Year: 1878

CCfSs AND BANK NOTES.


The alarming fact has recently been
discovered that the trade dollars are
extensively counterfeited. Hence the
public will do well to be careful in re-
ceiving such coin, and little expert
ence will enable one to distinguish the
true from the false. 1t is highly
probable that these ccunterfeits are
made in this city. where Q surprising
degree OF secrecy can be maintained.
all that is necessary is to keep on
good terms with the police, who
will never trouble any one of that class
so long as the full quota of blackmail
is maintained. Very few except those
specially connected with the craft can
form any idea of the art, ability and
and capital devoted to it. Detection
at best seldom strikes deeper than the
surface. Ii it be true that there are
as good fish III the sea as have ever
been caught then there are as many
ccunterfeiters in active operation as
have ever been punished. This is say
ing a great deal, but it is nothing less
than the truth. The facts that so many
ba.ks have been initiated. in addition
to the Government issues both of paper
and coin, indicates the extent of this
fraud. To this it may be added that a
large proportion of our State Prison
population is under sentence for this
crime.


SPECIAL INSTANCES.


Some men have q marvellous run of
success in evading punishment, though
1t 10 doubtful if any professed counter
feiter ever finished his course without
q term in State Prison. / we'll RENE m
Der the notorious Tom Kanouse. who
was the most distinguished dealer of
the queer in all New Jersy. He avoid
ed arrest for long time, but the last !
heard of him he got sentence for ten
years. He was splendid looking
fellow, and had a flashing turnout, but
the day of doom eventually overlook
him. Another instance was Corn.
cracker Davis of this city. This fel =
low was wonderfully successful in the
management of the police. to whom
he not only paid large sums in the way
OF blackmail. but also annually surren-
dered some of his assistants as scape-
goats TO the law. He also ruined
large numbers of young men. whom he
eventually followed to State Prison,
but it was not until be had ceased to be
source of profit to the police that
they made him their victim. To illus
trate the enormous sums received by
these So called guardians of society. /
may refer TO the case of a notorious
diamond thief who cleared $4,000 a
year. and who, when convicted. said
that he always paid one -halfof his
profit to the police. and thus escaped.
until luck turned and he was unab to
keep up the black,uail. The police.
when bent on favoring profitable
man. have been known to put bogus
dies and false coins into the pockets of
innocent mon made drunk for that pur-
pose The latter would then be arrest
ed and punished. while the culprit
escaped.


THE CHIEF AGENT


The public often feel curious to know
how the splendid counterfeits are made.
The principal agent is some first class
sngraver. and it is found that the sup
ply Of talent is always equal to the de-
mand. There is class of dissipated
artists who rank high in their craft
but are broken down by intemperate
habits. Many of this class have lost
their situations by unstesdiness and
are therefore ready to listen to tempta-
tion. Places are found for carrying on
this work in densely crowded cities, but
sometimes it is done in log houses In
the wilderness. At one time a large
amount of counterfeit money was man
ufactured in the coal district of north
ern Psnnsylvsnla. The fraternity has
it's secret means Of communication pc
culiar to itself. Whole classes at times
become infected by it. and especially
peddlers and other itinerants, who take
a small stock Of the queer to work off
among the unsuspicious. The general
quotation of counterfeit money is o.e-
third the face, and thus packages oil
$leO are sold for $50. Some Of the
best hands at showing the queer are
women, and there are few gangs that
do not have one or two Of the sex in
their service.


PHOTOGRAPHY.


An intellig ent counterfeiter aims to
keep O quantity of good money always
on hand, which tends to save him
from suspicion. If the bad money
he shoves be detected, he 10 immediate
" ready to rectify the mistake If a
bill be rejected he does not offer it in
the same vicinity. but tries one of an
other denomination. The easiest money
TO shove was the postal currency. OF
which there were 500 counterfeits.
Photography has been frequently en-
ployed with much success, and such
work 10 well calculated TO deceive.
The calligraphy Of this kind Of fraud il
q very important feature. and the in.
auiry is often made who fills up and
signs the bad money! The reply il
that some OF the best penmen in the
country are employed, and there is no
difficulty in finding expert workers foE
this nefarious purpose. 1t is said that
there are nov 500 skillful counterfeiters
continually busy, and much larger
number employed showing it. Most OF
these eventually reach State Prison
but as fast rs one gets q sentence Others
are foand to assume the same risk.
You cannot make penalties so severe
a. to prevent the attempt at fraud.