The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-14

the replies sent to the Oriental banks.
Their worst fears were realized. To
what extent they have been receiving
these counterfeits during three years.
and how many of them the banks them
selves were and are holding as sup
posedly good money remains to be
learned, Sixteen million pounds-$S0,-
OoO,000-is an American expert IS eSti-
mate of the amount already found
The Russian government, which con
trolls the Russo"Chinese bank, is burn.
ing the midnight oil and has q large
force of experts working over stacks
OF bank paper in a feverish effort to
find what it is worth, and exactly how
tho institution stands. Similar scenes
are enacted in the great money stores
of the Imperial bank of China. The
1ongkong and Shanghai and the Indo-
Chinese houses. None of these knows
its own condition, or to what extent il
has been imposed upon.
1t has been established that these
counterfeits were placed in circua.
tion at the opening of the Russo-Jap-
anese war. and possibly before. In
stead of having stopped, the tide has
risen until the afflicted bankers are
afraid of their own paper. because they
1t was openly charged that the Japanese
government knew OF nefarious opera,
lions carried on, and closed it's eyes
and ears to them. Every japanese or
| Chinese Of the cooie class appeared
with plenty Of money. The banks were
besieged, and the report was rife that
the little brown men were securing q
expenses from the four banks referred
to.
-Four Counterfeit Plates.
There were four plates used in the
counterfeIts presented TO the Russo
Chinese bank. They ranged from i'm
perfect, cheaply and poorly executed
designs to that from which came the
elaborate note partially reproduced
with this article.
Some of the shrewlest detectives IN
the world have recently been retained
by the Eusso-C Chinese bank to trace TO
its source the counterfeit note No .0664
Since it has been declared a forgery.
and the basis for such declaration made
known to the bank s officials, their
sharp witted men have been quietly
working; and every clew they have
picked up led straight TO Japan.
Information has been received that
the main counterfelting plant itself has
been located in Kobe. The outfit is
said to have cost at least 100000. The
most expensive machinery used in the
making of money has been employed
in turning out this spurious note, and
some of the most skilled worbmen in
the world did the delicate engraving of
the plates. The product of the plant
Is nothing less than a reproduction Of
the Russian bank note In Its perfec-
tion it passes the bounds of the word
counterfeit 1t becomes n duplicate
With the surprising initiative ability
OF the japanese turned to counterfeit-
ing on 4 large scale, issuing paper so
good IN appearance that men who
make IL life study are deceived, there
is little wonder that the financial men
of Asia have raised a cry and nre de-
manding of Japan that the govern
ment take drastic action against the
criminals within her borders. IT is
claimed they could not operate eXten-
slvcly outside the empire without be-
ing unprecedented.
Hall Going to Investigate.
One of the leading experts consulted
regarding the dilemma is George s.
Hall, of the American Bank Note com
pany, He is now Ell route 10 China,
where his mission will keep him occur.
pied three months. His time will be
devoted toward solving the problem
uppcrmost there Before sailing, few
days ago. he declined to discuss the
subject of Japanese counterfeiting eX-
cepr TO say that the only possible
means of detection lies in the paper.
This is the foundaton-stone upon which
the bankers Of the Orient hope 10 even.
tually defeat the ends of the bogus
money-makcrs
Mr.. Hall declares 4 note of the char
acter Of No 156Sl7 IN the accompany
ing illustration could not have been
made by one man, ur two or three, but
is the output of a group. which naccs.
sari!y had large funds at it's disposal.
j. 5. McCune, one of the best known
experts of England on forgery and
countcrfeiting, is also bound for
Shanghai, which offers the most fer
tile field for the skill Of such men.
That appears to be the headquarters
for the extended investigation now be-
ginning. MIR. McCunc Gains Japan
has been petitioncd by several OF the
larger banking corporations of China,
all of which are European institutions,
To enact 4 drastic law, similar to that
OF the United states, making II a high
crime even TO have \ counterfeit note
in possession, He says the petitions
have met with slight response.
Financially Upset.
1.-The Orient is thoroughly upset J