Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1898 — MADE IT HIMSELF. [ARTICLE]

MADE IT HIMSELF.

The Treasurer Knew the Money Was Good. Ex-Treasurer Jordan frequently amuses his friends by telling of an exciting experience he had while treasurer of the United States. Mr. Jordan occasionally indulges in joking remarks, uttered with a serious countenance. It was the indulgence of this proclivity, says the Washington Star, while connected with the Treasury Department, that came near resulting in his introduction to a pair of handcuffs and incarceration in a dingy cell. Mr. Jordan had occasion to make a trip to New York just at a time when a new $5 bill was issued by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It happened that the treasurer, on the day of starting on his trip, drew a portion of his salary, and the cashier handed him a bunch of the new $5 bills, which had reached the office within an hour. When he arrived in New York, Mr. Jordan proceeded to purchase some needed articles and handed the clerk one of tlie new bills. The clerk had never seen money that looked like that bill, which was spotless and uncrumpled by handling. He examined the alleged money and the man who gave it to him with equal care. Mr. Jordan watched him with suppressed amusement, and remarked in a matter-of-fact way: "It’s good money. I made it myself.” That was enough for the clerk, who went to the cashier's desk with the bill. There was a hurried conference, and a message was sent to police headquarters over the telephone. In a short time a couple of detectives in citizens’ attire were standing on either side of the treasurer cf the United States. They waited there to watch developments, fumbling their handcuffs in their pockets. In the meantime the cashier studied the new bill further, looked carefully over his counterfeit detector, and rummaged through treasury circulars relating to the issuance of money. Finally he came across a description of the now $5 bill which was to be issued by the Treasury Department. His message had not yet reached the clerk, who was exchanging significant glances with the detectives and watching Mr. Jordan, when the latter, getting tired waiting for -his change, and realizing that liis new money was probably puzzling the cashier, produced his card. At the same moment the cashier’s message that die money was not counterfeit reached the clerk, the dectectives wandered off with crestfallen countenances and the treasurer proceeded to the nearest bank, where lie exchanged ills new bills for money that had passed through a tl'.ovsr.nd hands and was far from being sanitary.