The San Francisco call., 1903-09-14
pennsylvania Convicts
Engage in Work Of
COunterfeiting.
inspectors Recover a Lot of
the Metals and Chemi-
Gals Used.
Investigation VIII Be Made to Ascer-
tain If Jail Officials Were in
Collusion With the
Prisoners.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 13-FoIlowing
closely upon the exposure Of gross irreg-
ularities In the cigar department Of the
Eastern State penitentiary came the an
noUncement tonight that illegal coinage
Of minor silver pieces has been carried on
by convicts in the big institution. No de-
tails Of the counterfeiting scheme can be
learned from any Of the officials connect
e. with the prison, or from the Govern
ment officers that have been assigned TO
the case. The fact that such a daring
scheme has been carried out in the peni-
tentiary was made -4sblic by George Vaux
Jr, one OF the prison inspectors. who
summoned newspaper men TO his home
and voluntarily made the disclosure. He
gave out a brief statement, which is as
follows:
Dr. " D. Robinson and Mr.. Vsux Jr-. who
are a. present the visiting inspectors on duty
~ the Eastern State penitentiary made the
statement that * has come 10 their official
knowledge that within a short time at
tempt has been made by certain convicts now
connneo IN the penitentary TO manufacture
counterfeit silver coins. But a few pieces
were made and a number OF these have come
into the possession of the inspectors. together
with the metals and chemicals used, the at
tempt thus being nipped in the bud The evi-
dence in the case is not yet complete but all
that has been secured has been submitted TO
The United States authorities
Vaux refused absolutely to give any
more "details than contained in this state
ment. From other sources. however. it
was learned that dimes, quarters and
half dollars were the coins manufactured.
The discovery was made several days
ago. and United States secret service Of
fcials were Immediately called in Their
investigation, ii is learned. is still in
progress. their principal object being to
learn whether there was collusion be-
tween the convicts and employees Of the
institution.
II is believed the discovery Of counter
feiters in the prison was due 10 the in
vestigation now being carried on as q re-
suit Of charges Of irregularity. These
became public last week and Warden
Bessinger and the overseer Of the cigar
department were temporarily relieved
from duty and the penitentiary placed in
charge Of Rev. Joseph WEIGH, the chap
lain. II is alleged that thousands of cigars
made by the cOnvicts are unaccOunted
for; that thousands OF them did not con-
tain the internal revenue stamps. and
that in many instances the law requiring
prison-made cigars 10 be stamped con
vict-msde" was ignored. How long this
has been carried on Is Yet TO be learned.
The government Of the penitentiary IS
u vested in a board Of five inspectors ap-
pointed by the Governor. who serve with
OUT EaldIN- LLAS DDdtQ II LDA uldAll6 an
inspection Of each branch of the institu-
tion. and has employed an expert ac-
countant to 90 over the books. In addi-
ton 20 this, the internal revenue officers
are carrying on a separate investigation.
DR.. William D. Robinson, one Of the in
spectors, IN speaking Of the affair said
that the inspectors have not found any
thing that initiates against tn personal
integrity and ability Of the Warden, but
had found abundant evidence that the old
methods so long in vogue are faulty and
sntiquated. Warden Bessinger has been
permitted 10 engage an accountant 10
protect his interests in the matter Of his
accounts.