The Elbert County tribune., 1911-01-27
to the government than to cope with


secretary of the treasury that there
was dangerous counterfeit afioat.
they had secured from Wightman the
back and face Of five-dollar green
back These had been split from one
note and pasted upon paper to make
them about the same thickness as the
genuine money. 1t was skilful piece
of work and difficult to detect, but it
was easily done by experts. The pa
per upon which the treasury notes
we're printed at that time did not con-
tain the localized and distributive
fibre which would prevent it from be-
ing split Before the fiber paper was
invented the paper upon which the
government notes were printed could
easily be soaked apart and nicely
pasted to other fine sheets OF paper.
1t was very deceptive and difficult to
detect.
Mr.. Boutwell, was greatly disturbed.
1t was serious affair to his mind.
and he might have been induced to
pay large reward had the scheme
not been exploded.
The following is another illustration
OF the secretary's simplicity.
While at my New York office I one
day received telegram from Mr.
Boutwell, summoning me hastily to
Washington. When | arrived at the
secretary's office. in the treasury de-
partment he took me into private
room where he Informed me of con-
templated robbery. He said he had
learned through reliable source that
plans had been made by gang of
burglars to rob General Spinner's
cash division. and that the watchman
on duty at night were in the con
spiracy. He had telegraphed for me
for the purpose of forestalling the
thieves. To my mind the story told
by the secretary was a fallacy. II
sounded like a romance. | knew that
robbery of this kind was quite i'm
possible, but the secretary was SO
much in earnest that was almost
afraid to give him my real opinion in
regard to the affair.
l saw that some sort of an investi.
CATION was necessary to put his mind
at ease. Hence telegraphed several
detectives to meet me In Washington.
Mr.. Boutwell, sent a messenger to
bring the man who had furnished the
information. He was to go to my
room in the owen house. After
lapse of time he came. As he en-
tered he took off his hat. saw at
once that the man was lacking in
self confidence and that he was either
an ex-convict or menial of some
kind. shook hands with him
Assuming look OF benevolence
looked him over carefully. He was
tall. thin man, slightly stopped and
with duh white skin. His pro
truding eyes were very light and ex-
pressionless. l gently turned his face
to the window and sized him up I
WAS quite sure his spirit had been
broken and that he was fraud, yet
was uncertain as to the best man
ner of handling him
fore" ! said.
He raised his eyes tlmidly. My re-
mark seemed to rattle him.
Where were you born?" inquired.
In falterlng voice he answered.
In Columbia, South Carolina"
1t flashed across my mind at once
that the fellow was of negro blood
Looking him straight In the eye,
quickly placed my finger on the tip
of his nose. He shrank back a little
but did not appear to be offended I
then said
What was your masters name
down there?"
/ thought to impress him with the
Idea that | was familiar with the local.
ity from which he came He gave me
the name of his former master in IL
hesitating way. told him to take
seat and tell his story. It was fiction
undoubtedly the result of dream.
His version of the manner in which
he discovered the contemplated rob-
berry was SO improbable that 1t is not
worth relating in detail. ques-
TONED and cornered him until was
sure that, his story was transparent
concoction of a weak but criminal
mind. II would do in a dime novel
or to deceive some credulous person.
He was a dreamer, sort of voodoo
had had some experience with this
class of negroes in the south As
many persons may not be aware OF
the fact, / will state that the pad on
the end OF the nose was the supreme
test of pedigree among the negro
traders of the south in slave days
The gristle on the tip of the nose of
the negro is soft and yielding. while
that Of white man in firm, giving the
feeling of a bony substance. When
all other tests failed In discovering
African blood, the trader would place
his finger on the end of the nose of
the person on trial for his liberty. II
the pad was yielding the witness
would turn to the recorder and say.
This fellah. sab, is a niggah."
The voodoo negro pretends to be
endowed with SUPERNATURAL power As