The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1911-01-28

~ H& the top they fail to Sc
~ ~ the undermining hand a
~4AA the base.
7NE The little secluded
u II town of Groton, Mass
was the home of Hon
Geo. S. Boutwell,, President Grant:
first secretary Of the treasury, az
educated man of sentiment anc
elegance and Puritanical in his
ways. He was possessed of E
tair knowledge of politics and
finance and was systematic and
successful in the management of the
treasury department. While in Wash
tngton he mixed little with the poll
ticians He was shy in his manner
and abstemious in his living His
favorite diet was bread and milk. He
used neither tobacco nor intoxicants.
Like other great men with whom
came in contact he was unsuspicious
and almost wholly without cunning.
He favored reform rather than pun
lshment for rogues. AS an evidence Of
his obliquity of vision and lack of
penetration when called upon to face
the sharpers ever lowering about the
national capital, 1 will relate a couple
Of incidents.
On a day when l was busily en-
gagged in my Office in the treasury de-
partment messenger hurried in and
Informed me that the secretary want
ed to see me at once. Entering a side
room poyf IN Mr. poutuo11,c main NJ.
fee, I was by him introduced to two
hashily dressed gentlemen who said
they had come all the way from Phila-
delphia to see the secretary and in
form him of an astounding counterfeit
conspiracy that might shake the ma
ton to its foundation. The gentle
men were city detectives and rather
sporty appearing chaps. In their bear
Ing there was an air Of self-suffi cheney
and know-all-about-it that was quite
impressive to the mind of a green
one"
Their story in substance was that
while engaged in exploiting the das-
tardly deeds of criminals they had
made a chance discovery that was of
tremendous Importance to the United
States government For a price they
were anxious to assist in capturing
the rogues. They were deeply en-
tangled in several mysterious cases at |
home, but had torn themselves away |
from their duty long enough to slip |
slyly over to the nations capital for |
the purpose of acquainting the secre-
tary with dangerous counterfeiting
scheme.
The startling story told by the
sleuths bore the appearance Of truth. !
The secretary was deeply impressed |
and appeared worried and greatly dis
turbed as he handed me the face and
back of five-dollar treasury note
printed on separate pieces of paper.
He instructed me to investigate at
once. My eyesight at this time was
remarkably good. l could easily trace
the fine eccentric lines upon a note /
without the use Of magnifying glass.
After carefully examining the speci-
mems handed me and comparing them
with a good note Of the same de-
nomination, / was unable to discover
the slightest difference, and l told the
secretary that l thought they were
genuine. If this was so, in what man
ner could they have been obtained?
1t would require collision on the part
OF number of persons In the printing
bureau to secure them, as the face
and back of these notes were printed
at different times by different per
sons, and besides the work was being
done under the watchful eyes of trust
ed officials. If the face and back of
these notes were counterfeit thew
were very dangerous, as they seemed
perfect facsimile of the genuine The
two detectives carried with them an
air OF great mystery. They protested
to be unable to explain anything. but
they were OF the opinion that the
counterfeiters had somehow obtained
duplicates of the government plates
upon which its notes were printed
Mr.. Boutwell, was deeply Interested
To him it was an affair of great mys-
terry. To more fully impress the sec
rotary with the Importance of the case
the Philadelphia sleuths came ont
boldly and declared that any amount
of that kind of money could be bought !
at fifty cents on the dollar. This was :
a clincher. l now saw that / was m
against puzzling case. | was ST. ,
fenced. although not fully convinced. r
In regard to the character of the $
prints. 1t made little difference to me q
was sure 1t was some kind of a trick f
but an investigation was necessary =
1t would not do to allow the impres. q
sions to be examined by the chief of y
the printing bureau, as 1t was nos. q
sible there was something crooked g
among his employees. 1t was decided n
hat ] should go to PHILADELPHIA on i
he following day. There was to he a
net by the two detectives and intro. +,
luced to broker who was a eo-be. +,
ween. | was to rig myself out in the l.
proper dress and play the part of IL
'attle man from Texas. chose to To-
ate myself at Brownsville. Reaching I,
nut from this point | was engaged in a
uying cattle and was not particular II
where they came from. They might hi