Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-09-16
CROOKED WORK ALL AROUND
Prison Officials Are Hauled Over the
Goals Because Several Thousand
CIGARS Not Accounted for.

Philadelphia. Sept. l3.-Following
closely upon the exposure of gross
Irregularities in the cigar department
of the east state penitentiary came
the public announcement tonight that
illegal coinage of minor silver pieces
has been carried on by the conyicts
in the big institution. No details of
the counterfeiting scheme can be
learned from officials connected with
the prison or government officials
that has been assigned to the case.
The fact that such a daring plan has
been carried on in the p~enitentiary
was made public by George Vaux, Jr.
one of the prison inspectors who
summoned newspaper men to his
home and voluntarily made the dis
closure. He gave out a brief state
ment, which is as follows:
DIR. W. b. Robinson and Mr.. Vaux
Jr., who are at present visiting inspec-
tors on duty at East state peniten-
tiary. made the statement that there
has come to their official knowledge
that within a short time an attempt
has been made by certain ~conyicts
now confined in the penitentiary to
manufacture counterfeit coins. It is
believed that but few pieces have
been issued and a number of these
have come into possession of the in.
spectors together with metals and
chemicals used, the attompt thus be-
ing nipped in the bud. Evidence in
the case is not yet complete. but all
that has been secured has been sub
mitted to the United States authori.
ties"
Mr.. Vaux refused absolutely to give
any more details than contained in his
statement. From other sources. how.
ever. 1t was learned that dimes. quar-
tiers and half dollars were the coins
manufactured. The discovery was
made several days ago and United
| States secret service officers were
Immediately called in. The investiga.
ton. it is understood, is still in pro-
gress. their principal object being to
learn whether there is collision be.
tween the %convicts and the employees
of the institution.
II is believed the discovery of the
counterfeiters in the prison was the
result of the investigation now being
carried on in the place. as a result of
the Irregularities in the cigar depart.
ment. These Irregularities became
public matter last week and pending
an investigation. Warden Daniel w
Bussinger and the overseer of the ci-
gar department were temporarily re.
lieved from duty and the ~penitentiary
placed in charge of Rev. Joseph
Welch, chaplain.
II is alleged that thousands of ci.
CARS made by the convicts are un.
accounted for, that thousands of them
did not contain internal revenue
stamps and that in many instances
the law requirig prison made cigars
to be stamped convict made" was
ignored. How long this has been car.
ried on is yet to be learned.
The government of the penitentiary
is vested in a board of five inspectors
appointed b ythe governor, who serve
without salary. This board is now
making an inspection of each branch
of the institution and has employed
expert accountants to go over the
books. In addition to this internal
revenue officers are carrying on sep
arate investigations. DR.. VIM. ID.
Robinson. n of the inspectors. in
speaking of the affair. said the inspec-
tors have not found anything that mil.
itates against the personal integrity
and ability of the warden. but has
found abundant evidence that old
methods so long in vogue are faulty
and Anticipated. Warden Bussinger
has been permitted to engage an &C.
countant TO protect his interests in
the matter of his accounts.