The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-10-28
WHY COUNTERFEITERS FAIL.
Secret Service Chief Tells Why Bad
Money is Always Detected.

Secret Service Chief Tells Why Bad
Money is Always Detected.
The government is an organlza-
tion. It has organized forms and
means for making currency. These
forms and means are fashioned on
the scientific plan that there are no
exact duplicates possible in nature
or in the manufacturing Of a product,
says the New York Telegraph. No
two battleships are exactly similar,
any more than are two roses that
grow in the same garden.
AS an example in the making of
our money, let me say that an en-
graver in the government service
can make one plate, and only one
plate, from which given series OF
bills are printed. That engraVel
may nearly duplicate it exactly, but
never will be able to reproduce it
exactly, or even approach the origin
al work by reproduction to such a
degree that there will not be differ
ence that is not detectable. So with
the dies for stamping the govern
ment copper, silver and gold coins.
Then, too, it is not so remarkable
that duplicates are impossible, when
one considers that there are thou
sands, in some instances tens of thou
sands, of delicate strokes by a very
fine tool necessary in the making OF
a single plate for the manufacture
of a series of notes. Perhaps
scratch is too heavy, or maybe too
lightly made. Such an error would
he fatal. Consider, too, that only
one plate is used by the government
in printing a given series of notes;
and only one die is used in making
a given issue of coins.
Explanation of the foregoing in
mechanical detail would require
more space than the present article
is intended to consume. Then, too,
it would not clarity the situation
Z one whit. Still, it may be interest
ing for the reader to keep in mind
that no individual engraver COM
pletes plate for any series of notes.
One man engraves the vignette; an
other does the script work; third
man the square lettering; and yet
another takes care of the mechanical
! lathe work, etc.
In the light of common reason
there is only one conclusion possible
government money cannot be iml-
tated successfully for any sustained
period unless the secret service
agents cease their tireless vigilance.
{ And yet, in the face of all these or
ganized obstacles, individuals and
small groups of men have, and no
doubt will continue to do so, risked
their freedom in an effort toscheat
Uncle Sam by foisting spurious coins
on the public.
There is the case of the German
4 artist who noticed an oil painting, a
representation of a ten dollar bill,
painted in the panel on the wall OF
a restaurant where he had been ac-
customed to dine. He tried, at first,
es.just TO initiate the painting" His
imitation was in pen and ink, and
so well done that he felt curiosity
to know whether he could deceive
any person with the product. He
tried and succeeded in the deceit.
~ Then for IA years he devoted him
self to sketching on bond paper of
the proper size a number of bills, In
cluding ten, twenty, fifty and even
hundred-dollar notes, in imitation OF
the United States currency. 1t would
require his continuous efforts for
! two weeks at time to complete a
hundred-dollar note. And yet again
he would take vacations for six
months at a time from his counter
feating labors, in the meantime de-
voting himself to legitimate art.
His method of showing or dis
posing of the notes was to get rid of
them in liquor stores near the Jer-
sey ferries on the New York side.
He would choose a rush hour crowd
in which to approach the bar, order
quart of whiskey, and drink
which he would swallow at the bar
while engaging the bartended in con-
yersation. He would at the. same
time lay down his counterfeit bill,
get it exchanged hurriedly, and has
ten to New Jersey, where he had
built himself and family a house.