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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 30, 1906)
TIIE MORNING OREGONIAX, SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1909. 1 COUNTERFEITERS CONFESS GRIME Six Involved in the Scheme to Make Bogus Money at Bastian Ranch. CRIMINAL CAREER OF FIVE Outfit Which the Gang Possessed and the Method Used to Make the Spurious Flve-Dol- lar Pieces. CRIMINAL RECORDS OF THE COUNTERFEITERS. JOHN H. WILLIAMS (right nam James Parker) 18S2, sentenced to three yean lor burglary. Canon City. Colo., Penitentiary; 18S8. seven years for safeblowing. Canon City. Colo.; 1S!2, two years for blll-ralslng, Oregon tate Prison; 181)5. three years for bill-raising. McNeill's Inland; I8!I8. eight years for 'blll-ralslng, McNeill's Island. Is now past TO years of age. ELSA K. COON Arrested July 31, 1801, Grant's Pass.. Or., together with his brother, Fey Coon, and the Nutt brothers, Alonzo and Henry, charged with counterfeiting. Es caped from Jail August 21, 1891. Arrested August 27. 1001, on Speak Ranch, near Huntington, Or., for counterfeiting a 2l gold piece; served a term on McNeill's Island for crime. Is 39 years old. HANS JOHANSEN' Served a term on McNeill's Island for counter feiting. ELMER AND A. J. TURNER Have served terms In Idaho prisons for cattle "rustling." C. K. MILLS So far as known, has never been In trouble before. Under the "sweating" process, four members of the counterfeiting gang now In custody, out of the six arrested by the secret service officers, yesterday made practical confessions of guilt, and it is thought the remaining two will follow suit some time today. Those who have made damaging admissions, which not only involve themselves in a conspiracy to manufacture bogus money, but impli cate others In the transactions as well, are Elsa R. Coon, the alleged leader of the gang; C. K. Mills and his brother-in-law, Elmer, and A. J. Turner. John H. Williams, known to toe one of the worst of the lot, with an established rec ord of terms In prison aggregating 28 years, and Hans Johanoen, heretofore re ferred to as "Joe Hansen," have thus far refrained from making confessions, although the Government officers are in possession of abundant evidence of their guilt. United States Secret Service Director B. W. Bell, accompanied by Secret Ser vice Operative Foster, arrived on train No. 5 early yesterday morning, having In charge Mills and the Turner brothers, the three W'eiser (Idaho) suspects, who had bedn arrested there the day before, and they were taken before Commissioner Sladen, who bound them over to the grand jury after all three had waived examina tions. Their ball was fixed as follows; Mills. $1000, and Elmer and A. J. Turner, each, in default of which they were locked up. Williams and Johansen will have their hearing before Captain Sladen at 10 o'clock this morning. Five Have Criminal Records. Of the six men now under arrest for complicity in the counterfeiting opera tions that were to have been conducted on the Bastian ranch. Mills Is the only one without a criminal record, so far as known. He is a saloonkeeper at the little town of Welder, in Idaho, and his chief connection with the gang existed in the fact that he supplied the money for the purchase of material. It is also claimed that a part of the counterfeiting outfit, consisting of a press weighing 900 pounds, was sent to Welser and stored in Mills' house. One night it disappeared, and it developed later that Carl Bastian, son of Mrs. Minnie Bastian, the widow who owns the ranch of that name, had spirited it away from Mills' place and hauled it to Cue ranch, where It is now supposed to be concealed. According to the secret service men, the whole counterfeiting scheme was con cocted in the Government prison at Mc Neill's Island while Coon. Williams and Johansen were confined there about three years ugo. After they were released from McNeill's Island they undertook to carry out their conspiracy to manufacture spur ious coin, and in furtherance of the game, so it is claimed, enlisted the two Turner brothers, who were Idaho stockraisera with alleged criminal records as cattle "rustlers." Mills was probably taken in as an easy mark. The operationy of the crowd were evi dently .nipped in the bud. as It does not appear that they had done anything out Bide of making preparations before the officers pounced down