The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-10-16
The
Counterfeiter
By JOHN TURNLEE

John Roelf, detective, was called
upon by the manager Of the Third Ma
tional bank to ferret out the perpe-
traitors OF spurious ten dollar bills on
their bank. He began by making a
thorough examination of the bills. 1t
would seem that a good engraver could
make a duplicate of any bank bill that
would be practically perfect. But no
matter how much care he puts on it
there will be differences. On these
bills there was a miniature likeness of
the then secretary Of the treasury.
There was a difference between the
valid and spurious pictures in the right
nostril. the left eyebrow and a line
running between the nose and the left
cheek.
But this was of no moment to the
detective except to enable him to spot
one Of the counterfeits when he saw 1t.
1t did not help him in running down
the counterfeiter. He knew that GER
tain persons were going about buying
articles worth various sums from 30
cents to 81 or So, Offering one of the
counterfeit ten dollar bills and receiv-
ing the change in good money.
Roelf interviewed several of the per-
sons on whom these spurious bills had
been passed-a young m cashier
in an ice cream saloon. She said that
a young nan had brought in a girl. or
dering ice cream, cake and other arti-
cles for both of them; had paid for
what he bought with n ten dollar bill
and received 1918 change. After the
departure Of the couple the bill was
found to be counterfeit.
The only person who saw this young
man and woman was the cashier her
self. who waited on them. no other per-
son connected with the saloon being
present. but her description tailed
with that Of others-that is, the de-
scription Of the young man. for this
was the only time he was reported IN
company with Il girl.
Roe.f gave a telephone number to
the prOprietors of a certain store on
the main shopping street Of the town
and asked them, if any one passed the
spurious bills. to call him up and hold
on to the person who had offered 1t.
Then be took a novel, sat down by the
Instrument. read and waited.
On the third day of his waiting he
was rung up from a cigar store. A
young man had called. bought a hand
full of cigars. offered a counterfeit ten
dollar bill, received So and some Sill
YER in change. lighted a cigar and gone
out smoking. The proprietor had tele-
phoned Roelf and SEM a boy to shad-
ow the young man. Roelf went to
the cigar store. and when the boy re
turned he showed the detective q house
which the young man had entered.
Roelf remembered that there were
different possibilities connected with
this young man. The bill might have
been passed IN him, he being entirely
innocent Of the matter. He might be
passing the bills for the maker. The
house he entered might be in no way
connected with the counterfeiting. 1t
might be the place where the bills
we're made. 1t behooved Roelf, there
(OE3. u Uc CuEClul III Lax SOoSA6oCAVA
lest he either come down on innocent
persons or brighten the counterfefters
away with all their paraphernalia.
What he did was to observe the
house. He loitered ear it for half a
day to see who came from and went
to it, No one entered it. but a woman
came out.
The usual way for detectives to
watch a suspected house is to hire a
room opposite. Roelf did this and
kept close observation Oh the house
the young man had entered. Within
a few days another case of passing the
bills was reported to him. A young
an-ve likely the same person as
before-had bought a hat with one of
them. The bill had been detected. the
purchaser had been followed and had
entered the house Roelf was watching
This removed all doubt that the gull
ty person occupied the house in ques.
ton. Roelf made arrangements to
raid it, but concluded to get what ad-
ditional information lie was able be
fore doing SO. He kept up his watch.
but the only person be saw come out
or go in was a young girl. 1t seemed
to Roelf that there was something fa-
miliar to him about her. but he could
not tell what 1t was. He eve caught
a fair glimpse Of her face. for when.
ever she emerged from the house. II
the weather was fair, she put up a
parasol and ii it rained an umbrella.
Roelf now gave orders among the
shops that If any one passed one of
the spurious bills and It was detected
before the person passing it got away
he wal to be detained. II this was not
possible Roelf al to be telephoned of
the fact and he would arrest the coun.
~terfeiter II he returned to the house.
One afternoon he received a tele-
phone that a young man Of efeminate
appearance had entered a drug store.
bought a pair Of ~hairbrushes and
a counterfeit bill. Roelf went
out on the street and walked back and
forth for some time. when he saw a
young man who answered the descrip-