The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07
BOGUS CuRIOS FOR SALE
Many Attempts to Impose Upon
Government Scientists.
The Smithsonian Institution Fn
vorite Mark for Wouid-Be Swind-
Iers-Initntions of Pottery and
wenp,ns offered to the Omcinis.

The game of attempting to impose on
autiquarians is an old one, but it is still
in full operation. as the authorities of the
Smithsonian Institution can TESTIFY. Prof
Thomas Wilson, whose fame as an an
thropologist is world wide. is constantly
in receipt OF bogus antiquities which are
solemnly represented as genuine by the
senders who are also. in most cases. the
makers. These people, with all their I'M
doubted ingenuity, display simple iaith
in the credulity Of their intended victims
which renders them, as class. very IN
teresting. Generally, though. when they
realize that they are found out they
chserfully acknowledge their fakes as
such and treat the matter as pfactlcli
Joke. An exception to this rule is to be
noted however in rather extraordinary
case which occurred some years ago.
which bore all the evidence of fraud, and
yet in which the perpetrator stoutly and
earnestly contested his point until the
time of his death. which occurred recent
~. 1t happened thus:
Prof Wilson received one day a parcel
which. on being opened, was found to
contain three tablets. like miniature
gravestones in appearance, and an efiigy
which resembled the bust of u small doll.
The tablets were almost identical in size
and detail They are about eight inches
in height and breadth, one inch in thick
ness with a semi-circular top, and were
evidently made Of plaster or cement. At
the top of each. in rude bias relief, was
head and wings. and beneath were the
following inscriptions:
CT
lie yoleur- (French. robber or thief)
Theophorous-t Latin. God-bearcr.)
shbddbi-(I Hebrew. translated into Latin. God
Deus QUEEN Colimus- Qatin, God whom We
Worship
The first two letters. &c. L." were
carved in the cement They Were differ
ent in each plaque. The others appeared
to have been cast in mold, as did the
head and wings at the top. AT the bot
tom of each plaque was sculptured or
cast a tree with two doves flying toward
il.
The dolls head and bust was between
two and three inches in height. 1t was
made Of some hard substance, said to be
copper. and had been coated with btu
men. On the head this substance was
thick and had been stuck over with hui
man hair of a dark brown color. Cut or
carved into the bitumen mot into the
metaD were the words Deus Columnas.
The head bore a strong likeness to that
al the top of each tablet The story ac-
companytng these singular objects is viz
tually as follows:
ne StHutis NIDSt iidIilt IL u llpl U'tttS-
sary to mention, claimed to have dug
them out of the undisturbed clay at the
foot of a bluff in raVine in Livingston
County Missouri. The place in which II
was said they were found is twenty-five
feet below the surface. and about two feet
in from the face of the bluff. No hypothe-
sis explanation of their meaning was
offered by the sender. other than that he
expressed his conviction of their an
tiquity and profound Significance Upon
examination they were at once pro-
nourred fakes" pure and simple by the
Smithsonian experts, who regarded, and
still regard, the whole affair as a childish
practical joke. Upon courteous com
munication of their opinion and judgment
to the sender the latter expressed great
Indignation and asked for the immediate
return Of his bust and tablets, which re-
quest was complied with. But before
sending them back Prof Wilson took
photographs OF them, and these lie has
yet in his possession.
Pottery, weapons. sculpture. etc, of the
aborigines are being constantly initiated
and put on the market for sale TO en-
thusiasts who have, in some cases, been
taken In to the extent of some thousands
OF dollars by adroit fakirs. The Smith