on them. As it is, they will piobably be indicted by the next Federal grand Jury under oectlon 0440 of the Revised Statutes, charging them with conspiracy. Capture the Outfit. Captain Bell and Secret Service Agent Foster secured a lot of the paraphernalia belonging to the counterfeiters on the Bastl&n ranch, and in discussing the mat ter after their arrival with the prisoners yesterday morning the officers stated that Coon and his associates were un doubtedly prepared to manufacture spur ious 5 pieces by what is known as the hot-die process.. The coin Is made from a composition, one-half of which is pure erold. The rest is an alloy, composed of sliver and copper. The resulting com pound Is of a value which leaves a profit of about J2.40 on each 5 gold piece. Method of Manufacture. The following method was pursued In the manufacture of the bogus money: On a cylindrical block of aluminum bronze, about an inch in height and an Inch or an Inch and a quarter In diameter, a piece of paper was pasted. To this was pasted a genuine Jo piece. The paper has . no part In the process, but is simply a medium by which the coin and the bronze cylinder may be fastened together. A similar cylinder of tho aluminum bronze was then heated to a white heat. The two. one cold with the coin attached, and the other at a wlte heat and there fore in a soft condition, are then placed In a vise, the coin between the two. Pres sure is then applied, with the result that a perfect Impress of the coin is left on the heated bronze. The latter Is then allowed to cool slowly, by which means It becomes nearly as hard as steel. If cooled rapidly it remains in a soft con dition. The bronze cylinder, which, with the Impress of the coin, has now become a perfect die. Is then placed in a turning lathe and turned down to the exact size of the coin, and thus becomes ready for use. The process Is repeated in making the reverse of the coin, and In this man ner an almost perfect die is formed. The essential part of the outfit con sists of a steel knurling disc, by means of which the "reading" around the edge of the coin is produced, and some dies made of an "aluminum bronze," the formula for which is the discovery of Coon, and a powerful press "of some description by means of which the proper design is im printed on the coin. The officers are reticent as to the scope of the confessions alleged to have been made by Coon. Mills and the Turn er brothers yesterday, but they admit that it is sufficient to convict all hands. District Attorney Bristol worked until late last night arranging the details of the confessions, and will probably re sume operations in that direction the first thing this morning. AT THE THEATERS What the Press Agents Say. TWO PERFORMANCES TODAY Kendall Musical Company In "The Telephone Girl" at the Heilig. This afternoon and tonight are the last per formances of "The Telephone Girl" by the Kendall Musical Company at the Heillg Thea tre, Fourteenth and Wathlngton streets. "The Telephone Girl" Is one of the liveliest and most taking musical comedies that can be TWO MEN ARRESTED ON Ezra R. Coon. Imagined, and It Is (riven at the HelUg by famous principal and a beautiful, competent chorus. The goryeou costumes are the talk of the town. Family matinee today at 2:15 and last performance tonight at 8:15. Seats on sale at the Hell Ik. IAST PERFORMANCES. Closing Day and Night of "Madame Sans-Gene." This afternoon and tonight -will be the last performances of "Madame Saius-Gene at the Baker Theater. The week has been charac terized by larjre audiences and plenty of laughing;, for the role of Madame Devil-May-Care has hit the public taste to a nicety. The woman, in the hands of Miss Laurence, Is one of the mart entertaining specimen of strange and Interesting character that one may ee In a long experience of stage por traiture. "WANG" TOMORROW NIGHT Famous Success of De Wolf Hopper at the Hellig Theater. Cheever Goodwin and Woolson Moore' ever popular "Wang" is to be the bill for the fourth week of the musical comedy stock season by the Kendall Musical Company open ing at the Sunday night performance tomor row, July 1. It Is to be a specially beautiful production of the great. Oriental, spirited opera in wh ich De Wolf Hopper made h la biggest success. Robert Pitkin will take the title mle. Seats are now selling for the en tire week. "RIP VAN WINKLE." Eighth Week of