The book was on BOOK TV. With that sensational intro, it takes its own time to create its direction. Once it gets moving, the book runs into several unknown but historic stories attempting to link everything in a big nightmare ending. There seems to be political slant against Lincoln in the title clearly but the author's main subjects are not him directly. Some are possibly closely connected to Lincoln at that time, but there is not group pictures and that kind of reporting in it. The author tried very hard to create evidence of crimminal activity trying to excite its reader. The book ends similiar to the present day issues of instant gratification of things, unhappily ending in disturbing illegal activity. Sadly, some of the crimes described in present day descriptions are: Counterfeiting "Super-Fakes" (18 U.S.C. §§ 471, 474)
In the 1870s, the Bonelatta Gang used stolen or "rogue" government plates. Today, sophisticated "super-fakes" often involve high-end digital offsets or illicit access to specialized materials. The Connection: Like the 19th-century rings that moved money from Monroe to New York, modern rings often use "mules" to "shove" (circulate) small amounts of fake cash at retail stores to get real currency back as change. The "Pillar of the Community" Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341 - Mail/Wire Fraud)
Reverend Samuel Miner and Dr. Johnson were "respectable" men using their social status to shield criminal activity. The Connection: Much like Dr. McCartney in the text—who gave lectures on "detecting counterfeit money" while selling it—modern white-collar criminals often hold licenses and positions of high public trust to mask racketeering and tax evasion. Political "Cronyism" and High-Level Pardons The text highlights the irony of Governor Salmon P. Chase pardoning a known counterfeiter (Joshua Miner) who later went back to crime. Modern Parallel: Presidential Pardons for Financial Crimes. Recent history has seen several high-profile pardons for individuals convicted of money laundering or fraud (e.g., the 2024-2025 pardons for figures involved in massive crypto or bond fraud schemes). The Connection: These cases echo the 1870s "Indignation Meetings," where political connections were used to prevent a "total rot" of the local power structure, often through strategic clemency. Family-Based Criminal Networks. Modern Case: Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). Modern money laundering rings, particularly those using "mirror-trade" or underground. Political Corruption & Vote Harvesting (Modern: RICO & Election Fraud) Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Illegal Gambling (Modern: Illegal Gambling Business Act). The Hobbs Act.
The book goes into these financial crimes without mentioning present day laws below.
1. Counterfeiting and "Shoving"
Historical Violation: Joshua D. Miner was sentenced for "having in his possession for the purpose of selling and putting into circulation certain counterfeit Bank Bills".
Modern USC Equivalent: 18 U.S.C. § 472 (Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities) and 18 U.S.C. § 473 (Dealing in counterfeit obligations or securities).
2. Manufacturing and Distribution
Historical Violation: Napoleon Bonaparte "Bone" Latta was the "distribution kingpin" for a network that delivered "coney" (counterfeit currency).
Modern USC Equivalent: 18 U.S.C. § 471 (Obligations or securities of United States).
3. Misuse of Official Plates
Historical Violation: Rogue employees at legitimate firms like Rawdon, Wright, Hatch, and Edson (RWH&E) used official government plates to print unauthorized Ohio State Stock Bank notes.
Modern USC Equivalent: 18 U.S.C. § 474 (Plates, stones, or analog, digital, or electronic images for counterfeiting obligations or securities).
4. Prison Escape
Historical Violation: Joshua D. Miner "escaped from the Ohio Penitentiary" and remained a fugitive for three years.
Modern USC Equivalent: 18 U.S.C. § 751 (Prisoners in custody of institution or officer).
5. Conspiracy and Aiding
Historical Violation: The Secret Service alleged that "five out of twelve" Monroe residents were "Bonelatta Gang confederates". Additionally, village board members Fred West and Dr. Johnson provided Latta's $8,000 bail and paid for his celebration. Modern USC Equivalent: 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (Principals/Aiding and abetting). The tone of the book is very critical of early Illinois history. It is a very bias portrait of life being very crimminal for reasons unknown. Its a sad reality there is corruption in American History but its common knowledge things like this have occured in every city in that time and everwhere in the world. Its story is pathetic in a way to focus on only the negative sides of life's darker crimes. Its an investigative journalism type of book. If the reader is seeking that type of story this book has several examples. Its filled with horror.
