May 2007 - Counterfeit Coin Mystery Develops"
Mother and Son Unearth Hidden Place of "Wealth" on North Side
Miles Police Take Up Investigation - Bad Money is Almost Perfect
The finding of sixteen counterfeit half dollars by Mrs. Frank Kidney, 173 Denton road, Niles City, and her little son, Darcey, 6, a few days ago, has brought the police force of the wealthy city across the Trinity face to face with a mystery.
Mrs. Kidney and Darcey were walking along the road runnning east and west just south of the Swift packing plant. The little boy was attracted by something shining at the side of the road and he pulled back on his mother's hand to pick up the object. It proved to be a 50-cent piece. The mother and child began looking about and there in a heap lay sixteen nice new half dollar pieces.
They were gathered in and later carried to the husband and father, Frank Kidney, who is a barber at Miller's shop in Niles. It didn't take Kidney long to discover that the coins were counterfeit. The old familiar ring when the coin was thrown on the hardwood surface was not there and in one or two instances small flaws had crept into the moulding.
But Kidney says that the "money" is almost perfect. It was all stamped "1910" and had not been used.
Kidney turned the coins over to City Marshal Claypool and now Claypool is wondering whether there is an organized band of counterfeiters operating in Fort Worth and Niles. He is also wondering if someone had thrown the money there, thinking that he was being sought after by police and didn't care to be caught with the "good on."
Mystery surrounds the origin of the coin, but Chief Claypool hopes to unearth the mystery.
Darcey Kidney is the son of Frank Albert Kidney [Albert John Henry/Reuben G./Robert K./Jacobus/Robert Isaac/Jan] and Susan Francis Ash Kidney.