Baker Stock Com pany Opens Tomorrow. Tomorrow "Rip Van Winkle" will open the eiprnth week of the Kaker stock season at the regular Sunday matinee, July 1. There la great interest In the way Mr. Haume will deal with the great part on which Joseph Jefferson founded his wonderful fame. Scenlcally, the Y f ' i "7 0 s ' X r : : i - - '4V.... - " ' - I i for - '. ' -v ' ' i r - ! - - - Iti fti r4 : i . - ' . ' - I i - . - v I I " I I ' ' - - ' s ' - - ' v r 1 Photo by Butierwortn. LAST CLASS TO GRADUATE FROM MOUNT TABOR SCHOOL. . Mount Tabor School District No. 3 having b?en merged with District No. 1 (Portland), the class that nas Just graduated Is the last to receive diplomas un der the common school law of the state. At the exercises which took place Wednesday night. State Superintendent Ackerman gave good counsel to the graduates. An Incident of the evening was the presentation of a cut glass nut bowl to Mrs. Singleton, the teacher who brought the, class through to what Mr. Ackerman said was the highest percentage of any common school in Oregon. production will be one of the finest of the year, and the whole organization included in the Baker Company will do its best to make the occasion a memorable week. There is no more beautiful and no more poetic play In existence. NAT GOODW IN COMING. Famous Actor to Present Two Plays at Hellig Theater July 6-7. Nat C. Goodwin, supported by an excellent company of players, will present "The Gen ius" at the Heillg Theater next Friday night and Saturday matinee, July 6 and T. Satur day night, by special request, "When We Were Twenty-one." The beautiful actress, Edna Goodrich, Is Mr. Goodwin's leading lady. AT THE VAUDEVILLE THEATERS Grand's Best Bill. Today and tomorrow are the last perform ances of the big vaudeville entertainment at the Grand. This Is the best bill the Grand has given In some time. Do not overlook see ing Yuma, the mystery, the most-talked-of sensation In vaudeville. Paul Dickey has a sketch, showing various styles of plays, which cannot help making a hit. Musical Farce at the Star. . When seeking a cool place for entertain ment, visit the Star, where electric breezes blow. The bill this week is the side-splitting musical farce. "A Lost Baby." by the full strength of the stock company. It is one of COUNTERFEITING CHARGE John Williams. the most lively as well as most comical playa this organization has presented. Tomorrow ttfe shows will be from 2:30 to 10:45. "David Garrick" a Great Success. It Is almost wonderful how Impressively the Lyric Company have put on the beautiful, ro mantic play of "David Garrlck" at the Lyric this week. The cortumes, of course, are cor rect, and the complete play Is given, and whatever Is lacking in point of spectacular effect from the lack of space on the stage. Is more than made u o for by the earnestness and great skill of the cast. Seldom do you witness . a better performance in stock. Crowds at each pei formance tell the tale, PERSONALJVIENTION. Miss Anna Shannon Monroe, who spent last Summer In Portland and the North west, where she did considerable news paper and magazine work, reached Port land Saturday, to make this her perma nent home. NEW YORK, June 29. (Special.) Tho following from the Pacific Northwest reg istered at New York hotels today: Portland C. Barnes, Martha Washing ton: A. J. Winters, Hotel Astor; G. Nie dermark, Broadway Central; R. Ross and wife. Herald Square. Seattle E. L. Klllea, Empire; H. Plck ard. Imperial; J. F. Currie, Grand Union. CHICAGO. June 29. (Special.) The fol lowing persons from Oregon registered at Chicago hotels today: From Portland O. C. Bent ley, at the Morrison; G. H..H1U, at the Great North ern; S. F. Coothes, at the Palmer. From Salem J. H. Bell, at the Kalser hof. "SEE AMERICA FIRST. The Denver & Rio Grande has resumed the operation of its open-top and parlor observation cars through Colorado's famous scenery scenery not found else where In the world. All reduced rates. Apply via this route. For whatever in formation you may desire call upon W. C McBride. 