The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-06-02
A FoRGER GETS OUT.

Tells Bank Note Makers That Colors
Is What Bothers the Counterfeiter.
In his home in quiet North Lon
don suburb, a clean shaver, resolute
young man, with clear cut business
head, and a precise and careful man
ner, sat and discussed with Daily
Mail representative the past-and the
future.
1t was William Barmash, the man
who was concerned in the most sensa-
tional forgery of Bank of England
notes of recent times. He has just
been released on ticket-of-leave, after
having only served a third of the SEN
tence of 10 years penal servitude
passed upon him in December, 1902.
He was the youngest, and certainly
not the most blameworthy, Of the
forgers; and his liberty has been given
him, to use his own words, 80 that I
may make fresh start in life, and
devote my energies to a more honest
and less hazardous calling"
Barnash was transferred from
Parkhurst to Pentonville Prison after
serving three years and three months,
and then released to rejoin his wife
and children. For general good
conduct and services rendered. Bar
mash's original sentence of 10 years
was reduced to five with a further re-
duction Of six months off the usual re-
mission of three months a year for
excellen behavior.
Under a new name Barmash has
made fresh start, and none of his
neighbors who see a Well-groomed,
kindly hammered man With his little
ones making much of him after his
long absence connect him with the
notorious bank forger.
1t will be remembered that after the
trial his father, Solomon Barmash,
paralyzed and cripple, who had been
sentenced to Is years imprisonment,
shot himself in cell at Newgate. How
he procured the revolver after the
careful search, and despite the prison
precautions, has remained mystery.
"In the library at Parkhurst Prison"
said the younger Barmash, 81 have
read all kinds of fanciful theories that
have from time to time appeared in
the newspapers as to how he secured
the means of death, but only two or
three living people know the real truth
at present.
after the dreadful past" young
Barmash went on, Il intend to COM
mence a new life, am eager for
any opportunity. In Parkhurst, where
are most of the prisoners who for their
misdeeds are best known to the pub
lie, my fellow prisoners placed me in
the front ranks of crime-an unde-
sired honor, and one which l mean to
live down If possible. They would
insist on placing me on the list Of no.
torieties, second only to the brothers
Bidwell, whose forgeries We're exc
cuted to rob the Bank of England of
million of money. Our scheme was
on a much humber scale, and where
as the Bidweli had $4,000 capital our
resources were limited. That makes
great difference"
Out of the wealth Of his experience
Barmash gives hint to the "Old
Lady of Threadneedle Street" which
coming from an undoubtedly weil-in-
formed source and being offered in
retribution, is worthy Of every con-
sideration.
1.-THE old-fashioned way of printing
banknotes in dull single color
should" he said, 'be changed, and
each note printed in many different
colors. This would prove too diff
cult to initiate and forgery would cease
to pay and thus stop.
Even the much-vaunted, secretly
prepared water-marked, paper on
which banknotes are printed can be
copied to deceive an expert, and Sc
cret marks, of which, we hear so
much. are now known to the public
and the majority of bank cashiers
Rainbow color printing is the only
real remedy"
There is quite a tragedy-a grim
tragedy-in Barmash trying to cash
genuine Bank of England note.
Memories Of the forgeries still lin
ger in the public mind, apparently, and
make them cautious" he said, and
related how, after reporting himself
\ at Scotland Yard Immediately after his
release, he and his wife were unable
to change the only money they hat
with them-a five-pound not-a note
above all possible suspicion.
After trying in vain in serveral places
they gave it up as hopeless and walked
home, lacking smaller change to pay
] the omnibus fares.
After all, Barmash, thought, the
punishment fitted the crime.-Londor
Mail.