The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-01

one. changing every day with kaleidoseo-
pic rapidity.
The burning of note usually brings out
its design in a sort of~metallic relief upon
its surface and by means OF a glass and
other implements, and also full and
complete knowledge OF the intricate lie
signS-no two denominations being alike
on every note issued, their face value is
learned with Incredible dexterity. Some ar
rive in fairly good condition, some shrunk-
en- and water soaked, others scorchel
black and twisted out of shape; many are
merely thin, tiny black flakes, and in one
case, now under consideration, the evil
dence consists of a small handful of black
powder which the afIiant swears was $50.
accidentally blown into the fire. Often
the mischief has been done by mice. hand
fulls of the tiniest of pieces attesting the
evil ways of the rodent; babies are another
source of trouble. maniacS. victims CT
drunken frenzy, ploughshares, sawmills-
in fact the strangest and most unheard
of accidents are occurring all the time.
But in a great majority of cases the moa-
ey has been burned, for a common prac-
tice among people who are their own bank
ers seems to be the keeping OF their funds
in unused stoves. A cold day comes, the
fire is lighted by some unSuspecting per-
son who didn't know it was loaded and
the owner suddenly finds that he had mon-
ey to burn in spite of himself.
In one instance a man having $1,000 in
government bonds besides notes and gold,
kept them in a tomato can which he plac-
ed in the elbow of his parlor stove. While
he was ploughing his fields, company ar
rived. his wife had a fire kindled and
shortly he made the unpleasant discovery
that his riches had taken wings Had he
sent the money just as it came from the
stove, wrapped in cotton, it might have
been saved, but In endeavoring to separate
il it became so churned and ground up
that the department was able to Identify
only about $1,000 for him.
An old woman who had accumulated
about $500 was one night at her devotions,
when the candle in some mysterious man.
ner was overturned in the midst of the
money. Now, history does not relate why
1t was there, or whether she was return
ing thanks or paying bit or homage To
Mammon, but. at any rate, II was destroy
ed and as she threw the ashes away and
at the instigation of her friends picked
them out again, there was only enough leu
to return about 800 to her.
But much more fortunate were an old
couple in the West. The man had been
a soldier and by the long accumulation OF
years, they had saved 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 dls-
| tracted, she took 1t to the bank, reporting
/ that the ldSI tllIle sue Idu COuhlth II NiAc
! sum had been $275, mostly in tens and
| twentiee. 1t was sent here, the tiny bits
| sorted and arranged as only experts can
| arrange them, and the necessary three
| hfths OF every note was found. But the
| best of all was that, instead of $2I5, II was
| discovered that the old peoples savings
amounted to $3.50, which amount was nm
ally sent to them, much to their JOY
A Little Game That Failed.
OF course the greatest precaution is
necessary and the afiidavits must leave
no doubt as to the utter and entire de-
| struction of the missing part of the notes.
In one case of this kind a farmer sent
from Kansas some greenbacks, amounting
TO $50, only half of each note being intact.
The rest, he declared, In a strong efiidaVit,
had been destroyed, and also stated in
what manner But on consulting the
books 1t was found that one-half the sum
had already been paid to another person.
who had sent the other halves of the notes
from another part of the country Conse-
quently but SIS was returned to him.
Thereupon the cashier who had transact-
ed the business for the farmer wrote such
an indignant letter saying the govern
ment had impugned the honesty of the
claimant and that he would prove him I'm
the right, that the affair was put into the
hands Of the Secret Service, the proofs
exhibited, and the imprudent farmer fined
81, 600 for false swearing.