The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-07-21
THOUSAND DOLLAR
M|NT|NG PLANT
Hawaii Koreans Have EIabo-
rate Counterfeiting
Machinery.

United States Marshal Hendry re-
| turned yesterday morning by the XII
nau from Hawaii, bringing with him
two Koreans charged with counter
fetting or passing counterfeit money,
and five other Koreans held as wit
nesses.
This is the result of work done by
Marshal Hendry and District Attorney
Breckons in following up the investi-
cation of the reports that counterfeit
gold ten dollar pieces We're being put
in circulation on Hawaii, as we'll as
on Maui.
While Marshal Hendry is much dis
appointed that one of the men whom
he was after has not yet been put un-
der arrest, highly successful work was
done, and it is altogether probable that
agencies have been put in motion
which will result in the complete en-
trapping of the whole gang of coun-
terfeiters.
The work of Marshal Hendry and
District Attorney Breckons has dis
closed a most amazing and efficient
counterfeiting plant, and system OF
passing the money. It is something
that is without precedent in these is
lands and has seldom been excelled on
the mainland. The counterfeiters'
plant is not the ordinary system of
moulds and gliding, as effective as
some of these have been made. But
it includes a die and stamping outfit,
and indicates that the bogus coin IS
actually coined and minted, in much
the same way, though of course, not
with the finished and massive machin-
cry, that the genuine coins are at the
United States mints. A number OF
witnesses have been secured who have
seen the counterfeiting apparatus, and
it is from their description of it that
it's effectiveness and character have
been learned. This die stamp seems
to be operated by levers and power
gear. 1t seems to have been construc-
ted in the Waipio Valley where it
would be isolated from unfriendly OBJ
1t is not certain, however,
that the minting was done there
There is some evidence that some OF
the minting at least, was done on the
western side of the island of Hawaii. |
The method of disposing of the coin
bears the same stamp Of oriental
1t was sold through the ko-
rean camps as merchandise, the BUY
ers expecting to make a profit by |
passing it.
According to the information gained |
oy Marshal Hendry, Kim Bong Chui |
8 the chief coiner. He is said to have |
served a term in prison in Korea for |
,ounterfeiting there. He has been in |
he islands some time and though he
works at times on the plantations, he |
las gained a livelihood most of the |
ime he has been here, as a gambler.
he has been traced through Maui and
lear across Hawaii, and ii was Mar
hal Hendry's hope that he would be
rrested near Nine Mile Olaa. But in
ome way he seems to have got the
warming and to have escaped, though
lis capture is expected at almost any
ime
The fact that the counterfeiting ma
hinery cost a thousand dollars or
ONE such sum is taken to indicate
hat a considerable number must have
ooled their money to provide the
leans to construct it. Marshal Hen
ry some time ago cabled Chief of
he Secret Service Wilkie. at Wash
lgton. asking for the assistance of a
-ained expert. wilkie replied that he
ould not send anyone at this time,
nd told Hendry TO go ahead with
1e investigation. and to offer a gra-
uty for the capture of the counter
.iters. He was assisted by Captain