The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-02-09

In the winter OF 1869 and ~ ne
was employed to do government plate
work by a large bank note engraving
company In the city of New York. Al
though conservative in many things,
he wes fond of display In dress n
the enjoyment of high living. He look
his dinners at a fashionable uptown
restaurant. In the course of time he
-noticed that a seat on he opposite
side OF the table at which he Usually
ained was regularly occupied tT a
genteei appearing middle-aged mAh.
One day when there CHANGED TO be
no other persons sitting rear, the
stranger remarked that they ought to
become better acquainted with each
other. He then led the conversation
in a manner to draw from Sheldon his
name and business. When he learned
that he was an epgraver In the employ
of a bank note company, he affected
great surprise.
IAN engraver? Indeed. We'll, l am
glad to know 1t. | want some work
done in that line, but / was not GER
tain where to apply. / am very par
ticular about It. and would be willing
TO pay well for a good job"
What is the subject?" Sheldon In
quired.
This" said the stranger, as he
handed u the photograph of a pretty
female face. "If It was nicely done
what would It cost?"
THAT depends or the ineness Of
the work. Anywhere from $50 to
5000"
THE price is not so much an object
with me as the quality Of the work.
/ will pay literally for a good job"
One hundred and s~eventy-ive dollars
was the sum finally agreed upon.
When the engraving was completed
and delivered the employer was so
well pleased that he said he under
stood the price to be $500, and insisted
on paying that amount. Sheldon was
afterwards supplied with a number of
small Jobs from the same source and
was literally paid for his work.
One day his patron suddenly broke
out with the exclamation: You are
an excellent workman, and | am
greatly surprised to see a man OF your
skill with the graver Flooding along
in this way when you could easily
make our fortune In a short time If
you were so disposed
How could It be done?"
"By making plates for bonds and
money. You engrave the plates for
certain persons. They pay you big
money. You have nothing to do with
the use they are put to-
This man who was adroitly tempting
young Sheldon was the procurer. or
to be more explicit, the capitalist of
one OF the most dangerous gangs OF
counterfeiters ever organized in this
country. To Sheldon he was Mr.. De-
voc, but this was only one of the
many names by which he was known
TO the different persons employed by
him. He was the autocrat of all the
~countcrfeiters and forgers of his day
and one of the few criminals that es
capped physical punishment for their
many misdeeds. He was discovered
by the Off cers In the latter days of his
life and It was a close race between
them and the devil. The latter o
Deyoe was a gifted manipulation Of
men, and he vas successful In Grazing
young S%heldon's mind with visions OF
great riches. Sheldon quit the EN-
pioy OF the bank note company, and
following Devoe's advice took lodgings
at q house where the people were no
inquisitive in regard to his business.
In the summer of 1871 a counterfeit
$40 treasury note made its appearance,
IN most of the great cities of the cGun
try. To the unframed eye the not,
was II good fac-simile of the genuine
The lettering, the seal, the vignettc
and everything about It, except the &c
centric lathe work, were quite perfect
but 1t was not difficult to discover b!
the use OF a magnifying glass that tn,
fine lattice lines were irregular. IL
the genuine these lines are made b!
n machinery so perfect that It Is lmpos
N sible to initiate them by hand. 4
counterfeit note sven to the practiseC
eye may appear all right at a casua
glance, but Hs base nature can b.
rezdily discovered by a careful exam
nation of Its eccentric lathe work.
The note of which / speak was al
excellent imitation, but It was earl.
discovered and its circulation checked
At this time the branch office of tn,
government secret service Of New
York was being almost daily visited b,
persons Offering information in regar,
to the various crimes against the gov
M There were many secrets
suspicious and surmises offered 70
sale at prices ranging from n hun
dred to a million dollars. The create
part OF the informers were anxious /
conceal their Identity.
On one particular occasion my ono
was visited IS genteel a%ppearinI
young woman. She came into the mai
Office and requested a private intel
view with the chief. She was care
fully veiled and cautious IN her MAJ