Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-23
OFFICERS SEIZE
100000; NOTES
DECLARED BOGUS
Three Men Arrested in Chicago
Charged with Counterfeiting
Currency of Nicaragua
SECRET SERVICE MAKES RAID
Bundles of Printed Paper, Copper
Plates and Government Seal
Are ConfiSCated
SECRET SERVICE MAKES RAID
Associated Pressl

CHICAGO, Oct. 22-Three hundred
thousand dollars worth of counterfeit
Nicaraguan five peso notes, freshly
printed, were seized, and the printer
who made them, the engraver who
made the plates and the man charged
with securing their manufacture were
arrested here today by Capt. Porter of
the United States secret service and
his operatives.
The notes had only been printed, not
having the Official seals or number
impressed. There were 100000 notes,
each of five pesos, worth approximately
50 each in American money, and signed
by F. Baca, advocate general; j. Mad
ritz, eel presidente." and F. Mayorgaz.
They had not been cut from the large
sheets.
THREE ARRESTED IN RAID
George B. Williams, president of the
printing company bearing his name,
was charged with printing the spurious
notes: H N. Secreest Of Tampico,
Mexico. was accused of being the pro-
moter having the notes printed, and
Richard ]. Trumbull, manager of the
Guarantee Engraving company of Chi
cago. is charged with having made
the copper plates from which the paper
was printed. These plates were taken
from the presses, where they were be-
ing used at the time of the raid.
williams declared when arrested
that he thought Secreest was an official
of the Nicaraguan government and
that the work was legal. Trumpull S
plea was similar.
The story of the counterfeiting plan,
according to the secret service men,
is as follows:
Secreest. planter of Tampico, Mex,
had been loaning money to Nlcara-
glans and was unable to get II pack
because of shortage of current 1unos
in the republic. Upon public an
nouncement that the government
would duplicate for 1910 an issue OF OF
FIVE peso notes similar to those OF
1909 to relieve the stringency. Secreest,
seeing a chance to profit illegitimatelys
came to the United States.
PLANS TO PRINT NOTES
Failing to make arrangements in an
other city, he made a canvass of chi
cago. and on his representation that
he was. an official from Nicaragua, the
Williams company, through its presi-
dent, agreed to print the paper On
the same representation, according to
Trumbulls story, the Guarantee En-
craving company agreed to furnish the
plates
A lookout" tip othe secret service
operatives from the first city Secreest
is reported to have visited enabled the
Chicago operatives to keep close watch
on him, and today a watcher at the
printing plant reached the three men
in conference.
Capt. Porter and his men hurried TO
the big north side plant and captured
the three as they were leaving the
building. Big bundles of the printed
notes. twelve copper plates used III
the printing and copy of the official
seal of the Nicaraguan government
were taken to the federal building,
and the officials brought from the Of
fees of the printing company two
bona fide notes of the 1909 issue, from
which the engravers are alleged to
have copied the plates for the coun-
terfeits.
United States Commissioner Foote
continued the case against the three
until next Wednesday. Secreest's
bonds were fixed at $4,000, Williams
at $4,000 and TrumbulPs at $500. Both
Williams and Trumbull furnished
bonds.