent at Greensburg
to make an investigation. This was
done and Lawyer Kreps was arrested
and taken before the commissioner.
AS all other bills found on Kreps'
person were genuine he was dismissed.
his friends believing him to have been
dupei by counterfeiter. The certif-
cate was still fresh from the hands of
the agent, 10 effort having been made
to age it further than by a little crush
ing and handling.
After kseps acquittal he brooded
over the publicity of his arrest and
one week later startled his friends by
shooting himself They believed his
mind had become unbalanced by his
troubles and because of his dissolute
habits and neglect of his legal pro-
fession.
He was given to inexplicable depar-
lures and long absences. played cards
and drank but was considered bright
lawyer and incapable of crime, and
many friends mourned his sudden and
awful death.
Mr., Wilkes agents for the time gave
n, looking for the maker of the $40
silver certificate, knowing that in time,
as IL always the case, some clew would
crop out by the effort of some one to
float another, but until the safety de-
poait vault was opened the series SEEM
ed To have entirely disappeared.
The description of Alfred Kent, the
book agent of Tifin, Ohio, who rented
the box, and that of Alfred C. Kreps,
tbe lawyer, green goods man and sui
eide, were compared. and the identit-
cation was beyond dispute.
The surmise is that Kreps either Sc
crsely learned the art of etching on
zinc, and made and printed the bills
himself. or that he negotiated and pur-
chased the same from some amateur
counterfeiter The bills and plates
have Just been received at the secret
service department.
1ne entire $4,000 was crisp and new,
showing no effort of aging by the pro-
cesses known to counterfeiting, the
treatment often rendering far worse
counterfeits difficult to detect.
Agents are on the alert and expect