The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-24
Five and Ten Dollar Gold
Pieces Distributed IN Topeka.
Bankers and Business Mel
Caught by Counterfeiters.
WHO IS SMOOTH S1Rln6ER?
Unknown Man Has Asked for
Change From Topekans.
Coins Were Not Detected Until
Most Close Scrutiny.

Most Close Scrutiny.
That a gang Of counterfeztefs have
made Topeka. the depository of their
coins is the opinion Of several Topeka
bankers, Several IS and SO gold
pieces have been passed on Topeka
banks and merchants, which today
have been discovered to be valueless.
The discovery surprised the banks. be-
cause, at casual glance, the coins
appeared perfect. BY close investiga-
ton and Weighing. 1t was found that
they were counterfeit.
It is believed that q tool Of the
gang has been In Topeka for several
days. At any rate, stranger, of
rather unprepossessing appearance, 1t
is said, has asked TOpekA merchants
to change either. IS or SO pieces. In
most cases this has been done, and
the business men In turn gave the
gold pieces to their banks for de-
posit. Employees Of the banks dis
covered the counterfeit this morn
ing.
Tried Brunt's Store.
Two days ago q stranger walked
into the Brunt drug store, at Fifth
and Kansas avenue. and aexed change
for q IS gold piece. Tho manager Of
the store, who had seen a counterfeit
coin at the Merchants National bank
a few hours before. refused. The gold
piece looked entirely too bright for
the real article, the druggist said. The
stranger then offered to bet that the
piece was not counterfeit and seemed
anxious to dispose of it. The clerk
says that he had never seen the man
before. nor since that date.
The Bank Of Topeka discovered one
coin.
A five dollar gold piece was given to
the Merchants NATIONAL bank by a
stranger. probably thS same man. 1t
was accepted without question, as the
bank takes many gold pieces every
day. A little later q Topeka business
man turned in q tensdollar piece along
with deposit T1& coin looked sus-
picious and was weia)asd: .~Severarde-
Washington to be tested. The bank
is on the lookout for other coins.
Two ten dollar counterfeit pieces
have been discovered at the Central
National bank. Officials do not know
where the money came from, but they
are on the lookout for similar coins.
| The German American State bank
received one from the State Savings
bank. which they have sent back. The
State Savings bank reported no other
gold pieces discovered SO far.
One Bank Hunting for Them.
I uC 1ORCAd 0tdtC OduA has uOI re-
ceived any of the bad pieces, but today
| is making making search Of their
gold deposits to make sure. The
Farmers National and the North To-
peka banks have received word Of the
counterfeits. but have not been troubled
SO far.
| 1t was rumored today that federal
officials are working on the case Fred
Robertson, United States district at
torney. refused to discuss the matter
this afternoon.
| Fifty Dollars Found.
| 1t is believed that other bad gold
pieces may turn up at the banks with
in day or two. from Regular chan
nels So far nearly $50 has been re-
cetved in this way, and more is ex-
pected. Probably several other mer-
chants accommodated the mysterious
stranger to the extent Of IS or SO In
small change.
The coins are dangerous limitations
of the real thing. They are a little
thinner than the gold coins, are
brighter, and the figures are not per-
feet. However. it would take a close
scrutiny, accompanied by weights, to
mark any difference. The ring of the
table is good. 1t sounds almost az
well as the product Of the mint
/ Branch Of Organization.
The case may develop in a few day.
into something serious Topeka may
have been made a temporary branch
OF the alleged counterfeiting organiza
tiOns in the large cities. The authori-
ties may be ablesto find some clue, ol
make an, arrest or two, which miSh,
unravel the affair.
Felix & Sons reported late thi.
afternoon that they had been touch.
ed by a stranger. man came int
the store. bought a 25-cent necktie
and received 1915 in change for hi,
ten dollar gold piece The coin is sale
will probably discover q similar loss
1t is believed by bankers.
Il Had Checks, Too.
Bad checks signed by wv, Baker
and drawn on TIE Topeka State banl
have been cashed by no less than fiv,
local business houses where the.
were presented in payment for small
purchases. In each case the person VIII,
presented the check carried away from
All the checks have found their wa,
to the bank this week to be proveI
worthless. One or two of them hav
been handled through other banks.
The Crosby Brothers Co. and the Out
look were also touched for twelve.
Every check was for the sum of 80 an,
had the appearance Of a pay check Of
| description OF the person presenting theu
! has been obtained but in every case the
| were passed at a millinery, dry goods o
| women's furnishings store on Kansa
| avenue.
i Drunk for II Years.
Il Jersey City. July A-Gustave Ebert.
! plumbing contractor. has been drunk al
j most ever night for the II years he ha
| 1911 ~. s ~ ..- ~A-S' taunn