The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-01-12

II
u - ii tory of our country.
l.rs5s=-u-,J The colossal crimes
IL ~ JJ perpetrated and the
reckless plunging %
criminals ia those
days of decentralization appear quite
Impossible al this time A large per.
ceutaRe Of the bonds and currency is.
sued and put ahoat by the government
we're counterfeits
Even the United States sub-treHsury
ut New York accepted nearly a hum
dred thousand dollars Of 7-3O counter
felt bonds from Jay Cook & Company
that could not. from their appearance.
After holding the bonds for some
time they we're discovered 10 be dupli-
Gates Of others that were In the treas
ury The bonds we're turned back 10
Jay Cook & Co. who were compelled
10 suffer the loss
The discovery Of this spurious Issue
of bonds and many finely executed
counterfeit green backs gave rise 10
the rumor that the plates upon which
the genuine Issues were printed had,
through the conniyance OF certain
government officials. been stolen out
OF the printing bureau at Washington.
This story. beralded throughout the
country. caused a ripple OF excitement
and was made use of by the counter
feiterB and sawdust swindlers for the
purpose Of increasing their Illicit traf-
fic. Many people really believed that
genuine plates for printing govern.
ment money we're In the hands OF
counterfeiters and sawdust swindlers
Many Of these we're referred to me
Through the medium OF the newspa.
pers | frequently explained that the
fellows Issuing the circulars were
swindlers. but that they were not en-
gagged In handling counterfeit money
Almost every day there was brought
20 my attention the news OF some new
plot concocted for the purpose OF rob
Ding the government. One OF the many
remarkable exposures OF prodigious
plots for undermining our nations
credit came to the front from Louis.
Vile. Ky. II was an affair Of great
seeming importance brought TO the
attention o. President Grant by no
less n parsonage than General Benz.
II. nrlBtow, who was at that time
United States attorney for the district
OF Kentucky.
General Bristow was man with a
large head in which, there was room
for a great mind: but IN this case. as
in many others, he seemed to lack
penetration and the deep reasoning
faculty necessary for solving mys
teries Of magnitude,
General Bristuw had been ap
preached in his Office az Louisville by
a tall, raw-boned Kentuckian, who in
troduced himself as Colonel Houston
King. clerk Of the circuit court Of FL
llott county. Ky. King made the mos
astounding revelations concerning th,
existence OF plot that was expected
20 ruin the credit OF the goyernmen
and force Reputation and genera
bankruptcy. The design OF the con
spirators was TO food the countr!
with counterfeit greenbacks and ma
tlonal bank notes. Colonel King wa
taken before Judge Blackburn, 4
whom he made an aftdaylt settin
forth In detail the particulars Of tn
plot and giving the names OF some O
the leaders. Among them was tn
name OF Frank r. Blair, noted pol
tician Having subscribed I'm n Law
Iul manner to the astounding stat,
ment made. King was permitted to <
at large, but was under the SUI
veillance OF Col Alexander HoaglanC
then special agent of the revenu
bureau and afterwards known as 9TH
Newsboys' Friend" General Bristo,
forwarded 60 the president document
setting forth in full all the clrcun
stances attending and surrounding IN
inception Of the plot and the progress
it had made up to that time as relate
60 him by Colonel King. These docl
ments we're turned over To me and
was instructed 20 read everything 81
forth carefully. The conclusion that
came to and so reported was that th
man who gave this Information wa
seeking notorlety or making an efol
20 induce tho government 20 pay hin
n sum OF money. Il was quite impo
Flble for me TO give crodence TO N
unreasonable confession made b
Colonel Klng I did not, therefor
grasp the case as one uni0rdIng me a
opportunity for making q reputation
while somewhat anxious about the a
fair, The president and secretary ,
tho treasury were, after receiving m
report, quite willing 10 await mrth,
developments Some months late
when Mr Boutwell, had resigned n
secrotaryFhip and william A. Richar
son had boen appointed 90 take b
place, ! one day received q tolegra
from the solicitor OF the treasury T
uucsung me TO meet him al the Fift
Avenue hotel, New York city.
obedience to his request | met n
solicitor at the appointed time an