Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-02

Isl, SsaA ~ :. ~ g III ~
: ~. 1:3 s $780, p : 49, : < V:
owns. ana has in its possession now, as
successors 10 the firm OF Bald, Cous-
Land Company. OF New York and Phil
ad"lphia. This firm was in business
! in 1886 ana made the plates. l have
in my possession = proof Of the por-
trait on this bin. made within the last
thirty days. from the original plato. but
the plate does not SHOW who tho party
is. rs was usually the case. In the
late ilftics this firm and several others,
eight In all. were merged into tho
American Bank Note Company, which
succeeded to all their business and ac-
quired ali their cuEravings, plates, etc
About this time I received Il letter
from George II Blake. secretary and
treasurer Of the National Association
of Leather Bcltiu& manufacturers, New
York city. who has been Il collector
Tor many years, first OF postage stamps,
then of fractional currency and United
states legal tender money, OF which
he has large and valuable collection.
Including. by the way. the first 81 paper
hill over issued by the United States
government. lie has brought to light
more obsolete United States paper
money than any one else. lie has
states paper money, and published Il
work or the subject called Paper
Money of tho United States" in which
is listed. with much valuable inforna-
tion, al paper money issued by the
government. ana the work has re-
ccivcd tho highest praise. from banks,
government officials and others. II being
in general use in the United States
Treasury ana banks all over the coun
try. He was. for some years, paper
money Gator or the Numismatist, the
official organ of the American Numis
matte Association, Although real
Yankee he has strong sympathy with
our Southern brothers, and is equally
Interested in helping along toward
solution OF this mystery, II being APP
parent that a portion of Southern his
tory has gone awry. He is very san
Cuue that the original OF the por-
trait VIII be named In short time.
provided the public-spirited people OF
Savannah give their aid. an opinion in
which ! concur.
DESIGN SAME As THAT
OF "MiSTEItE bill"
Within The last few days, have re-
c,iycI "a package OF so-calied broken
bank bills Among these is slG
Din OF The Mechanics Savings Bank, of
savannah, Ga This bill, dated Fob
ruary 1, 1873 is here reproduaesis-and
the almost unbelievable fact appears
tnat the design 8 exactly the same as
hs. Of our <io Confederate mystery
Bell" The proof is therefore absolute
tlat The exact design Was used by a
local savings hank in Savannah, TWO
years hetor, tAc Contederacy was even
organized and two and ome-ha!l years
before Il VAS used 10y the Confcd-
"-acy In Wilis x Co.'S list of banks
az July, 1851, there is no mention OF
rais oana. but II IS listed in 'Leonore's
Eank Reporter OF December s. 1856.
ana ne discount quoted on their bills
Us ls per cent ~ "Thompson's Bank
Importer for May J. 1855, this bank
Is mentioned with tho following Of
.-scrs John ;. Mountmoll!n, president;
i Williams, cashier.
In the same reporter" of August |.
.h"> The officers are given as: John
richardson president: James ~ Brad
g.. cashier; agency At Marietta John
clover. agent.
'"- ahove John Richardson signed
"..l am illustrating, but The name
h" cashier as OF the date written
"h 'ns pm IS T.. Gandry. In "Davis's
Bank Note List" of March 1855. the
following is given: John S. Mon, Mol
A". president: S. b. Williams. cashier:
agency at Columbus, J. J. Ride,yav.
gent. agency at Marietta, John II.
clover agent.
in 'Gwynec & Days Bank Note Reg
.Slef Tor September. 1858, the fol-
owing is given: John Richardson, pres
.nc"t; James y. Bradley, cashier.
"sency at Marietta, John II. Glover
agent 81
in 'HodEes's New Bank Note safe
Guard Of 1850. II Is recorded thnt Tho
Mechanics Savings Bank OF Savannah
-, issued 81, So. 50, $40, $50. $50 and
100 b1lls. In 'Messenger's Mctropoli
"a Il,
february" II. 1866. there is no nen,ior
81 mis- bank, but this OF course. was
a! or the war and most Southern banks
heh gone out of existence II ena,lv
can DO seen that We are now In close
touch with the identity of the nov.
'r"t' ana thore is, in the facts ins,
given. almost positive proof TIM. tho
mystery is locked up in the cit, 80
Savannah. "
It Is quite probable that the nor.
Ha'' ~ that OF one OF tho organtuor.
OF the bank. or its officers. mayhe
! some prominent Official OF Savannah
'MaF"rl, or Governor OF the State
an" IL IS more than likely that, as the
design was uS-d on n Savarn,i, t;u
Two years before the C'onfndcrac,. aa
even organized and two ana onc-hnIs
years before the Coufcdcracv horrn,r
ed or used the plate (yv!th q eIi,ht
/ Changc). the portrait was that of I.
man not in the slightest degree con-
| ne'ted "'th the Confcdcracy. II is,
However. without doubt, Georgian
| rho Information given from varioua
/ rank note lists. is from George II
Blake, and believe that nowhere c,sc
/ III 'he United states could /, be Oh
. tanned.
APPEALS 70 SAVANNAH
Il" SOLVE QUESTION
now appeal TO the whole CITY Of
savannah and to tho state Of Georgia
as q duty they owe to Confederate
history, to unlock the vault which con
'ains THIS secret ana furnish me tho
hhme OF the man whose portrait an
pears ON these two bills. with a his,orv
OIL MS career ana q daguerrcotypc or
photograph Duplicating the picture ON
the bills. ! would like to have every
body and anybody who can furnish the
slightest information write to H. u
Allen 81 Winter street. Boston. Nnss
ana also send me for inspection nnv
and al evidence, which | VIII return