124 Third street. : T- - fry i 4 NEITHER .SIDE IS READY TO YIELD Mayor and the Committee Are Still Firm in Their Positions. FUND FOR THE STRICKEN Lane Insists That It Shall Be Sent to ' San Francisco at Once, While the Finance Committee Says It Shall Not. SEATTLE HAS $7345 ON BAND. SEATTLE. Wash.. June 29. (Spe cial.) The Chamber of Commerce report shows Seattle cash collections for San Francisco relief fund $154, 826.04. There is on hand $7345.80. This money Is held to settle final bills when balance will be remitted to San Francisco. Oil was poured on the troubled waters yesterday In the controversy which has arisen between Mayor Lane and the orig inal finance committee of the fund raised In Portland for the San Francisco suffer ers. Both sides, however, remain firm in their positions. The committee refuses to be dissolved, and Mayor Lane insists that It has been and will not retreat one inch from his position that the funds must go immediately to San Francisco. Last night was the expiration of the time first set by the Mayor for the call ing of a mass meeting- In case the funds had not been turned over to the new finance committee which he appointed Thursday evening. This action, however, was deferred in order to give the commit tee further time. "I do not want to act hastily," said the Mayor last night. "I wish to give the old committee fair time to consider the matter, but I do not wish the sending of the money to San Fran cisco to be delayed a single hour longer than necessary. It should have been there, where It is needed, long ago." Walts for Committee. The Mayor also said that he received Information Jate in evening that the members of committee would communicate with bad the the him some time today, and he did not desire to tafce any action until after the conference. "I shall not take any further steps until I shall have heard from them tomorrow," he said. "It Is only right that I should wait until I have found out what action they will take." The excitement of Thursday when the Mayor prorogued the old finance commit tee and demanded that it turn over all money on hand to I. N. Fleischner, chair man of the new comimttee, was followed by a calm yesterday, and the entire mat ter Is now resting practlcaly as It was yesterday morning, except that the storm of feeling has somewhat abated. In the morning Mayor Lane called upon Mr. Ladd and a long conference ensued. Mr. Hoge dropped In during the conference and the three discussed the situation. All that transpired was treated as a private matter, but it Is believed that the discus sion was In a much more calm vein than at the previous meeting. Committee Is Firm. "Our committee stands firmly In the po sition which was set forth In a signed statement printed in The Oregonian yes terday morning," said Mr. Hoge. "We have offered to send the pro rata of any donation to San Francisco immediately if the donor asks us to do so, and we make that offer in all seriousness. It seems to us that this is the best way to find out the will of the subscribers, and we are entirely willing to abide by their wishes in the matter. "The entire controversy is simply a dif ference In Judgment between Mayor Lane and the members of the commjttee. We feel crtain that our position Is right in retaining a portion of the funds for fu ture use as the needs present them selves. We are constantly finding many cases of destitution among people who have come from San Francisco to Port land. These we have been meeting as they appeared, but If the money were all forwarded to San Francisco now there would be no means of supplying such wants. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge there is not as great need of money in San Francisco now as there rs 18c Regular Value 25c Lightning Bread Knife A steel blade that is always 6 R. M. to 9 P. M. likely to be later on. I am Informed that there is in the neighborhood of $6,000,000 in the hands of the San Francisco relief committee at the present time, and if this is the case we are certainly right in re taining the $49,000 until It shall be needed and in the meantime working through various agencies in San Francisco to meet needy cases. Believe In Policy of Waiting. "If we were convinced that conditions are such that the most good would result from sending this money at the present time, we certainly should do so. It would be a relief to us if we could send the money at this time, but there is a respon sibility on us to use the funds most ad vantageously, and we believe this will be done in the policy we are pursuing. I should like to have a thorough Investiga tion to determine what is best to be done, and believe that the press is In the best position to do this. "I regret that this controversy