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Police Return $1,000 Bill to Trucker

Posted on: Saturday, 24 January 2004, 06:00 CST

A man's treasured $1,000 bill was returned by police who swapped it for more common currency at the mayor's request after the trucker was arrested.

Curtis Smith Sr., 71, had made several requests to have the rare bill returned without success. On Friday the city gave him the money back in exchange for 10 $100 bills.

"I'm glad I got it back," the retired trucker said as he headed out the door.

Pine Lawn officials gave no explanation for returning the note, which Smith got from a banker friend 20 years ago. But the St. Louis County Prosecutor's office said earlier the city's keeping of the note created the appearance of impropriety.

The bill was seized last April when Smith was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Smith said he was sleeping off a few drinks in his truck on a lot he owns.

According to an official report, after Smith was taken into custody Mayor Adrian Wright watched as police counted Smith's money, including the $1,000 bill, several $100 bills and a few $2 bills.

Wright said he wanted the bill, which portrays President Grover Cleveland, "as a novelty item, as few people have ever had the opportunity to see a bill in that denomination." The mayor fetched 10 $100 bills, and police switched the money and deposited it in an account for seized drug assets, the report said.

In September, county prosecutors refused to charge Smith with selling drugs and ordered the money returned. The city issued Smith a check for $3,231 to cover the $1,000 bill and his other cash.

The U.S. government printed its last $1,000 bill in 1934 and took the denomination out of circulation in 1969 after technology replaced paper notes for transfers of large sums. Experts say collectors will pay $1,300 to $3,500 for such bills, depending on their condition.

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