Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-01-14
a MISSING BILL,
yvho Hns tho First SIS GreenbscIs
That WINS Printeds

~ MIOOtiN0 o.GGt
,vho Hn. the First SIS GreenbscIs
That WINS Printeds
One missing IS bill is making heap
of trouble for the receiver of the Ma
tional Bank of Illinois. This is not an
ordinary, cheap, everyday SIS bill, but
one of great historical interest, and was
the property of the Chicago Press club
when the bank closed its doors.
This bill ia the first So greenbaok
that was printed under the act that was
nassed during the great civil war au-
thorizing tho United States to issue
money to carry on tho conflict that led
to the crushing of the rebellion.
This bill was presented to the Ohioa-
20 Press club about ten years ago by
George Schneider, who was then the
treasurer of the club aud president of
the bank. Being piece of currency OF
great value because of its history, 1t
was placed in an envelope and left with
the bank for safe keeping
1t was placed in piseonhole in the
vaults. When the bank closed its doors
and John G. McKeon took possession as
receiver, the bill could not be found,
nor has it been traced to this day. Every
effort has been made to discover it. but
no Glow has developed that would lead
To a knowledge of it's possible where
abouts.
1t was not placed in the bank as
special deposit. but kept there as an nc
commodation to the Press club, which
had no facility for protecting 1t from
theft.
"That bill came to the bank, " said
George Schneider, Sin the regular
course of business When saw its i'm
portance and value as n souvenir, pre-
sented it to the Press club. 1t was OF
series A, No. /, and the first S. green
back printed by the government under
Abraham Lincoln's administration. 1ts
monetary value cannot DO computed,
but its rarity and historical value can
not be questioned.
"When I gave it to the Press club, ]
was asked to keep it in tho bank vaults
for safety, as tho club had no way of
protecting it, and it was of too great
value to be publicly exposed. Therefore
| had it placed in all envelope and
sealed and placed it in a pigeonholo III
the vault of the bank. No, it was not
marked, either rs to its ownership or
its contents, but kept so as to be recog-
nizahle whenever it should be demanded
by its owners. l don't believe there was
any record of it on our books Of special
deposits, nor was there memorandum
regarding it in the papers of the bank.
81 have no idea what has become OF
the valuable piece of currency, but l
assure YOU efforts are making to discoy-
or its whereabouts. That bill belongs to
the Press club and regard itas most
valuable asset. -
1--WE have made search for that bill,
said John @. McKeon, vice president OF
the Commercial National bank and
former receiver of the National Bank of
Illinois, "but we could find no trace of
it, high or low I had every box and
paper opened when I took possession Of
the bank as its receiver, but no such So
bill ever was discovered. / have not
given up hope yet that the bill will be
found, for its value to collectors of these
things is too great for it long to remain
hidden.
General McNulta succeeded Mr.. Nc
Keen as receiver, and his assistant, b.
Allen Frost, has also tried to get trace
of that So bill. II could f-:d no record
of it, said be, "nor have seen such a
thing among the papers, and have en-
amined them all. 1t is mystery to me
where it could have gone. 1t would do
the holder no good, for if he offered it
for sale it would at once create publicity
and would naturally return to the hands
of its owner. / believe the olll will yet
be found. !"
A coin and currency dealer told re-
porter that he would give So, coo in
cash for such rare bill, for the green
backs had all been called in, and No. l
of the first series would have value to
collectors of these things that no c :
could compute A collector of rarities
of this sort would no doubt DO glad to
give $40, 900 for such prize "But,
them, the dealer continued, title
must be perfect, as in piece OF real es-
tate. 1t would be hard to dispose of I'M
less the person selling could prove abb
solute ownership. u
And the question still remains, Who
has tie So bill, series A, No. l, of the
issue of 1862? The Chicago Press clus
would like to know. Chicago Tribune.