The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-10-27
COUNTERFEITERS IN TOLLS.
Z. S. Secret Service Men Make Big
Haul in Chicago.

Haul in CmcagO.
Chicago, Oct. 22.-Three hundred
dollars in counterfeit Nicaraguan five
pesos notes, freshly printed, were
seized, and the printer who made
them, the engraver who made the
plates, and the men charged with Sc
curing the manufacture were arrest
ed here to-day by Capt. Porter, of the
United States secret service and his
operatives.
The notes had only been printed,
not having the "official' seals or
numbers impressed. There were
10000 notes, each of five pesos
(worth approximately 50 each,
American money! and "signed' by
F. Baca, advocate general; J. Madriz,
Eel Presidente," and "F. Mayorgaz.
They had not been cut from the large
sheets.
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 be-
ing the promoter having the notes
printed, and Richard J. Trumbull,
manager of the Guarantee Engraving
Company, of Chicago, is charged with
having made the copper plates from
which the paper was printed. These
plates were taken by the secret SER
vice men from the press, where they
we're being used at the time OF the
raid.
A taxicab ride at high speed across
the city following 'tip' that con-
ference of the men engaged in the
counterfeiting was being held, en-
abled Capt. Porter and his men to
reach the printing plant, a large one,
on the north side of the river, just as
the conferees were hurrying away.
They made no resistance when arrest
ed.
The story of the counterfeiting
plan, as evolved by the secret service
operatives from the men arrested and
from the information which put them
on the track of Secreest, is as fol-
lows:
Secreest, a planter of Tampico,
Mexico, had been loaning money to
Nicaraguans and was unable to get it
back, because of shortage Of cur
rent funds in the Republic. Upon a
public announcement that the Gov
ernment would duplicate for 1910 an
issue of five-pesos notes similar to
those of 1909 to relieve the financial
stringency, the story goes, Secreest,
seeing a chance to profit illegitmately,
came to the United States.
It is alleged that he went to
North Central city first, but his al
legged efforts to get the notes printed
secretly were in vain. Then, it is
charged, he came to Chicago.
AS a result of the canvass of Chi
cago, it is charged, the Williams Com
pany, through it's president, upon Sc
creest's representation that he was an
official from Nicaragua and that he
wanted the Chicago printer to turn
out the official money for the Repub-
lie, on the print paper. On the same
representations, according to the
Trumbull story, the Guarantee En-
craving Company agreed to furnish
the plates.
United States laws provide equal
punishment for counterfeiters OF
American or foreign coin or paper
money or the offense of having in pos
sessions the means of coin counter
feiting or the spurious article. The
penalty is not to exceed five years
Imprisonment or fine of $4,000 or
both.
United States Commissioner Foote
continued cases against the three un-
til next Wednesday. Secreest's bond
was fixed at $4,000; Williams's at
$4,000, and Trumbull's at $500. Will
liams and Trumbull furnished bonds
before evening.
Williams said he had no thought
that he was doing an illegal thing;
that there was no attempt at conceal
ment in his work and that Secreest
had told him the printing was for the
present Nicaraguan Government.
Trumbull also protested that he was
innocent of any wrong doing.