Title: Counterfeit Money - The "green goods" business exposed for the benefit of all - who have dishonest inclinations.
Author: Anonymous
Language: English
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Transcriber’s Note:

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

       *       *       *       *       *

MULTUM IN PARVO LIBRARY.

Entered at the Boston Post office as second class matter.

Vol. 2. Oct., 1895. Published Monthly. No. 22.



COUNTERFEIT MONEY.


  The “Green Goods” Business Exposed for the Benefit of All who have
  Dishonest Inclinations.

  Smallest Magazine in the world. Subscription price 50 cts. per year.
  Single Copies 5 cts. each.

  PUBLISHED BY A. B. COURTNEY, Room 74, 45 Milk Street, BOSTON, MASS.

       *       *       *       *       *

COUNTERFEIT MONEY.



Facts About the Green Goods Business


Every good thing has its imitation, and this includes money.
Counterfeiting dates back to the old Greek and Roman times, and the
despicable business has been kept up ever since, and probably always
will be. In some countries the laws are so severe that the conviction
of a maker or passer of spurious coin or bills means death. In America
the punishment is usually a long term of imprisonment. Nevertheless
people of dishonest tendencies seem to have a mania for wanting
to “shove the queer,” and are desirous of going into the business
extensively if they can only find a manufacturer of bad money who will
supply them. This demand has been the cause of establishing the trade
popularly known as “green goods” business. The operators are usually
in gangs, and they work scientifically. Perhaps you, respected reader,
have received ere this a very confidential letter from one Johnson, or
Bechtoldt, or Carruthers, or somebody else, (usually located in New
York, Jersey City or Chicago) telling you about the “green articles”
that they have to sell in denominations of “tens, twenties,” etc., and
assuring you that they are “perfect in every respect.” Enclosed with
the letter you probably found a clipping alleged to have been cut out
of a newspaper, telling how a crack counterfeit dealer had been caught
red handed but had passed the ordeal of a trial and had been acquitted,
because the counterfeits were so good that neither prosecutors, judge
nor jury would dare to say that the money in evidence was spurious.
Yet, the clipping goes on to say, that it is well known that the money
really was counterfeit, but had been printed from some plates that
had been stolen from the treasury department, and were, to a certain
extent, genuine.

As a matter of fact, no plates of money were ever stolen from the
U. S. treasury department, and the so called newspaper clipping is
a concoction of some ingenious rascal intended to convince you, if
dishonestly inclined, that you can handle the “green articles” with
perfect safety.

The letter doesn’t contain the address of the dealer; oh, no, he
doesn’t do business that way. You can only reach him by telegraph to
an address given by him, which is no address at all in reality except
perhaps the location of a graveyard or aqueduct. It has been alleged
that the Western Union Telegraph Company simply holds such telegrams
and they are called for by the men who expect them and whose swindling
game is understood by the telegraph people. The swindler sends back
an answer by letter, telling the countryman to come on at once, and
saying that he will meet him upon his arrival at the depot, or at some
hotel, and one is to know the other by means of a colored handkerchief,
a peculiar way of carrying the cane, or some other signal.

Well, the countryman goes to the city, meets the knave who shows him
in some quiet room, a package of crisp bills. The countryman opens his
eyes wide and visions of sudden wealth flit through his brain. Mr.
Counterfeiter suggests that they try some of the bills and see whether
or not they will pass without detection. They drop into a saloon,
and courteous Mr. Counterfeiter insists that the other have a drink.
Perhaps Mr. Wayback may be a prohibitionist, but that doesn’t matter
as he will certainly be willing to drink a little pop beer or ginger
ale, just to be social. The city rascal doesn’t even need to wink at
the bartender to cause the latter to drug the drink, as he is well paid
by the gang, and before the countryman and the city rascal have got
far Mr. Wayback begins to feel stupid, and can be easily induced to go
anywhere his leader suggests while they are “trying the counterfeit
money.” However, the bills are just as good as gold, being absolutely
genuine, and the “dealer in bad money” can safely lead his confiding
friend into any bank, and have one or two bills changed, just to
convince the jay. Perhaps Mr. Wayback is so thoroughly drugged that
he falls asleep when landed in one of the out-of-the-way rooms of the
gang. In that case it is an easy matter to drug him more and rob him of
all the good money he possesses, then take him out after nightfall and
leave him to sleep off the effects of his potion in some alleyway.

