Gilpin observer., 1911-01-05

~ graver's art.
In the winter of 1869 and 10 he
was employed to do government plate
work by large bank note engraving
company in the city of New York. AL
though conservative in many things.
he was fond of display in dress and
the enjoyment of high living. He took
his dinners at a fashionable uptown
restaurant. In the course of time he
noticed that seat on the opposite
side OF the table at which he usually
dined was regularly occupied by
genteel appearing rAiddle-aged man.
One day when there chanced to be
no other persons sitting near, 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 engraver In the employ
of a bank note company, he affected
great surprise.
glad to know It. l want some work
done In that line. but l was not GER
tain where to apply. l 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 out the photograph of pretty
female face "If 1t was nicely done
what would 1t cost?"
That depends on the fineness 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 good job
One hundred and seventy-fve 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 5000. 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 l am
greatly surprised to see man Of your
skill with the graver plodding along
in this way when you could easily
make your fortune in 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 officers In the latter days of his
life aud 1t was close race between
them and the devil. The latter won
Devoe was a gifted manipulation of
men, and he was successful in Grazing
young Sheldon's mind with visions of
great riches Sheldon quit the en-
ploy or the bank note company and
following Devoe's advice took lodgings
at house where the people were not
fnquisitive 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 coun.
try. To the unframed eye the note
was h good fac-simile of the genuine.
The lettering. the seal. the vignette
and everything about 1t. except the &c.
centric lathe work, were quite perfect.
but 1t was not difficult to discover by
the use OF magnifying glass that the
fine lattice lines were irregular. In
the genuine these lines are made by
machinery so perfect that 1t is impos.
sible to initiate them by hand. A
counterfeit note even to the practised
eye may appear all right at a casual
glance. but US base nature can be
resdily discovered by careful exam.
dnation OF It's eccentric lathe work
The note of which / speak was an
excellent imitation. but 1t was early
discovered and Its circulation checked
At this time the branch office of the
government secret service of New
! York was being almost daily visited by
persons offering information in regard
TO the various crimes against the gov.
eminent. There were many secrets,
suspicious and surmises offered for
sale at prices ranging from one hun.
dred to million dollars. The greater
part of the informers were anxious to
conceal their Identity.
On one particular occasion my Office
was visited by genteel appearing
young woman. She came into the main
office and requested a private inter.
view with the chief. She was care.
fully yelled and cautious in her man.