Gilpin observer., 1908-08-13

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 it under the
camera, and reproduced it to see IL
you could bring forth bit of work
that would rival the unrivaled produc-
tion of the government. Then, when
this creation became fact instead OF
a vision, you were seized with an over
whelming desire to see If you could
actually circulate it as genuine
money"
You certainly brought more than
30 notes to st. Louis" said the de-
tective.
"Oh, yes" responded the counter.
feiter.
Where are they now?'
AT the Union station"
in what part Of the station?'
I'm the baggage room"
Where is the check?"
Il haven't got it. It's downstairs
in the post office
Wilkie looked the astonishment he
felt. Before he had time to put his
thoughts into words. Graham said:
After inserting the advertisement
in the paper. 1 put $2b,UUU IN II hand
bag, together with several bottles of
chemicals which l use to artificially
age the notes. Then | placed the
check which | received for the hand
bag in an envelope addressed to my
self under an assumed name, and d.
rected to the general delivery office of
the post Office"
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 handbag he left
the counterfeit notes totally disasso-
ciated with himself in any way, and
still at the same time within mo-
ments reach. A secret service agent
was sent down to the postmaster. OBJ
tanned the letter containing the check,
took that to the Union station, and re-
ceived the handbag which he brought
to Chief Wilkie. Its contents veri-
fled the statement made by its owner.
The chief took up the question of the
plates.
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 press in New York city and
had it delivered In the middle of the
night to a 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 800 bill counterfeits. Then
the press was dismantled, and with
the plates, placed in warehouse in
Providence. 1t was stored under an
assumed name.
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."
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 ac-
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
money and passing 1t on
the public. He was given is years
on each of the two Indictments the
sentences to run concurrently. This
was subsequently reduced to eight
years. Thus ended one Of the most
important counterfeiting schemes ever
and thwarted by the mar.
velously efficient machinery of the
secret service division of the United
States government.
Copyright. 1905. by W. q. Chapman)