On the other hand, if the would be rascal of a countryman keeps awake
he will be introduced to one or two other jolly good fellows, and a
transaction will be made in the aforementioned room. The two or three
thousand dollars in real money (which the countryman supposes to be
excellent counterfeits) will be wrapped in a package and sealed. Then
the jay will be asked to produce the $300 or $500 that he is to pay
for the pile. While he is doing this, one of the confederates adroitly
substitutes another package for the one on the table, being exactly
similar in outward appearance and weight, but filled with sawdust. Mr.
Wayback doesn’t see all this, and the crooks are very clever withal.
About the time that he has his good money counted to pay over, one
of the gang looks out the window, whispers that two detectives are
approaching, and they suddenly skip, one of them, of course, grabbing
the countryman’s payment, and hastily suggesting that he take his
package and get out of the city as soon as possible. This he will do,
and ultimately find out how he has been swindled.

But what can he do?

He intended to be dishonest, and if he complains to the police he will
be liable to arrest. The swindlers have got his money, he has obtained
the experience and goes home a sadder but wiser man.

This game is worked all the year around and it is astonishing how new
“suckers” are obtained so readily. Police and post office officials use
all sorts of methods to kill the business but their success is limited.
The “green goods” men make large sums of money and live high.

To all who are looking for counterfeit money let us say, “Don’t.”
You cannot get it anyhow, but even if you could, the chances are
nine in ten that you would soon occupy a felon’s cell. Seldom a
counterfeiter goes free for long, no matter how clever he may be.
Frequently the styles of “green goods” invitations are altered, and
to one who is bound to be dishonest, it might appear that, after
all, the special scheme offered him may be all right--that is,
dishonestly all right--and that the counterfeit money can be obtained
after negotiations. But it can’t. We do not deny but that spurious
money is passed, but only in the inner circle of crookdom are such
things arranged, and it would be as easy for a camel to walk through
a key-hole as for any but a “cut and dried” old time crook to get an
“inside” on the counterfeit money business.

Be honest; it pays. The writer sincerely hopes that this little volume
may be the means of saving the money of many a man, and of diverting
his ideas in a more legitimate direction. Let such as are tempted by
the “green goods” monster, and who have money that they could invest,
put such money in the savings bank at a small per cent. The result will
be a fair income, but better still, a _clear conscience_.



Extensive Mailing.


Here is a statement about the extensive mailing of “green goods”
circulars. The story was told by Van Buren before the Lexow committee
in 1894.

Benjamin D. Van Buren, a discharged chief clerk of the Jersey City post
office, told a startling story.

“I was chief mailing clerk,” said Mr. Van Buren. “My attention was
first called to the green goods business about eight years ago. The
first thing that I noticed was the hiring of boxes by green goods
men. I knew them by sight only. This lasted two or three months. Then
my attention was attracted to some stories in the newspapers about
the stopping of circulars at the New York post office. Large amounts
of mail were stopped there. Then came some men with big bundles of
circulars without the “return” stamp on them. I suspected they were
green goods circulars stopped at the New York post office. I went to
Postmaster Dickerson with my suspicions, and he told me to keep a
strict watch and see if I could find an envelope open. I did in a few
days, and found one of the regular circulars in it. I gave it to the
assistant postmaster, who took it to Inspector James in New York. Then
Postmaster Dickerson ordered me to send the matter out. Later on it was
discussed with Inspector Egerton of Philadelphia, who has charge of
the postal district in which Jersey City is located; and the rule went
forth to forward at once, regardless of character. Immense quantities
of green goods circulars were then handled from that office. After
a time the circulars came in such quantities that they were not put
through the windows, but taken around to the back door, the same as
other big users of the mails. Postage stamps were sold in big lots by
the assistant postmaster to the green goods men. I should say they must
have bought $500 or $600 worth a day.”



New Dodges.


The following interesting story appeared in the _New York Herald_
of February 10, 1895, and indicates that there has been but little
cessation in the “green goods” business:

Mr. Hace Ead, of Texas, who comes on to New York every spring to buy
“green goods,” and who each time takes home a valise full of bricks,
but who, nevertheless, returns to the business again, hoping against
hope, will have no more difficulty in making his purchases this year
than he had last. The “green goods” men are still at their games,
flooding the country with circulars and disposing of bags of rubbish at
fabulous prices.

