Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-08-14
Wealthy Engraver In
serts .Ad'' II, Paper
and Then "Efnds"
Bogus Notes Il, Depot
That Czezv Proves
His Downfall and
Establishes Case
Against Him
Wealthy Friends to
His Aid. r--1 e

eHSThSluS, you nave Deen Selzeu Will
a desire to prove how you could re-
produce the almost faultless work of
the bureau of engraving and printing
"a class Of work that will always ex-
cite the envy and admiration Of skilled
engravers-that, filled with this de-
sire. you began work in an expert
mental way. that you put 1t under the
camera. and reproduced it to see II
you could bring forth bit Of work
that would rival the unrivaled produc-
tion OF the government Then, when
this creation became a fact instead OF
vision. you were seized with an over
whelming desire to see II you could
actually circulate 1t as genuine
money
You certainly brought more than
30 notes to st. Louis" said the de-
tcctive.
"oh. yes" responded the counter
feiter.
Where are they now?
AT the Union station"
IN what part Of the station?"
IN the baggage room"
Where is the check?'
81 haven't got IT, It's downstairs
In the post once"
wiIkie looked the astonishment ho
felt. Before he had time to put his
thoughts into words. Graham said:
After inserting the advertisement
in the paper. l put sc. 900 in q hand
bag, together with several bottles OF
chemicals which l use to aruncially
age the notes. Then l placed the
check which I received for the hand
bag In an envelope addressed to my.
self under an assumed name, and di.
rected to the general delivery once OF
the post ofice.'' '-.-.. '.
1t was evident that Graham had
carefully planned even the minutest
detail Of his great counterfeiting
scheme. By this method OF conceal
ing the check for the hand bag he left
the counterfeit notes totally disasso-
ciated with himself in any way. and
still, ut the same time within mo-
ment's reach. A secret service agent
was sent down to the postmaster. OBJ
tained the letter containing the check.
took that to the Union station, and re-
ceived the handbag which he brought
to Chief wilkie. Its contents vert-
fed the statement made by It's owner.
The chief took up the question of the
plates. .nr.@
Where are the plates?" he In
quired.
In a storage warehouse in Provi-
dence," was the reply.
He admitted that no one in his
business establishment was aware
that he knew anything whatever Of
the mechanical part Of the work. but
the man. with a cunning almost be-
yond belief. had perfected himself in
the art Of etching. After that he pur-
chased a press in New York city and
had II delivered in the middle of the
night to private room in his estab-
lishment There he worked and ex-
perimented night after night until he
was finally able to produce the per
fected 500 bill counterfeits. Then
the press was dismantled. and with
the plates. placed in a warehouse In
Providence. 1t was stored under an
assumed name. r.
Where is the receipt" asked
wilkie.
''It is pasted between two sheets
Of paper that back up a photograph
on my desk In my office in Provi-
dence." 1915
The chief Immediately called up
Providence by telegraph. The local
agent was instructed to go to Crahan's
Office and find the receipt for the
press He did so. 1t was between
the two sheets OF paper on the pho
tograph on his desk. Immediate &C
tIon was taken, and after an incred.
IDLY short space Of time the plates
were in st. Louis in possession Of
Chief wilkie. On the following day
Marcus Graham was taken into court.
He pleaded guilty to manufacturing
counterfeit money and passing It on
the public. He was given Is years
| on each Of the two indictments. the
sentences to run concurrentiy This
was subsequently reduced to eight
years. Thus ended one OF the most
important counterfeiting schemes ever
discovered and thwarted by the mar.
velously efiicient machinery Of tho
secret service division Of the United
States government.
| Copyright. 1905. by W. O. Chapman.)