The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-08-09

terfeit note they were convinced tnat 'ho
| man who had caused them SO many
sleepless nights was at last safely iodseo
behind the bars.
| Wrappers on the several bundles found
| In the prisoners possession enabled the
detectives TO locate five OF the s-o notes
| passed that day. yet the case as IL 'heh
stood did not solve the problem III ni.n-
| ner satisfactory TO the government OH
| ficers.
The charge of passing counterfeit notes
would safely lie against the prisoner, pu'
was he the maker? IL so. proof OF the
fact must be secured at all hazarus.
After several hours sweating ana pe-
coming thoroughly convinced that tnero
was no escape from the web OF eNiueiioo
the officers had succeeded In weaN,ns
about him, the man admitted ina, ms
true name was Emanuel Ninger, ana 'nae
he alone was responsible for the eNist-
ence of the pen-and-ink counterieits'
On the strength of his statements tne
detectives proceeded TO Ringer ; hoih' III
Flagtown and secured his outhL which
consisted only of n few pens ana peheils,
some green and black inks, severai snlan
blocks OF water colors and TWO OF thfeo
sheets of bond paper
The arrest of Ninger and the unique
features of the case caused great deai
of newspaper talk. and especially attract-
ed the attention of handwriting eNperts,
all of whom were incredulous, relusiis
TO accept the explanation OF the secre.
service men as to how the counterfeits
were made. one of them going so iar as
TO offer 500 for n pen and ink imitation
of a $40 note that would deceive hews-
boy
A newspaper accepted the challenge
with the result that the expert "craw-
fished." expressing his opini.n OF Nlhger
and his work In the following language;
saFfs1-. i hflN l.
mated, and his great pre-eminence Is as
an impressionist. In a former letter
called attention 10 the border ana opVerse
side of the $40 greenback, ana SAID IL
could not be done in less time thah one
month. / revise that statement. IL could
not be done at all, and Ninger wouluh
attempt IT,
Il confess to you that until TOOK up
this note to examine IL critically IN oruer
10 estimate the forger's labor ! never
knew there was n border: least OF All uiu
know what IL contained.
"The astute forger trades on this men,
tai peculiarity, and so doesn't get his FOOT
in IL by attempting what Is poth I'M
possible and unnecessary. The same Is
true of the lathe work, upon whlch the
government depends as a sure detehce
against limitations.
II called attention TO the imposslpllity
of initiating the fine, white, geometrlcal
lines of the lathe work, and confess that
/ had this work i'm mind when | offered
800 for an imitation of $40 greenpack
that would deceive a newsboy
THE fact is there is not neWspoy
living who would examine the lathe work
on the back of a so greenback before
pocketing II. and in that respeQ we are
all 'newsooys-all except the government
detectives"
NINGLR'S METHOD OF WORK.
The fact that Ninger made and passed
all OF the notes himself, having no con-
federates to share his secret coupled
with the skillful manner In which ne dld
his work made IL possible for him 10
continue so long without detection.
He worked in little room on the Sec
ond floor of the modest cottage in which
he resided, with his wife and four chill
dren, at Flagtown, ~ ]. No one, not even
his wife, was allowed to enter this room
while he was at work. His method was
substantially as follows: First. he pro-
cured bond paper of about the same
quality as that upon which the genuine
notes are printed, of course without silk
threads.
Cutting this the exact size of the genu-
inc note he immersed IL in weak solu-
ton of coffee. This impaired to the paper
the appearance of age, or rather as
though IL had passed through several
hands.
While the paper was still wet IL was
placed over the face of the genuine note.
the edges being exactly together. The
two were then placed.hat upon pane of
glass and every figure and letter. por-
trait and vignette. together with the sig
natures and seal. were brought out I'm
bold relitf, and could be plainly seen
through the transparent bond paper
The pane OF glass was then placed
against the window frame at an angle
OF forty-five degrees The light shone
through rendering the tracery OF the
genuine engraving distinct.
In this position the operator commenced
work. first with an extremely hard and
sharp pointed pencil With IL he care
fully traced all parts. even the most
minute of the genuine note.
HIS SKILL WAS MARVELLOUS.
After the bond,paper had become thor
oughly dry the same ground was gone
over with pen and ink. IT was here that
the marvellous touch and skill of the pen
man was displayed. attesting the accu-
racy OF his eye and the steadiness of his
nerve.
The colors on the note were applied
with camels hair hrush. and these coll
ors so perfectly initiated those Of the
genuine as to contribute materially TO
the the excellent general appearance"
OF the note. Rcd and blue ink marks
were made TO take the place OF the silk
threads which are worked into the pulp
of the genuine paper.
The treasury seal. which has n place on
all OF Uncle Sans paper currency. Is al
most invariably placed over a portion OF
the main design OF the note. thus adding
difficulties TO the tracing OF its intricate
lines, but N1nrer copied II with wonderful
skill and fidelity.
The same care and attention were not
devoted 20 the back Of the note. II was
almost entirely executed with the brush
OF course. the general design was strict
ly adhered TO. but the geometrical lines OF
the lathe work were not attempted with
any degree OF exactncss. Here, again,
the artist relied mainly upon the coloring
10 add to the deception.
The omission OF the imprint Of the
bureau OF engraving and printing from
all OF these pen notes had often been
remarked upon. and when Ninger was
| asked for an explanation OF this ne
| laughinglv said: "Thcy did not maize
them" He had purposely omitted the
| imprint.