Forty Centuries of Ink: Or, A chronological narrative concerning ink and its backgrounds, introducing incidental observations and deductions, parallels of time and color phenomena, bibliography, chemistry, poetical effusions, citations, anecdotes and curiosa together with some evidence respecting the evanescent character of most inks of to-day and an epitome of chemico-legal ink.Carvalho, David Nunes
History
Forty Centuries of Ink: Or, A chronological narrative concerning ink and its backgrounds, introducing incidental observations and deductions, parallels of time and color phenomena, bibliography, chemistry, poetical effusions, citations, anecdotes and curiosa together with some evidence respecting the evanescent character of most inks of to-day and an epitome of chemico-legal ink.
Carvalho, David Nunes
Ink
"In the original $12 draft, the figures '1' and
'2' and the character '$' had been punched so
that the combination read '$12.' The forger had
filled in these perforations with paper in such away
that the part filled in looked exactly like the field
of the paper. After having filled in the perforations,
he had perforated the paper with the combination,
'$22,000.'
"The dates, too, had been erased by the chemical
process, and in their stead were dates which
would make it appear that the paper bad been presented
for payment within a reasonable length of
time after it had been issued. The dates in the
original draft, if left on the forged draft, would
have been liable to arouse suspicion at the bank,
for they would have shown that the holder had departed
from custom in carrying, such a valuable paper
more than a few days.
"That was the extent of the forgeries which
had been made in the paper, the manner in
which they had been made betrayed the hand of
an expert forger. The interjected hand-writing
was so nearly like that in the original paper that it
took a great while to decide whether or not it was
a forgery.
"In the places where letters had been erased by
the use of chemicals the coloring of the paper had
been restored, so that it was well-nigh impossible
to detect a variance of the hue. It was the work
of an artist, with pen, ink, chemicals, camel's hair
brush, water colors, paper pulp and a perforating
machine. Moreover the crime was eighteen days
old, and the forger might be in Japan or on his
way to Europe. The Protective Committee of the
American Bankers' Association held a hurried consultation
as soon as the news of the forgery reached
New York, and orders were given to get this
forger, regardless of expense--he was too dangerous
a man to be at large. It was easier said than
done; but the skill of the Pinkertons was aroused
and the wires were made hot getting an accurate
description of Dean from all who had seen him.
Suspected bank criminals were shadowed night and
day to see if they connected with any one answering
the description, but patient, hard labor for
nearly two months did not seem to promise
much."
Not satisfied with their success in San Francisco
these same bank workers began a series of operations
in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. This information
by chance reached the Pinkertons who laid
a trap and captured two of the gang. Shortly afterward
Becker on information furnished by them was
also arrested, taken to California and after three separate
trials as before stated, sent to San Quetin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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