The revelations before the Lexow committee did not have the effect of
driving the “sharps” into legitimate occupations. While the testimony
was being given against them they kept in retreat in Jersey City, but
even during the hearing of the “green goods” witnesses, “come-ons” were
arriving in shoals at all the Jersey City depots, and the brick maker
who supplies the swindlers at wholesale prices made his usual daily
deliveries at their offices. The bricks, carefully wrapped up in paper,
were distributed to the four corners of the United States.

John Sheffield, of Manchester, N. Y., who came to Jersey City recently
to rob the “green goods” men, and who did steal $1,600 from two of
them, says that a large part of the savings of residents in his town
has gone to the operators in this city. It was to get revenge and to
obtain some of these savings back that Sheffield came along. The place
where the operators said they would meet him at No. 87 West street, New
York, but he preferred to do business with them in his room at Taylor’s
Hotel, in Jersey City, where he kept his black jack, and where he
succeeded in disabling one of the men who wanted to jabe him in the eye
with an umbrella and recover the money.

The “green goods” men live in New York still. They always did a good
deal of their business in Jersey City, and they do it there now. Some
of the odd looking farmers who come from the central part of New York
State, and who have never seen a piece of water so large that it could
not be crossed by a bridge, are afraid to trust themselves to the
ferryboats. As soon as they see the river they rebel, and positively
refuse to leave dry ground. This necessitates a good deal of the
business being done in Jersey City. Another reason for the selection
of that town originally was the cheapness of police “protection” as
compared with its cost in this city.



DISLIKE TO BE FOUND OUT.


There are still other reasons. A “come-on” is frequently a wild
looking being, with lengthy hair and an embarrassed manner, who
continually falls over himself and gets buncoed or robbed before he
reaches the swindlers to whom he morally belongs. “If he is a queer
sight,” said an operator, “he won’t attract so much attention in Jersey
City as he would in New York.”

Chief of Police Murphy told me the other day that there were many
“green goods” men quartered in his bailiwick in temporary exile. They
received visits from men who might be customers and who might be
clergymen trying to convert them. It was hard to get evidence against
these criminals, as their victims are as interested in not being found
out as are the operators themselves. They continue to take many of the
“come-ons” to Bound Brook and there perform the final act in financial
juggle.

There “green goods” men who used to be very active in catching and
despoiling “come-ons,” but who now say that they have reformed and
are leading simple Christian lives, are John Morgan, James Wilson and
Michael Ryan. If they have really become converts to religion the
business they have gone into is probably that of guides, for they
are seen meeting strange looking men with chin whiskers, wide hats,
carpet bags and agricultural boots at the trains. In a short time,
sometimes only two or three hours, these same men reappear at the ferry
or railroad station carrying a valise that they did not have with them
when they arrived.

So easily identified are the “come-ons” that the ferry employes
recognized them half a block away. Sometimes they call out to each
other so that the “come-ons” can hear:--“I’ll bet that fellow has
$10,000 in that bag,” or “Looks like a counterfeiter.” Then they enjoy
the alarm of the “come-on,” who turns pale and escapes as quickly as he
possibly can.

At the Pennsylvania Railroad ferry in Jersey City there is a youth
representing the “green goods” men continually on the watch. He scans
the faces of all passers by and looks out carefully for detectives.
Knowing all the employes of the police department by sight he can get
an idea if there is anything unusual going on, or if the department
is on the watch for some criminal. This youth was pointed out to me
yesterday by a private detective once in the employ of the Law and
Order Society, and who told me that the “green goods” men were still
doing business on a large scale, though they were not so bold as before
the sessions of the Lexow committee.

Some of the operators have been robbed lately by “come-ons.” So great
has been the publicity of the exposure of the business that it is hard
to realize that there can be a single man in the country who could be
gulled by it, but still hundreds of New Yorkers make a fat living off
“green goods.” During the Lexow investigation a few of the Jersey City
operators who did not know human nature very well thought that the end
of the “green goods” trade had been reached, and that they would have
to think up some new scheme for making a dishonest living.



NEW SWINDLING GAME.


One of the tricks that has superceded “green goods” is the “country
postmaster,” or “red goods” game. A circular is sent to postmasters in
out-of-the-way towns where the level of intelligence is supposed to be
very low, informing them that the writers have become possessed of a
large quantity of postage stamps, and are waiting for a chance to sell
them at from thirty-five cents to fifty cents on the dollar, according
to the quantity taken.

