Evening journal., 1903-09-14
CONV|CTS MADE
BOGUS SILVER COIN
Counterfeiting Carried On to
Considerable Extent in
Eastern Penitentiary
NO DETAILS GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC

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BY Inspectors and Sent to Federal
Authorities - investigating Other
Gross Frauds.
Philadelphia. Sept. IA. - Following
flosoly upon the exposure of gross IT.
fegularites In the cigar department OF
the Eastern State Penitentiary, came
the public announcement that the H.
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
to the case. The fact that such a dar-
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 his
home and voluntarily made the disclo-
sure He gave out a brief statement
which Is as follows:
"Dr. w. d. Robinson and George
Vaux. Jr., who are al present the Wis
iting inspectors on duty at the Eastern
State Penitentlary, make the state
ment that there has come to their off
cal knowledge that within a short
time an attempt has been made by GER
tain convicts now confined in the peni-
tentiary to manufacture counterfeit sill.
yer coins But few pieces were
made, and number Of these have
come into the possession of the in
spectors. together with the 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 10 the United States authori
ties"
Mr.. Vaux refused absolutely to give
any more details than contained In his
statement. From other sources. how
ever. It 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. IL is learned. is still in psegress
their principal object being to lear
whether there was collusion betweeI
the convicts and the employees of th'
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
4 this offense The others we're profes
sional criminals. who secured through
the plumbing department of the prison,
the necessary metal. made Of solder,
tin and ground glass. The moulds. Il
Is believed. were made of plaster of
I paris. scraped from the walls Of the
cells. Some of the coins got into cir
culation, but in what manner has not
yet been fully determined. There is q
belief that certain employees who did
favors 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'
~ passed Il into circulation.
The counterfeiting was discovered
about the middle OF July and stopped
but for some reason 1t was not made
known to the prison inspectors until
some time IN August
II is believed the discovery OF coun.
terfeiters in the prison was the result
3 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
vestigation Warden Daniel W. Bus
singer and the overseer Of the cigai
I department were temporarily relieved
t from duty. and the penitentiary PLACED
y In charge Of the Rev Joseph Welch
the chaplain It is alleged that thou
sands Of cigars made by convicts arr
unaccounted for. that thousands o
them did not contain the internal reve
nue. stamps. and that in many in
stances the law requiring prison-mad'
cigars to be stamped convict made
d was ignored. How long this has beer
!. carried on Is yet to be learned. TIL
- government OF the penitentiary Il
e vested in a board of Eve inspectors
e appointed by the governor. who serv'
without salary. This board is nov
making an inspection OF each brancl
, of the institution. and has employe,
I an expert accountant to go over th'
/ books. In addition to this the interna
e revenue officers are carrying on a sep
. arate investigation.
DR.. William d. Robinson, one Of th'
inspectors. IN speaking of the affair
said that the inspectors have not foun'
anything that initiates against th'
personal integrity and ability Of thu
warden. but had found abundant eyl
dence that the old methods so long il
vogue are faulty and antiquated. War
den Bussinger has been permitted q
engage an accountant to protect hi
! interests in the matter OF his accounts
]