Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1911-02-10

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criminals to detect and
convict. The peculiar nature of this
crime, the temptation to sudden
and easy wealth, is fatal fas-
cination that oftimes lays hold of per-
sons possessed Of wonderful ingenuity
In devising methods to escape punish
ment. Almost at the beginning of our
great Civil war, gold and silver went
out of circulation and vast volume
of unfamiliar paper currency was
thrust suddenly upon the country.
Every note issued by the government
was followed so closely by the coun-
terfeits that the most expert money
changers were often unable to tell the
good from the bad. In some instances
the counterfeit fractional currency
was almost, If not quite, equal to the
genuine.
The Staunton head fifty cent issue
was so cleverly initiated that 1t passed
current for long time before its base
nature was discovered. Circulating
principally among the poorer classes,
It was doing incalculable damage and
was making great effort to reach
its source, with little or no success
up to the time chance discovery
was made.
One day a detective walking leisure
ly along the sidewalk of an unfre-
quented street in New York city sud
denly found himself face to face with
Peter Delinsky, skilled counter
feiter who had been released from the
Albany penitentiary about a year be-
fore. Delinsky had been caught by
me in the act of printing a counter
felt two dollar bill on the National
Undertook bank He gave some
valuable information and his sentence
had been cut down to three years.
When the detective met him he had
on a new suit of fashionable cut.
Wearing yellow kid gloves, and carry.
ing a nobby gold-headed cane, he was
cutting quite swell for an ex-con-
vict. The detective was both curious
and suspicious. Where on earth did
old Delinsky get that expensive out
1t? He was unable to guess. He
knew the old man was broke when he
got out of the penitentiary, as he had
when released called at the Secret
Service branch office and taken up a
subscription, besides, the old counter
feiter had never been known to en-
gage in any legitimate work. For this
reason the detective was quite sure he
was doing something crooked so he
just pulled" the old fellow and es
corted him to the Office of the Secret
Service division on Bleecker street
The government officers In that day
rarely took out warrants for the ar
rest of counterfeiters.
The detective in this case was vel
posted regarding to old Delinsky, ant
1t was only necessary to acquaint hin
with the fact that the chief was anx
ious to see him on important bust
ness.
When brought to my Office he wa!
badly frightened | took him into
private room where l accused ant
questioned him, but he stoutly de
MED that he was engaged in counter
feiting.
Then what are you doing, ant
where did you get these fine clothes
you are wearing?" inquired.
The old fellow was unable to an
swer this question satisfactorily
Taking advantage of his hesitatin,
banner, / pressed him more closel,
and threatened to send him back t
the penitentiary.
He was Russian and not alto
Iether familiar with the laws of thi
country. Hence | was able to frightel
him. He held out for long time bu
finally admitted that he was at worl
printing the fifty cent Staunton hea
for fellow countryman, who, he said
was an engraver. The old printer ha
been detained at my office two day
before he made his confession.
The Russian engraver by whom h
was employed became suspicious an
threw the hand press upon which tn
counterfeit notes were being printe
into the East river. Delinsky was nc
aware of this when ! released hiI
upon his promise to carry out my II
structions and enable the governme1
detectives to seize the counterfe
plates and capture the engraye
w HcH DeiiuShy icluiHOu W tu6 TOOL
where the counterfeiting had bee
done he found the place empty. Whe
he met the Russian engraver he lear
ed the particulars of what had ha
pened, and accounted for his absene
by explaining that he had been on
visit with some friends.
The engraver was not altogetht
satisfied with the excuse, but he We
willing to compromise the matter
Delinsky would buy another press
take the place of the one that ha
been destroyed.
When Delinsky reported the sit
alton to me ! sent detective out
buy small plate printing press. f
employed wagon and took the pre-
TO the room where the printing was
be done. When Delinsky was aga
ready to begin work the engraver,