Charlevoix county herald., 1911-01-28

" f.L,A.f| eNcelIehce III '"'
NlNLG practise of the en-
Np ~ gravers art.
In the winter of 1869 and 20 he
was employed to do government plate
work by large bank note engraving
lcompany 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. lie TOOK
his dinners at fashionable uptown
restaurant In the course OF time ne
noticed that a seat on the opposite
iside OF the table at which he usually
Sined was regularly occupied by
lgenteel appearing middle-aged man.
One day when there chanced to be
mo other persons sitting near, the
stranger remarked that they ought TO
tbecomc better acquainted with each
!other. He then led the conversation
hn manner to draw from Sheldon his
name and business. When he learned
that he was an engraver in the employ
tof bank note company, he affected
igreat surprise.
IAN engraver? Indeed Well, ! am
lglad to know II. / want some work
Idone in that line. but | was not GER
jtain where to apply. l am very par
iticular about ii, and would be willing
ito pay we'll for good job
What is the subject" Sheldon in
iQuired.
This" said the stranger, as he
handed out the photograph of pretty
lfemale face. "If it was nicely done
iwhat would 1t cost?"
That depends on the fineness of
3the work. Anywhere from $50 to
1890"
"The price is not so much an object
jwith me as the quality of the work
III will pay literally for good job"
One hundred and seventy-fve dollars
iwas the sum finally agreed upon.
ttWhen the engraving was completed
land delivered the employer was so
'iwell pleased that he said he under
tstood the price to be 5000, and insisted
con paying that amount. Sheldon was
afterwards supplied with number of
ysmall jobs from the same source and
twas literally paid for his work.
One day his patron suddenly broke
tout with the exclamation: You are
IAN excellent workman, and am
lgreatly surprised TO see man of your
tskill with the graver plodding along
IN this way when you could easily
tmake your fortune in short time If
tyou were so disposed
How could 1t be done?"
"By making plates for bonds and
Won tho nlntoG for
.certain persons. They pay you big
tmoney. You have nothing to do with
{he use they are put to-"
This man who was adroitly tempting
young Sheldon was the procurer, or
ITO be more explicit, the capitalist of
,one OF the most dangerous gangs of
!counterfeiters ever organized in this
Scountry. To Sheldon he was Mr. De-
NOE, 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
lcountcrfeiters and forgers of lis day,
land one Of the few criminals that es-
lcaped physical punishment for their
bnany misdeeds. He was discovered
iby the officers in the latter days of his
Fife and IL was close race between
Ehem and the devil. The latter won.
pevoe was gifted manipulation of
tmen, and he was successful in Grazing
Eoung Sheldons mind with visions of
great riches. Sheldon quit the en-
bloy or the bank note company, and
Following Devoe's advice took lodgings
jat n house where the people were not
Snquisitive in regard to his business
In the summer OF 1871 a counterfeit
t$10 treasury note made its appearance
I'm most OF the great cities of the coun-
tfry. To the unframed eye the note
swas good fac-simile of the genuine.
TThe lettering, the seal, the vignette
hnd everything about it, except the &C.
centric lathe work. were quite perfect,
tbut Il was not difficult TO discover by
the use of magnifying glass that the
tfine lattice lines were Irregular. In
hhe genuine these lines are made by
machinery so perfect that it is impos-
jsible to initiate them by hand A
counterfeit note even TO the practised
seye may appear all right at casual
.glance, but Es base nature can be
Te~dtly uISCOVeIcu ny d Careful eNdM-
pnauon of it's eccentric lathe work.
The note of which / speak was an
EXCELLENT imitation, but it was early
discovered and its circulation checked.
AT this time the branch office of the
government secret service of New
iYork was being almost daily visited by
persons Offering information in regard
10 ha ar;r hn
ernnent. There were many secrets,
suspicious and surmises offered for
sale at prices ranging from one hun
hred to a million dollars. The greater
part Of the informers were anxious 10
conceal their identity
On one particular occasion my office
was visited by a genteel appearing
young woman. She came into the main
pftice and requested a private inter
NieW with the chief She was care