The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-08-17
MUTILATED MONEY.
SAVE THE FRAGMENTS AND uNCL {
SAM WILL REDEEM THEM.

ury Redemption Burenu.
one or the most interesting depart
iiImts liz the United States treasury
Is that devoted to the redemption OF
mutilatcd currency. TO it arc sent all
varieties of bills in every conceivable
stage Of mutilation. 1t is seldom that
the experts cannot dccipher the burn
cd criSpS or piece together the myriad
fragments. The collection is Il curl
ous one, changing every day with
Kaleidoscope rapidity.
The burning of Il note usually brings
out its design in Il sort of metallic re-
lief upon its surface, and by means of
gliSs and other implements and also
full and complete knowlcdgs, of the
intricate designs, 10 two deaomina-
items being alike, on every note issued
their face value is learned with in
credible dcXtcrity.
some arrive in fairly good con dition.
some ShruniCn and water soaked. 9th
crs scorchcl black ant! twisted out of
shape; many arc merely thin. tiny
black flakes, and in one case now I'M
der consideration the evidence consists
of Il small handful of black powder,
which the atliant Swcurs was $E5, acci-
dcntally blown into the fire.
Oftcn the mischief has been Cuone by
mice, handfu!s of the tinicSt of pieces
attcSting the evil ways of the rodent.
Babies arc another source of II puDlc,
maniacS, victims of drunken frenzy,
plowSh3rcS, SawnillS-in fact. the
stranScSt AMI most unhcard of acct
dents arc occurring all the time. But
in great majority Of cases the mCncy
has EcCn burned, for Il common p.ac-
ticc among people who are their own
bankers seems to be the Keeping of
their funds in unused stoves. \ cold
day comes, the fire is lighted by some
person who 'rlidn't know
it was lcadcd.' and the ow ncr sudden
" finds that he had money, to burn in
spite of himself.
In one instance man having $1,000
iii government bonds, be sides notes
and gold, kept them in IL tomato can
which he placed in the CHOW of his
parlor stove. While lie was plowing
his fields company arrived his wife
had fire l;indlcd. and short v lie made
the unpleasant discovery In; t his rich
cS had taken wings. Had i = sent the
money just as it came from the stove.
wrapped in cotton. it might have krrn
saved. but in CnhcaVorinS To separate
it it hccamc SO churncd :,nd yrJund UP
that the department WAS able t. !drnti.
ry only about $1,000 for him
An old woman who llaOl accumulated
about 5000 was one night ut her devo-
tons, when the candle in some n-'Ste-
RIOTS manner WAS owe rturErd in the
midst Of the money. Now. history does
not relate why it was there or whether
she WAS returning tina uks or paying a
hit Of homage to Malt mon. but ut any
rate II Wa3 destroyed. and as she threw
the ashes away ana u. the inStigation
Of her fIi2iids picked them out again
there WAS Only enough left to return
about SlC0 to her.
iut much more fOrtLnatc were an
cid couple In the west. The man had
been Il soldier, ana by the long accu-
mutation OF years they had saved IL lit
Il" sam. when one day the wife in go
in.; to l0o!; ut it found that the mice
had left only Il pile OF carefully sawed
fragments. Almost distracted she took
il TO the bank. reporting that the last
tiHc Sh2 had counted it the sun had
been $40, mostly in tens and twcnticS.
IT WAS sent here, The Ciny bits sorted
and arranged as only experts can ar
range tncm, and the necessary three
l!fthS of every note WAS found. But
tie lest of all was that instead Of 800
it was discovered that the old peoples
savings amounted to $3.50 which
amount was finally sent to them, much
to their JOY.
or course the greatest prccaution Is
necessary. and the aflidav!tS. must
leave no doubt as to the utter and en-
tire destruction of the missing parts Cf
the notes. In one case Of this kind
farmer sent from Kansas some green.
backs amounting TO so. only half OF
each note being intact: Tie rest. hr
declared in Il strong Il a!idavi:. had been
destroyed and also stated in what man
her. but on consulting thc books ii was
found that onc-Ealf the sum had al
ready been paid 80 another person who
had sent the other halves Of the notes
from another part O! the country. CGn
Sequcntly but SO was returned to him
Thcrcupon the cashier who had
transacted the business for the farmer
wrote such an indignant letter, saying
the government had i@puSncd the hon.
cs,,' Of the claimant and that lie would
prove him iii tie right, that the alTa'.
was pat into the hands CT the sccrct
service. G!c proofs exhibited end the
imprudcnt farmer fl $1,000 for false
swearing-Ncw Yor!: Tribune.