After this the modus operandi is precisely similar to that employed in
the “green goods” game. The victim is shown a lot of postage stamps,
which are then packed in a valise, and at the last moment the valise is
changed for one containing mud or stones or a brick.

This has not the same field as the “green goods” game, as the number
of postmasters is limited, and in little towns their opportunities
are smaller for disposing of any great quantities of stamps. It was
invented by operators who had been clubbed or beaten by “come-ons”
familiar with their game, and who decided that a change of ground was
necessary. But it can hardly be said to have scored a hit.

The police have made a statement to the effect that Harlem is now free
from “green goods” men, but it must be remembered that at all times,
even when Harlem was overrun with the swindlers, the police have issued
similar proclamations. It has been said that Captain Thompson, of the
West 125th street station, has made an arrangement with the Western
Union Telegraph Company by which all “green goods” messages shall be
shown to him. This statement is made in order to show the vigilance
of the police and the change of heart of the telegraph company, which
has derived a large income from the swindlers, it being alleged that
the company had a regular “green goods” department to look after that
branch of the trade and to see that the operators got what they wanted.

It is denied, however, that the Western Union people could show
telegrams to the police. It is against the law, for one thing, and any
company that did not guarantee the secrecy of its messages would soon
begin to lose its business.

       *       *       *       *       *

About Detectives.

We now offer a volume of the celebrated Sherlock Holmes’ Detective
Stories, including “Sign of the Four,” “Haunted Man,” “Study in
Scarlet,” “Battle of Life” and “Reminiscences.” These are the greatest
detective stories ever written. Don’t fail to read them. You can get
the volume, postpaid, by sending only six cents, stamps, to Keystone
Book Co., Box 1634, Philadelphia, Pa., or to the firm from whom you
received this little “Counterfeit Money” book.



Genuine Government Money.


Here is a new wrinkle in the line of green goods business. Ordinarily
the country brother, when he speculates in this class of stock, goes
in without regard for the proprieties, for the purpose of making
whatever he can out of the scheme, and, if he gets the supply as
promised, feels satisfied with the arrangement.

This new idea is something of a variation on the old plan, however,
in that it swindles the man who is himself contemplating a swindle on
his neighbors and on the government. Instead of sending the customer
“green” goods, the swindlers send him a lot of confederate money.

Here is the way the new circular reads:

“Esteemed Sir--You have been recommended to me as being a person in
whom I can place implicit faith; who will deal with me honestly and
work for mutual interests. I therefore write you this confidential
letter, trusting to your honor to use me fairly.

“My business is peculiar. I deal in money of several kinds. I want
a shrewd, careful and energetic person in your locality to handle a
branch of my business. Probably you are not wealthy, but you can recall
some others who have quite suddenly achieved wealth, and the public has
never known just how. Mine is a money making method, and will enable
you to acquire good cash by exchanging bank bills for coins, etc.

“I will not go into details in this letter, but if you will send me
$2, I will send you samples of money representing $50, also complete
confidential instructions, lists of prices of various denominations of
money.

“The above will enable you to get a proper start, and if you go into
the business on a large scale, I will arrange to pay your expenses
to Boston, where we can have a personal private conference and make
negotiations.

“I enclose a strong envelope, addressed, in which you can place your
$2, and it will reach me safely. Rest assured I shall deal with you
fairly, Mr. ----, and I expect the same treatment in return.

“P. S.--The samples of money that I will send you are printed from
original government plates, therefore, are not counterfeit (or
imitation) money.”

It is necessary to read the letter twice in order to appreciate the
fine points of composition, the seductive tone of the epistle, and
yet, the clever way in which the writer avoids making any damaging
admissions.

The opening and the general style is that of the regular “green goods”
letter, but it differs in two important points--its tone is not so
secret as those epistles generally are, and the address of the sender
is given. Furthermore the customer is not required to answer by a
secret telegraphic message.

The postscript is particularly inviting, as the writer guaranteed to
send money from original government plates, and not counterfeits.



This is Literally True,


but the writer forgets to state that the government which is
represented on the money went out of existence about 30 years ago.

Confederate money is what will be sent, and the agreement will be
literally carried out so far as the amount specified goes. If the
customer “kicks,” he is bound hand and foot, so to speak, for he
has made himself a party to the fraud by sending for the article
advertised, and which is really much worse than what he receives.





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