The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-09-17
COINTERFEITING IN JAIL
Convicts in Eastern Penitentiary
Made Bogus Silver Coins.
q. NO DETAILS ARE MADE PUBLIC
Complete counterfeItlng outEt Found

mo DETAILS ARE MADE PUBLIC
Complete counterfeIsing Outfit Found
BY Inspectors and Sent to Federal
Authorities 49, lnesti0ating Other
Gross Frauds
Philadelphia. Sept a. - Following
closely upon the exposure OF gross IT.
rcgularities in the cigar department Of
the Eastern state penitentiary came
the public announcement that the IL
legal coinage OF minor silver pieces
has been carried on by conyicts in the
big institution. 30 details OF the
founterfeiting scheme can be learned
from any of the officials connected
with the prison or from the govern
ment officers that have been assigned
% the case. The fact that such dar-
ing scheme had been carried on in the
peuitentiary 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. lie gave ont a brief statement
which is as follows.
"Dr. W. d. Robinson and George
Vaux. Jr.. who ave at present the Wis
tring INSPECTORS on duty at the Eastern
State penitentiary make the state
ment that there has Come to their OH
cial knowledge that within short
time an attempt has been made by GER
tain convicts now confined in the peni'
Tertiary 10 manufacture counterfeit sill
yer coins. But a few pieces were
made. and number Of these have
come into the possession OF the in
spector. together with the metals and
chemicals used. the attempt thus be
ing nipped in the bnd. 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 10 give
any more details than contained in his
statement From other sources. how
ever. il was learned that dimes. quar-
ters and halfdOllars 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-
ton. IL IS learned, is still in progress.
their principal object being TO learn
whether there was collision 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 oTensc. The others were profess
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
/ paris. scraped from the walls of the
cells. Some OF the coins got into cir
culation. bat in what manner has not
vet 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, We're given the bogus
money as tips. and that they innocent
ly passed it into circulation.
The counterfeting was discovered
about the middle of July and stopped,
but for some reason Il 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 result Of
the irregularities in the cigar depart
ment These irregularities became
public last week. and pending an in
yestigation Warden Daniel w. Bus
singer and the overseer Of the cigar
department were temporarily relieved
from duty. anu the penitentiary placed
\ IN charge OF the Rev. Joseph WEIGH,
the chaplain Il is alleged that thou
sands OF cigars made by cOnvicts are
unaccounted for. that thousands Of
them did not contain the internal reve-
me 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 n 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 sop.
arate investigation.
DR.. William d. Robinson, one Of the
inspectors. in speaking of the affair.
said that the inspectors have not found
anything that initiates against the
personal integrity and ability of the
warden. but had found abundant evil
dence that the old methods so long in
vogue are faulty and antiquated. War
den Bussinger has been permitted TO
engage an accountant TO protect his
interests in the matter of his accounts.
I,dirtod Man nicanuear