New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-22

ury many bad dollar were the Johnson brothers
They operated in number Of States. made all
kinds Of bogus money and were successful in pass
ing thousands of dollars on unsuspecting country
merchants and traders Their operations extend
ed period of more than eight years and the
johnson gang kept Secret Service men on the
jump from State and from enc city to the
other The brothers were typical country sports,
and always dressed in the latest fashion OF the
day. After many months OF diligent work the
gang was finally broken up. but some Of their bad
money is yet undestroyed.
John 3. Doyle was the broker for the counter
feiters mixed up in the 7-3O government bond
swindle in 1851 when New-York bankers were
forced TO pay into the Treasury nearly 10000
which IL had paid out for them on the spurious
bonds foated by Doyle For a long while it was a
question with the Treasury officials as 10 whether
the bonds were fraudulent good A council OF
war held to ascertain the cause or means OF
Implications. Mr. Casilear. then chief Of the Bu-
reau OF Engraving and Printing. and Mr. Clark
superintendent of the printing division vera
ordered TO appear before the Treasury officials
The superintendent declared the bonds were gen.
uine, and that they had been printed under his
personal supervision. Colonel W. P Woods OF
this city, then chief of the Secret Service and
he said that he satisfied some Of the bonds
were fraudulent and that they had been printed
from copper electrop1ates He further said that he
was convinced that it the work OF William K
Brockway and his pals The Treasury Depart
ment greatly alarmed and offered a reward OF
$4,000 for the of the counterfeiters and the
recovery of the plates. Chief Woods was told that
the reward applied to his Office well as 10 out
side detectives. Mr.. Woods resigned as chief Of
the service. and said he would get the counter
feiters, and he did Brockway. John B.
Doyle Charles Ulrich and Charles Smith. recover
ing the plates and about $4,000 Of good money
they had secured for the spurious bonds.
The old Secret Service chief was paid 5000 on
account. and told that he would have TO get
a special act Of Congress to get the other S2006o
The appropriation has never been made. although
he has fought for it at almost every session OF
Congress.
Zurich learned his trade in the Bureau OF En-
craving and Printing here said official. and
knew his business. He was associated with Brock
way and Charles Smith. who learned his trade with
the American Bank Note Company The latter
was perhaps the finest engraver in the country.
It was impossible to detect one Of his notes from
genuine one. Doyle the broker. and lived in
Chicago All four were smooth workers however,
and their methods OF getting money in circulation
were on the strfctest business lines When Colonel
Woods broke up this gang he did about the best
piece of work ever done in this line.
Strange it may appear 10 many. counter
feiting Is on the decrease in this country. II seems
that when the first people settled here from Eng
land goodIy number of counterfeit artists came
along. for first paper money was counterteiteo
by the wagonoad Continental and Colonial bills
were counterfeited from the first. and gave our
early lawmakers no end OF trouble. To prevent
counterfeiting in the of provincial currency
all kinds of rude devices and private marks were
resorted to. and these were stuck the bills until
they were about thick ordinary playing
card The practice of counterfeiting became so
prevalent even as far back 1772 that Colonel
Philip Schuyler proposed in the General Assembly
of the Province of New-York that the paper money
be backed with the devices all-seeing eye IN
the clouds cart and coffin. three felons on q
gaows a weeping father and mother with seVera
small children. burning pit human figures pouTsu
into IL by iendS and label with the words, Lei '0
counterfeiter rot Previous 10 that time paPe1
currency bore the warning of the law. It's death
to counterfeit
Massachusetts and other colonies made strln-
gent laws against counterfeiting but II amounted
TO nothing. There more spurious money ~
circulation than good. Anything like the genuH7
bill would pass without question NOW OF 'SS
two $40 bills issued in IT'S after majority OF
the States had agreed to articles OF conieue!N
ton. you will altar with flame r!slIs
from it, over the altar and flame. breaking rom
n cloud is the aII-seeing eye. casting radldh0o
over the whole field. II IS easy TO see thaO 90
counterfeit even of this simple Dill Is -
bad botch Why advertisements were even pri".
telling where counterfeit money could De oo"s
The work was done almost openly Tue, =
times men who did the work were severely PU'
ished but it did not stop the fraudulent lSSu
About the only money which was never 'ou"
terfelted was Confederate l say IL was -
eounterfeited but / mean during the time u We"
good. After the war. and IN fact m recent -
large Sims have been counterfeited and so'u
the genuine 10 men who deal in such stun rat
TO relic hunters l have sometimes thouShe IN
tbe fact that the Southern people did NOT S11Sts
tnrfsif tbeir money during those days OF tsosSp-v
for them was one of the highest tests OF ~ sny
and honesty that could have been given ~ fSr
peop!s / am a Yankee but it speaks T Ssierats
the people Of the South True the no S@nI st arst
IL was as good gold to the people