Cochise review., 1900-08-29
MUTILATED MONEY.
Work in the Redemption Bureau of
 the U. s. Ire sury.
Currency Injured and All But De- stroysd Made Good How Muoh of the Cash Xa
 Damaged.

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 ments in the United States treasury is that devoted to the redemption of
 mutilated currency. To it are sent
 all varieties of bills, in every conceiv-
 able stage of mutilation. It Is seldom
 that the experts cannot decipher the
 burned crisps or piece together the myriad fragments. The collection is
 8 curious one, changing every day with
 kaleidoscopic rapidity, says the New York Tribune.
 The burning of note usually brings out it's design in a sort of metallic relief upon it's surface, and by means of glass and other implements, and also full and complete knowledge of the intricate designs-no two de-
 nominations being alike-on every note issued, their face value is learned with incredible dexterity. Some arrive in fairy good condition, some shrunken and water soaked, others scorched black and twisted out of shape; many are merely thin, tiny black flakes. and in one case, now under consideration,
 the evidence consists of small hand ful of black powder, which the athant swears was $6s, accidentally blown into the fire. Often the mischief has been done by mice, handfuls of the tiniest of pieces attesting the evil ways of the rodent; babies are another source of trouble, maniacs, victims of drunken frenzy, plowshares, sawmills--in fact, the strangest and most unheard of accidents are occurring all the time. But in great majority of eases the money has been burned, for com. mon practice among people who are their own bankers seems to be the keeping of their funds in unused stoves. A cold day comes, the fire is lighted by some unsuspecting person who didn't know it was loaded" and the owner suddenly finds that he had money to burn in spite of himself.
 In one instance man having S7,o00 in government bonds, besides notes and gold, kept them in tomato can which he placed in the elbow of his parlor stove. While he was blowing his fields, company arrived, his wife had a fire kindled and shortly l0 made the un- pleasant discovery that his riches had taken wings. Had he sent the money just as 1t came from the stove, wrapped in cotton, 1t might have been. saved, but in endeavoring to separate it it became so churned and ground up that the department was abe to identify only about $s,coo for him.
 An old woman who had accumulated about 5000 was one night at her devo- tions, when the candle in some mysteri- ous manner was overturned in the midst of the money. Now, history does not relate why it was there, or whether she was returning thanks or paying bit of homage to Mammon, but, al any rate, 1t was destroyed, and as she threw the ashes away and at the in. stigation of her friends picked them out again there was only enough left to return about slc0 to her.
 But much more fortunat were an old couple in the west. The man had been roldier. and by the long ac. emulation of years they had saved 6 little sum, when one day the wife, in going to look at it, found that the mice had left only pile of carefully sawed fragments. Almost distracted, she took il to 'he bank, reporting that the last time she had counted 1t the sum had been SITS, mostly in tens and twenties. It was sent here, the tiny bits sorted and arranged as only ex. pertR can arrange them, and the neces. sary three-ffths of every note was found. But the best of all was that, instead of S275 it was discovered that the old peoples savings amounted to S35o, which amount was finally sent to them. much to their joy.
 Of course, the greatest precaution is necessary, and the affidavits must leave no doubt as to the utter and entire destruction of the missing parts of the notes. In one case of this kind farm. CT sent from Kansas some greenbacks, amounting to $50. only half of each note being intact. The rest, he de. clared in a strong affidavit, had been destroyed, and also stated in what manner. But on consulting the books it was found that one.half the sum had already been paid to another per. son. who had sent the other halves of the notes from another part of the country. Conseueutly but $a5 was re- turned to him.
 Thereupon the cashier who had transacted the business for the farmer wrote such an indignant letter, saying the government had impugned the hon. esty of the claimant and that he would prove him in the right, that the affair was put into the hands of tho secret service, the proofs exhibited, and the imprudent farmer fined sl 900 for false nSa,aorioo