Milford chronicle., 1903-09-18
CONVTCTS AS
COUNTERFEITERS
Outfit For Making Bogus Coin Found
in Pennsylvania Penitentiary.
PROBING OTHER GROSS FRAUDS
..-SE. -.

Z. =. -.v--....s,isl s,isla49 2 @.s'1g-.,s '...
Philadelphia, Sept. IA. - Following
closely upon the exposure Of gross IT.
Irregularities in the cigar department oil
the Eastern State Penitentiary, came
the public announcement that the IL
legal coinage of minor silver pieces
has been carried on by convicts in the
big institution. No details OF the
counterfeiting scheme can be learned
from any of the officials connected
with the prison or from the govern
ment officers that have been assigned
70 the case. The fact that such oar
ing scheme had been carried on in the
penitentiary was made public by Geo
Vaux. Jr.. one of the prison inspectors
who summoned newspaper men to ms
home and voluntarily made the dlsclo-
sure. He gave out a brief statement
which IS as follows:
"Dr. w. D. Robinson and George
Vaux, Jr., who are at present the Wis
fling inspectors on duty at the Eastern
State Penitentiary, make the state
ment that there has come to their ON
cial knowledge that within a snort
time an attempt has been made by Ger
tain convicts now confined in the penl-
tentiary to manufacture counterfeit Sill
yer coins. But a few pieces were
made. and a number Of these have
come into the possession OF the In
spectors. together with tNs metals and
chemicals used. the attempt thus be-
ing nipped in the bud. The evidence
in the case is not yet complete, but All
that has been secured has been sub
mitted to the u S. authorities"
Mr.. Vaux refused absolutely to give
any more details than contained in MS
statement From other sources. how
ever. 1t was learned that dimes, quar-
ters and half-dollars were the coins
manufactured. The discovery was
made several days ago, and United
States secret service officers were i'm
mediately called in. Their investiga
tion, It is learned, is still in progress,
their principal object being to learn
whether there was collusiOn between
the convicts and the employees of the
institution.
Later further details Of the counter
feiting scheme leaked out. These
we're to the effect that FIVE men were
engaged IN the work, the head of the
counterfeiters being a Philadelphia
now completing his second term for
this oftense. The others we're profes-
sionai criminals, who secured through
the plumbing department Of the prison.
the necessary metal. made Of solder,
tin aud ground glass. The moulds It
Is believed. were made Of plaster OF
paris, scraped from the walls of the
cells. Some of the coins got into cir
culatlon. but in what manner has not
yet been fully determined. There is a
belief that certain employees who did
fayors for the prisoners. such as mail
ing letters in violation of the rules Of
the institution, were given the bogus
money as tips. and that they innocent
ly passed it into circulation.
The counterfeiting was discovered
about the middle of July and stopped,
but for some reason it was not made
known to the prison inspectors until
some time in August.
It is believed the discovery of coun-
terfeiters in the prison was the result
Of the general investigation now being
carried on in the place as a result Of
the irregularities In the cigar depart
ment. These irregularities became
public last week, and pending an in
Festigation Warden Daniel w. Bus
singer and the overseer Of the cigar
department we're temporarily reliev l
from duty. and the penitentiary plaG |
In charge Of the Rev. Joseph Welc.I.
the chaplain. II Is alleged that thou
sands of cigars made by cOnvicts are
Rnaccounted for. that thousands of
them did not contain the internal reve-
nue. stamps, and that in many in
stances the law requiring prison-made
cigars to be stamped Convict made"
was ignored. How long this has been
carried on Is yet to be learned. The
government Of the penitentiary is
vested in a board of FIVE inspectors
appointed by the governor, who serve
without salary. This board is now
making an inspection of each branch
Of the institution. and has employed
an expert accountant to go over the
books. In addition to this the internal
revenue officers are carrying on a sep
arate investigation.