The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-15


 inal nominations I have worked upon you can believe me when I say they are perfect.
 NOW, my dear sir, am fully aware or the suspicion and prejudice that you naturally will entertain for my proposl- ton, and you will on first thought prob ably think the matter not worth your con- sideration; but if you will postpone your decision and look upon my proposition from a business standpoint you will cer- tainIy give me credit for not being ldlot enough to vast my time addressing man of your standing in the community on d subject such as this, unless l could beyond the possibility Of a doubt, sub stantiate every word l write. There are swinGlers representing that they can fur nish just such goods as l am offering you, because they know and take it for
 granted that the people in general know that there are hundreds of thousands or counterfeit dollars in circulation. Their various methods and schemes have been exposed from time to time in the news papers throughout the entire country, and their inability to furnish the goods is clearly demonstrated the moment they are requested to submit them to examination.
 My proposition to you in plan terms is this: Would you be willing to cooperate with me in the disposal of my goods, pro- viding that l prove to you beyond all doubt that my work is an exact duplica- ton of the originals, and that 1t cannot be told from the genuine, even by ex- perts. The almost impossible chance of detection would occur only in case you should attempt to deposit in bank one of the government notes and one of mine of the same denomination, check-letter and number at the same time. A discreet man can avoid this. Understand, l do not expect you to invest one dollar until you have examined my entire stock, from $1 to S100,0o0, compare them with the genune and, in fact, submit them to any test you see fit, then after you are satis- fled on every point you can decide wheth- CT you will accept my proposition or not To give you an idea of the profits of the business 1 will say that an investment of $500 would give an immediate return that years of toll in your present business would not do, and without fnjuring friends. neighbors or your fellowman.
 ''To convince you of the safety of the business. l will, upon receipt of telegram. as per enclosed note, send you a sample of my work and I will also appoint placc to meet you, so that you can personally examine my entire stock. If for any reason you decide not to cooperate with me 1 trust, as d honorable man, you will honor the protection that the word confi- 1 dentiaf insures to all communications, burn this and let the matter drop. Trust ing, however, to hear from you imme- diately. l remain. confidentially yours. 'P. S.-Enclosed please find clipping from Washington paper, which should assure you of the absolute safety of hand
 ling my goods
 The clipping referred to in the postscript and purporting to be from a Washington newspaper was an elaborately prepared news item setting forth the fact that a great many spurious s1, $2 and 8 bills arc turning up all over the country: that these bills are considered counterfeit. but in reality are not. but duplicates of genuine bills This singular fact is explained as arising from the alleged theft from the bureau of engraving and printing of tn, plates from which the bills were printed The bait thrown out to the intended vic.
 tim is that the alleged counterfeit bills are exact duplicates, printed from stone plates and that there is no possibility oi their detection as commercials.
 Enclosed in the letter were also the following directions as to the method oi communication:
 Prepay your telegram to insure safe delivery to me. Do not write any let ters to me, as they will be returned tc you opened through the dead letter office at Washington.
 "Sign your full initials of your name only to your telegram.
 ''To avoid any delay or mistakes be sur, to send my copy of telegram exactly as below:
 Lewis Aekron, Hotel Anderson, Pitts burg, Pa
 What grade do you want? "A speedy reply will insure you promp | returns. I must hear from you at once. l The inspectors of the postoffiee depart l ment are now engaged upon the case.