The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-03-04

convict. The peculiar nature of this
crime, the temptation to sudden
and easy wealth, is a 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 it passed
current for long time before its base
nature was discovered. Circulating
principally among the poorer classes,
1t was doing incalculable damage and
was making great effort to reach
It's source, with little or no success
up to the time a chance discovery
vas made.
One day detective walking leisure
ly along the sidewalk of an unfre-
quented street In New York city sud-
denly found himself face to face with
I Peter Delinsky. a 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 nobby gold-headed cane, he was
cutting quite a swell for an ex-con-
Wet 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 I'D
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 well
posted regarding to old Delinsky. and
It was only necessary to acquaint him
with the fact that the chief was anx-
lous to see him on important bust.
ness.
When brought to my office he was
badly frightened. l took him into a
private room where l accused and
questioned him, but he stoutly de-
MED that he was engaged In counter
letting.
Then what are you doing, and |
where did you get these fine clothes
Tou are wearing?" inquired.
The old fellow was unable to an
swer this question satisfactorily.
Taking advantage of his hesitating
/ pressed him more closely
md threatened to send him back to
he penitentiary.
He was a Russian and not alto
yether familiar with the laws of this
country. Hence / was able to brighten
lin. He held out for a long time but
inally admitted that he was at work
printing the fifty cent Staunton head
or fellow countryman, who, he said.
vas an engraver. The old printer had
'een detained at my Office two days
'efore he made his confession.
The Russian engraver by whom he
vas employed became suspicious and
brew the hand press upon which the
ounterfeit notes were being printed
nto the East river. Delinsky was not
Of this when I released him
pom his promise to carry out my in
tructions and enable the government
electives to seize the counterfeit
lates and capture the engraver.
When Delinsky returned to the room
there the counterfeiting had been
one he found the place empty. When
e met the Russian engraver he learn.
d the particulars of what had hap
ened, and accounted for his absence
y explaining that he had been on a
isit with some friends.
The engraver was not altogether
atisfied with the excuse. but he was
Killing to compromise the matter II
'elinsky would buy another press to
AXE the place of the one that had
cen destroyed.
When Delinsky reported the stu.
ton to me sent detective out to
NY small plate printing press. He
mployed wagon and took the press
D the room where the printing was to