The Washington times., 1908-10-18
Secret Service Agents Make
Total of 345 Arrests During
Year Just Completed.
500, ,984.33 FOUND
IN BAD CURRENCY
Head of Service Tells About Sup
pressing Pictures Showing Coun-
terfeiters at Work.


g Secretary Cortleyou, John F. Wlkie,
chief Of the Secret Service, says that
during the year 345 arrests were made
by the agents of his division. OF the
arrests made 1S6 were convicted, IS are
awaiting the action Of the court and 50
are awaiting the action of the grand
jury. Only 20 Of those tried were ac-
quilted and p were not indicted. Two
were discharged by the United States
commissioner, were dismissed by the
United States District Attorney, and I
cases were annulled.
The value Of the altered and counter
felt notes secured by the Secret Serv-
ice amounted % $47,S49. This does not
include some 10000 notes closely re-
seTHbling the currency OF the Republic
Of Haiti representing about 500 0UJ.
Counterfeit coins captured amounted TO
$9.I35.82
During the year, Chief wilkie report
ed the detection OF seventeen new c0un-
terfeit notes in circulation. Descriptive
circulars Of these notes we're distributed
Agents Of the Secret Service made a
record in the capture of counterfeit
plates, 81 being confiscated as COM
pared with 35 during the previous year.
OF mOlds destroyed.
Renews Recommendation.
Chief Wilkie renews his recommends
tion of last year that the section OF
the Federal statute which requires Of
ficers and employees of national banks
10 stamp as counterfeit" or worth
less" any spurious notes that may be
presented to them for examination or
received by them in the course Of busi-
ness, be amended so as to provide a
penalty of $50 for the violation of any
provision of the section.
Very Often,' says the report, 'Coun-
terfeit notes so pronounced by the Of
ficers of bank to whom they are pre-
sented for inspection are returned to
the persons thus presenting them, and
the notes md their way into circula-
ton.
Speaking of the circulation Of notes OF
defuneC banks and railway corpora
tions, Chief WiIkie pertinently says:
In the matter of the circulation OF
notes Of defanct railway and bank cor
poratiOns, bearing a general resemb blance
TO United States obligations. / have the
honor 10 renew my recommendation OF
last year that the present statutes bc
amended, or a brief act passed. prohibit
ing, under the proper penalties, the
possession. sale. passing. or use, with
fraudulent intent. of the notes Of de,
funet banks or other corporations which
resemble the current obligations Of the
United States. In cooperation with the
local authorities the service has been
able TO close the chief source from
H.h ~
fraudulent instruments, and also
through the cooperation of the post
office inspectors has secured the indict-
ment Of the chief distributors upon a
charge Of using the mails for fraudulent
purposes.
Films Destroyed.
"In connection with the marked In
crease in coin counterfeiting there Is
an interesting fact that TO a certain
extent may have been responsible foI
some Of the oftenses. Among the films
exhibited in the cheap moving picture
shows, which are scattered all over the
United States. there was one which told
the story of the operations of a gana
of coiners, and one part of the film
was devoted 10 a detailed exposition
Of the method Of manufacturing coun.
terfeit coins by the n-oIdinE process
Every step IN the production Of a base
metal counterfeit, from mixing of the
plaster Of Paris from which the moIds
are made, to the plating and fnishins
Of the product. was shown, and pro-
vided an object lesson in counterfeit.
ing that could not fail TO appeal II
those Of criminal tendencies among The
spectators. Upon the advice Of the
United States attorney at Chicago. al
films Of this character were seized and
will be destroyed.
Haitian Plot Disclosed.
An extensive conspiracy for the coun,
terfeiting Of the currency of the Pc.
public Of Haiti was uncovered by agent.
- the division, and incidental to thai
investigation there was disclosed a rev
olutionary plot, having for its Object
the overthrow Of the present Haitian
government, The counterfeit Haitian
currency. amounting to the eduivaien
Of about 100000. was intended for tn,
payment Of the insurgent troops. ans
with the arrest OF the revoIutionar7
agent In New York, the cOnfscation o
the counterfeit money, and the seizur,
and temporary detention Of a large con
signment of arms and ammunitio,
which had been prepared for the i'm
mediate use Of the revoIutionists. th
insurrectiOn collapsed. The princlpa
agent was convicted OF counterfeitfnR
and prominent ammunition concerl
was indicted jointly with him for VIC
lating the statute relating 10 the ship
ment Of explosives in irnprODerIv n