The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-10-21
FOOLED THE
EXPERTS
Honolulu Bankers
Said Coin Was
Bad.

Honolulu coin experts and Federal
officials Will have to take back seat
when it comss to detecting counterfeit
silver.
The bag Of silver quarters and half
dollars taken from two Chinese who
presented them at Bishops bank
where they were Immediately thrown
aside as counterfeit, have been declar-
ed by the United States Treasury ex-
perts to be good and lawful coin of
the realm, and the prosecution against
the two Chinese Will be dropped by
United States Attorney BreCkons. The
two men, Wong Fai and HUI Young, are
now out on bail, which fortunately they
were able to furnish.
Mr.. Breckons will probably move for
a dismissal Of the charge today This
action is based upon a letter received
yesterday from George w. Hazen, OPP
eratve in the charge of the Secret
Service division of the Treasury De-
partment in san Francisco.
Hazen acknowledges the receipt of
two letters from Breckons dated re-
spectively September 9th and 30th;
also two sacks containing alleged coun-
terfeit silver coins, denominations OF
.05, 10, .25 and so, together with a lot
of Hawaiian silver coins. He states
that upon first inspection Of some of
the coins, their appearance led him to
believe them counterfeit, owing to the
rough work and condition of the coins;
however, closer inspection conV need
him the coins We're genuine, made from
dies and presses that at the time the
coins We're issued were not as well eX-
ecuted as at this later day. The ma
jOrity of the coins are what is term
ed "old issue" dating back to sos and
SOS, and are Of old design, some of the
coins are mutilated and have the APP
pearance of having been used as
charms, which Cinnamon are prone to
do with American coins. For further
/ decision Mr.. Hazen took the coins to
! the United states SubTreasury and
! submitted them to the coin tellers, who
are expert in coin handling. They
pronounced them genuine, stating that
! they still continue to receive such coins
! through various banks, but are retiring
| these issues of coin as rapidly as pos
sible by redeeming them and forward
| ing the redeemed coins to the'Treasury
Department at Washington to be dis
posed of and put out of circulation.
Samples of each of the denominations
! of coins We're taken to the United
States Mint, where the coins We're pro-
nounced genuine, with the explanation
that the workmanship at those carly
dates was more crude than at the
present time, and a number of such
coins from use become thin and smooth
while others show rough usage.
Hazen concludes: However, to de-
eide the matter completely and beyond
further question, | left for assay at the
Mint one of each denomination, with
the request that assay be properly
written out, and same will be forward
ed to you on completion, which will be
within a week
"As to the coins in question, should
they be shown to be genuine beyond
doubt, ! would suggest and advise that
1 turn them over to the Sub-Treasury
and get their return for them in new
and late issue coins and transmit the
amount realized to you, as these coins
should be retired
Il think it well for your banks t.
throw aside similar coins and mutilat'
ed coins and forward them through
their correspondents here, to the Sub
Treasury for redemption and circula
ton"
Now it is reported that the Chinese
threaten to bring suit for damages
against Bishop & Co. for false arrest
the two men having been arrested II
that bank by High Sheriff Brown.