As a counterfeiter, Emanuel Ninger is legendary. When arrested on March 28, 1896, The New York Times reported that a search of the suspect turned up $244.25 in "good and bad money." Until his capture, Ninger, also known as Joseph Gilbert, had been passing his homemade counterfeit bills for two decades.

Apparently, Ninger's story has taken on mythic proportions. Some say that during their search of his home, police found three oil paintings. They determined that it took Ninger as long to create one counterfeit bill, as it did to paint one painting. The legend is that after his arrest, Ninger's paintings sold for more than $5,000 each. The implication is that he could have earned more from his artwork than he did for his forgery.

Another story about Ninger's ability is that shopkeepers who received his counterfeit bills were so impressed by the artistic skill, that rather than turn them in to law enforcement, they framed the bogus banknotes.

The New York Times mentions nothing of any legitimate artwork from Ninger. Reporting his appearance before a U.S. Commissioner, the article simply describes his actions as "being engaged for twenty years in counterfeiting large denominations with pen and pencil."

Ninger's years of lawlessness came to an end when he entered the Cortlandt Street saloon and bought a glass of Rhine wine with a $50 bill. It was the ink on his handcrafted bill that betrayed him. Picking up the bill from the wet counter, the bartender discovered some of the ink on his fingers. A policeman was quickly summoned, and Ninger was caught while boarding the Cortlandt Street Ferry.

Once in court, Ninger's lawyer asked for a dismissal, though he had no witnesses to call or evidence to offer. The request was refused, and Ninger was convicted, served his time, and passed into anonymity.

This talented man had an ability, that if used properly, could have been benefited others. Instead, he employed his gifts illegitimately.