The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-20
STOLEN BANKNoTEs.
Incidents Following Theft From
the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing.

From the New York Evening Post
Washington, July 17.-The statement
from secret service headquarters that ac-
tive search for the thief who stole eight
blank banknotes from the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing has been abandoned
calls TO mind ono or two interesting incl
dents in this case. The loss of the notes
was discovered the morning after 1t &C.
Cured, when the package of sheets from
which they had been distracted was SUBJ
jected to a recount. Warming was at once
sent out 10 the national banks to look out
for eight notes lacking seal, check num-
bers and signatures. In some quarters
this warning was deemed superfluous on
the ground that no well-regulated bank
would accept such imperfect notes over
its counter; but the response was that
some expert forger might make clever
representations of the SEAL numbers and
signatures, and that in the haste OF
handling large packages of money the
trick might pass muster. Only six of the
notes have since come to hand, but every
one of these had found its way into a
well-regulated bank. Indeed one of the
first was sent to the treasury by a lead
ing bank in this city, with a letter ex-
planning in a tone of premature exuita-
ton that the note had been found in the
midst of a package of good ones sent to
this bank by a bank in Georgetown in
settlement of an outstanding balance
Hardly had this letter had time to go
upon the file, however before second
bank in good standing in Washington
turned in another of the notes, which it
had received from bank number one, on
which the laugh now centered. The treas
ury authorities are beginning to wonder
how much good is done by notiica ton,
after all
Inquiries have been many, ever since the
loss of the imperfect notes. as to where
the loss falls in such cases. In this in
stance 1t would fall upon the govern
ment. as the notes had not passed out Of
its custody at the time OF their abstrac-
ton. The fact that there was no seal
check number or signature counts for
nothing. The government had printed
upon the notes the insignia of value, and
innocent holders had been deceived there
by. The redemption division of the treas
ury department Is required to redeem all
genuine notes. perfect or Imperfect, which
come into 1t through the regular channels.
1t happens once in a while though rare
ly, that after the government has turned
over to a bank a parcel of notes ordered
by 1t, some of these notes are stolen be-
fore signature, or overlooked in the pro-
cess of signing a large number. In all
cases where notes have actually passed
into the custody OF bank and afterward
get into the hands of innocent holders. the
bank is responsible. and its bonds on de-
post with the treasurer are held liable
as security for the redemption Of the
notes. The theory of the law Is that. If
bank does not wish 10 be held respon-
sible for its notes still In an imperfect
stage 1t should take better care of them.
Another point in connection with the
case under consideration, on which some
Of the newspapers seem 20 have been led
astray, is the character OF the offense
which would be charged against the thief.
or any other persons knowing of the
theft, who should pass imperfect notes
There has been talk about their punish
ment under the counterfeiting laws The
broadcast definition of counterfeitinR. or of
u'tering counterfeit money, does not en-
brace such case as this. All that the
thief could be prosecuted for would be
larceny and his pals" could be held and
punished as ahsltpIs Of bis crime