The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-03-19
MANY BAD COINS
In CIRCULATION
The Market House Merchants
Turn Down Dozens
United States Secret Service Men e
Take Up Clews to Identity of
Makers.
BELIEVED To BE IN COUNTY

Paducah probably will be the scene
OF a vigorous investigation In the
near future, by the United States Sc
cret service, to run down the source
of the large amount of counterfeit
coins now being circulated, not only
in the city but throughout the coun-
ty. United States Marshal Wade
Brown is working on the case and has
orders from the secret service super
intendent in charge of this district.
to hold every counterfeit coin he can
secure, for evidence in any investiga-
tion which the service may begin
here. AN persons who have counter
felt coins passed on them, or at
tempted to pass. should notify Mar
shah Brown.
It is the opinion Of Marshal Brown
that the coins are made in McCrack-
en- county This county has been
particularly the scene of a heavy in
fation of the circulation by counter
felt coins. The coins most frequent
ly found are half dollars and dollars.
They can be detected easily by nov
ice, as they are much lighter than
the genuine coins. They are other
wise first-class limitations. A few OF
these coins met with now and then
would not be significant and could be
attributed to Importation But the
number that have been reported from
several sources, is too large to adj
NIT of any other theory but that a de-
liberate attempt is being made to in
troduce them into circulation in Pa
ducah and McCracken county, and
probably that they are made in the.
city or county.
Last Saturday. Henry Boyer, a.
butcher on market reported to Mar
shat Brown that no less than eigh-
teen counterfeit coins had been turn
ed down by him. He could detect
them easily by the sound when they
were thrown down on the marble
slab on his counter. H. B. Stltzgiver
another butcher on market also re-
ported having turned down a half
dozen counterfeit half-dollars. Meth
er Of these men think the persons
who offered them in payment for
meat, were conscious of their worth
dessness. The coins have been put
into circulation and are scattered all
over the city. One of the clerks in
the Saltzgiver stall, sal dhe had run
across several counterfeit half-dol
FAIRS, similar to the ones met with in
the city, at Epperson. Ave miles out
in the county. other points In the
county have reported the coins.
Marshal Brown was at the market
this morning trying to find a ciew.
He goes to the market as center of
trade, because the large amount of
money handled and the variety of
persons doing business there make II
a likely place to. strike a clew. At
the box office of the theater is an
other place where the counterfeit
coins are offered, II being another
center OF circulation. Garner Bros
furniture store had a counterfeit dol
lar passed on them Saturday, which
Marshal Brown has. but they do not
remember the person from whom t.
was obtained. F. N. Gardner & COM
pany. furniture dealers, had Marshal
Brown come down this morning at
O'Clock to look over their cash for
counterfeit coins. Other stores are
receiving the coins.
1t Is the large number in circula-
ton that is causing the attention of
the secret service. and once or twice
lately. a detective has been in the
city IN Disguise looking over the field.
Marshal Brown has several other
clews, as to where the coins are made
in this county. which he viii turn
over to the secret service men to run
down. The coins have dun color
and the dollar he has is dated 1890.
Luther spratt. colored. charged
with passing counterfeit dollar on
Emma Jones. the young daughter of
George Jones, fruit dealer on mar
ket. waived examination and was
held over under a 800 bond. The
negro bought five cents worth of
fruits. It Is alleged. and received 95
cents in change. spratt is prepared to
prove BY good witnesses an alibi.