The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1914-10-08
The

By JOHN TURNLEE

| John ROelf, detective, was called
| upon by the manager of the Third Ma
tional bank to ferret out the perpe-
/ 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
the then secretary of the treasury.
There was a difference between the
valid and spurious pictures in the right
nostril, the left eyebrow and 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 it.
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 80
cents to 50 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 woman cashier
/ in an ice cream saloon. She said that
young man had brought in girl. Or
dering ice cream, cake and other arti-
! fNr Of
what he bought with a ten dollar bill
and received $9.15 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 a 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 It
! Then he took a novel. sat down by the
instrument, read and waited.
On the third day Of his waiting he
was rung up from cigar store. \
young man had called, bought hand
| full Of cigars. offered counterfeit ten
dollar bill, received IS and some sill
yer in change, lighted a cigar and gone
out smoking. The proprietor had tele-
phoned Roelf and sent Il boy to shad-
ow the young man. Roelf went to
the cigar store. and when the boy re-
turned he showed the detective 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 on 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 cOunterfeitinS. 1t
| might be the place where the bills
were made. 1t behOOved ROelf. there
fore. to be careful in his investigations
| lest he either come down on innocent
persons or brighten the counterfeiters
away with all their paraphernalia.
What he did was to observe the
/ house He lOitered near it for half
! 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 Il suspected house is to hire Il
room opposite. ROelf did this and
kept close observation on the house
the young man had entered. Within
Il few days another case of passing the
bills was reported to him. young
man-very likely the same person as
beforehand bought Il 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
'litiOnal information he was able be
FORE doing so He kept up his watch.
hut the only person he saw come out
~ 20 in was young girl. 1t seemed
10 Roelf that there was something IA
miliar 10 him about her. but he could
not tell what il was He never caught
Il fair glimpse of her face. for when
ever she emerged from the house. IL
the weather was fair. she put up
parasOl and il it rained IN 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 was to be detained. If this was not
possible ROelf was to be telephoned of
the fact and he would arrest the coun-
ferfeiter If he returned to the house.
One afternoon he received tele
phone that young man of effeminate
appearance had entered drug store,
bought pair of hairbrushes and
passed a counterfeit bill. Roelf went
out on the street and walked back and
forth for some time when he saw n
young man who answered the descrip-
ton Of the cOunterfeiter making for
the suspected house. As he was about
10 enter ROelf clapped a hand on his
shoulder with gruff II want you