Connecticut western news., 1907-11-14
EXPERT CO|NER TAKEN
Counterfeiter Whose Money De- fieS Detection Under Arrest.
MINT WAS IN RAMAPO HILLS
Herman Henze Caught Making Dollars and Half Dollars to Build a Flying Machine-Sorry For Arrest Because 1t Interrupts His Work.

1t Interrupts His Work.
 New York, Nov. 13.-But for the curi- Dsity of two country boys in the Ram apo hills Herman Henze would still be turning out counterfeit dollars and half dollars that defy detection at the hands of the most expert government officials
 q When arrested Henze said his reason for counterfeiting was to realize funds to build a flying machine. He said he had solved the problem of aerial navi- gation, and ali he needed was the mon- ey to demonstrate it, and he did not propose to divide with any one.
 Henze, so far as the government off, cers know, is the first man to make counterfeit coin that assayed the same as the ones turned out by the govern ment and to finish them so that they defied detection.
 When his plant was seized in the Ramapo mountains by Captain Flynn of the secret service the government took over miniature plant.
 Boys Give the Alarm.
 In an old farmhouse Henze had erect ed a stamp mill. He had placed it up on the solid rock upon which the house was built, and the heavy timbers of the house sustained his belting. There, in the fastness of the hills near Suffern and beautiful Tuxedo Park, the lone counterfeiter, with a stock of bullion made from melted Mexican coin, was manufacturing half dollars from dies that are as perfect as any in the mint whose letter he used.
 But for the fact that the actions of the man in the old farmhouse excited the curiosity of two boys who peered through window and saw him at work the secret service men say Henze might have flooded the country with his money. AS it is there are hundreds of dollars made by him in circulation that will go on for years until retired by the government. They have been accepted by banks and prob ably by subtreasuries.
 Henze came here from California and rented room in Twenty-third street There he made his dollar and half dollar dies and then cast about for a place to do his manufacturing. He selected the Ramapo mountains and rented the deserted farmhouse, shipping out what machinery he need ed. He built his stamp mill, made his money, passed it for the groceries he needed and paid his railroad fare to New York with it in order to visit the city and buy Mexican currency.
 Secret Service Raid.
 The financial stringency had no ter TOTS for the man with the private mon- ey plant. Upon every half dollar he made there was profit of 20 cents. this being the difference between the cost of Mexican silver as bullion and the half dollar coined.
 Anticipating there might be trouble in the capture of the man, Captain Flynn took two men with him and the brother of one of the boys who had spied out the secret. When they reach ed the place a stamp mill was in Op- eration. There was little vibration, and the lone coiner was feeding his mill and looking at the shining silver half dollars as they were taken out and piled by his side.
 Contrary to expectations, Henze of fered no resistance. He said he was sorry he had been caught and took a pride in the coins he was turning out.
 ''They are as good as those made by the government" said he. 'I am giv- ing the public just as good half dol lars as the government is. They weigh the same, assay the same, and the milling is as good"
 Find Dies There.
 He told the secret service men where his room was in New York, and there were found the dies for the silver dol lars. Henze denied that he had any partners in the enterprise and said that morally his conscience was clear, al. though he understood he was violating the law.
 "The real reason I am sorry" said he, Ifs that I wanted to get money enough to build a flying machine. have solved the principle, and 1t is SC simple I am afraid to show it to any one for fear they will steal it. The only thing strange about it Is that the principle is so simple that, with sci entists and others at work on aeria navigation, no one has thought of it. 4tI could easily get the money tc build it by showing 1t to any one, but I don't want to. Then I figured out the scheme to start mint of my own turn Mexican coin into good United States money, get enough to build anG patent my machine according to the models I have made and be the owner of it and the sole owner.
 "This, however, knocks it in tht head fer the time being. I'm afraid also that some other fellow will ge the idea, because 1t is too simple tt keep wanted to do it all alone, ant whatever credit was coming to the in ventor wanted 1t to be mine, with nt other parties taking share.'' -
 Want Old Motto on Gold Coin.
 Richmond, Va, Nov. 13.-The vestry of St. Johns church, the historic build ing in which Patrick Henry made hil