New-York tribune., 1908-01-21
ADVENTURER In TOLLS
HELD 4S COUNTERFEITER.
Agent for Insurgents and Er-ConsuI
Raises old Point.


appointment of General Juan Isidro Jimenez. de
| facto President, was arrested yesterday by Sc
cret Service agents, charged with counterfeiting
paper money of the Haytian government The
specific charge made against Gfordani by Cap
tain Flynn chief of the New York division OF
the Secret Service, is that of COunterfeltlng ten
thousand 81 and 50 bills in Haytian money
which now in the possession of the federal.
authorities. although it is said he had caused
to be made S1,50O,000 worth.
If the plea of William Michael Byrne, Gior-
danfs counsel represents his position accu-
rately, it shows that the Corsican has aban-
doned the Dominican revolutionary business,
made Improbable by the interest of the United
States in the affairs of Santo Domingo, and
moved the 'manigua' of his operations across
the border Haytt. The plea was that the
prisoner had made effort to counterfeit the
medium of exchange of the constitutional gov
7 ernment which President Alexis presldes.
but that the agent of the insurrectton which
collapsed a few days ago he had had the money
made by order and authorization OF the pro-
visional government established by the insur-
gents Commissioner Shields, before whom the
prisoner arraigned, granted an adjourn
ment TO January % to give Giordani time TO
digest the charges against him. The commits
sioner placed the bail at $500, in default Of
which Marshal HenkeI locked the revolutionary
agent in the Tombs.
The case of Giordani was regarded as OF con-
siderably more importance than an ordinary
counterfeiting case. This was shown by the
presence in New York of Chief Wilkie Of the
secret service bureau at Washington, under
whose personal direction the worked
up.
According to such facts as can be learned
apart from the formal wording OF the COM
plant, Giordani has for five years resided for
the greater portion of the time in New YORK
as the financial representative or the Haytlah
revolutionary movement. and several years ago,
after presenting proper authorization had
printed by the Hamilton Bank Note Company
S15O00O0 Of beautifully engraved and yellow
backed" "Doux Gourdes' bills OF the proposed
new Haytian government
At the time one-half of this currency was sent
to Hayti to pay off the insurgent troops then
IN the field serving under General Fermin. But
before the golden bills arrived in the southern
republic the revolutionary movement had met
with failure, and. according to information in
the possession Of the federal authorities, the
consignment Of revolutionary currency was
burned upon its arrival Since that time the
other half of the money has reposed quietly in
New York warehouse The recent Haytian in
surrection. II is asserted, has brought into ex-
istence again the self-appointed Haytian gov
ernnaent behind ths currency. and it is said ar
raugeraerts had been perfected 70 forward the
remaining bills TO Hayti to pay off insurgent
troops now in the field.
Although the bills do not resemble the regular
paper currency OF the existing Haytian govern
ment yet the fact that they bear the heading
Government Of Hayti" brings the currency
within the statute making It a crime TO engrave
or circulate bills in the "similitude" of the cur
rencybf friendly nation. according TO the fed
aFforpava' SfruCIiOn Of that
Sebor Giordani has been living in this city for
several wears and has in that time been inter
rnittently associated with the politics of Santo
Domingo. He born in Porto Rico Of Cor
sican parents. but has spent most OF his life in
the Dominican Republic. He was an ardent sup
porter of General Juan Isidro Jimenez. former
President OF Santo Domingo, and always a ready
aid in the latter's many alibustering enterprises
The prisoner is a man of about fifty years or
age. OF short stature and with his light colored
beard looks more like a FTenchman than ma
tive of the West Indies
The case of Giordani is analogous 10 the CHI
rnericaI plan charged year or so ago against
Captain Boynton. the original OF Richard Hard
ing Davis's Soldier of Fortune" hero. Captain
Boynton was arrested by Secret Service officials
charged with counterfeiting Venezuelan money
He declared that this money also was to be used
for revolutionary purposes.
1t during the JllIllIeZ-N1oIdIeS ieNo4utl'iA
against President wos Gil, about five years
ago. that Giordani came by his consular post
in this city The battle waged hot and after
raneated insureent victories General Jin1enez.
who I'D to that point the chief of the latter
forces and the candidate for the Presidency an
ticipated things by appointing a consul gen.
eral in New York The Wos Gil government,
notwithstanding. still remained the de jure ar
ticle while that of the revolutionists had not
even the consistency of a de facto existence
C.iordaut was the man appointed by General
1;,nknez He Immediately set/up in business in
small office in Pearl street and informed eX-
porters that all invoices and man1tests for the
shinment of goods to Santo Domingo must be
brought to him for signature to give them iesal
status at the port of their destination. Also
all foes for signing same were to go to him.
Then began lively controversy between Gior-
dsri and Manuel de ]. Gavan, who was still
doing business at the old stand at No. 81 Broad
uav as Dominican Consul General He issued
counter instructions to exporters. The existence
of the two consulates for the same republic was
. source of great annoyance to shippers. but
also a source of considera BILE amusement 10 the
general public.
FynalIv however, the State Department at
washington settled things by refusing to recog-
nize Giordani and he was deprived of the en-
iovnent of the fat fees he had expected.
Giordani's activity in Dominican politics also
led him into the ways of the lobby. He repre-
sented here an element in Santo Domingo that
was opposed TO the Dominican treaty with the
United States and in his influential way consti- |
tuted himself lobby of one to work against the
measure in Washington and New York, but, of
course. without success.
SAVED TIVE LIVES.