has arisen, and hope that it will soon be set tled In a way satisfactory to all con cerned. Portland has responded so nobly that it is too bad that we should get In a row among ourselves over the disposal of the funds." No Middle Ground, Says Lane. Mayor Lane has not been moved In the least from his position that the money is needed in San Francisco right now, and should be sent at once. "Why, I am in formed that there are 60,000 people living In tents there now," he said. "Such a con dition is appalling, and should be reme died as quickly as possible. I do not know what worse conditions the old finance committee expects to see, or what greater calamity they expect to come than the one they have had. "The argument of the committee re minds me of a story of a Chinese who was on the witness-stand. The Judge wished to Impress him with the solemnity of an oath and asked him what would happen if he told a lie on the stand. " 'All the same go to hell, and burn al ways," was the reply. " 'And what else?' asked the Judge, meaning Imprisonment. " 'What! You likee more?" "I stand Just where I did," concluded ceots the Mayor. "There is no middle ground. That money must be sent to San Fran Cisco right away." GIVES FOLK-SONG RECITAL Programme of Unusual Interest la Given by Miss White. A programme of folk songs1 given by Miss Villa Whitney White, at the First Congregational Church lost night, under the direction of Mrs. Warren E. Thomas, was one of the unique and thoroughly de lightful musical events of the season. Miss White, who comes to Portland from Boston, and who Is an exponent of the Cady School, has a rich soprano voice of dramatic type and the advantage of a com manding and magnetic personality. Her rendition of the quaint and simple folk songs of the Irish, English and Scotch was interspersed with graphic description, lending an additional charm to her rare singing. She is endowed with an attrac tively rich speaking voice and graphically described the various classes of muslo and the sources from which the various songs sprang. The audience, which was representative of Portland's best musical circles, was unusually demonstrative, and the remark overheard to the effect that "Miss White has not only a fine voice, but a brain to direct it," is considered an indication of the general Impression made by the singer. "I'm WTearin' Awa', Jean," proved the favorite among the Scotch collection. and called for enthusiastic applause. The Anglo-American folk songs Included many old favorites and were received with marked enthusiasm. Miss Josephine Large accompanied Miss White. Both will remain in Portland during the Summer season. Miss White having a number of engagements to sing at social affairs this week. The pro gramme follows: "My Love an Arbutus," "The Gap In the Hedge" Old Irish "It Was a Lover and His Lass," "Phllllda Flouts Me" Old English "The Banks of the Dairies" Old Irish "Loch Lomond," "Aye Wakln', 01", "Flow Gently, Bweet Afton," "Allle Bain o" the Glen," "Hush-a-Bye, Darling," "I'm Wearln' Awa'. Jean" Old Scotch Anglo-American folksonga: "Hazel Dell" .'. George F. Root "Darling Nellie Gray" R. B. Handy "Gentle Annie," "Old Black Joe," "Nellie Was a Lady," "Way Down on the Su wanee River" Stephen Foster SAVED BY ELEVATOR BOY Clyde C. Avery Owes Life to Pres ence of Mind of Will McDonald. The life of Clyde C. Avery, a salesman of the Honeymoon Hardware Company, was saved In the nick of time yesterday by the presence of mind and quick action of Wrlll McDonald, the elevator boy In the company's building. Avery wanted to go down from the third floor after having waited on a cus tomer, and looked down the shaft to see where the elevator was. The cage was Just coming down from the upper floor and struck Avery on the head, causing a painful wound, and, stunned, he fell with his head and part of his body hang ing over the shaft. The heavy cage was bearing down and when only within two feet of Avery the elevator boy saw the prostrate body. Quickly reversing the power he brought the cage to a stop only a few inches from Avery. It had to be raised before Avery could be removed. Dr. A. E. Rockey was hastily summoned and dressed the wound, which required several stitches. Avery was later able to go home to 306 Hancock street. His con dition is not Berlous. PLAN VACATION NOW. "Potter" Goes on Jane SO Low Upper Co lumbia Klver Rates. June 30 the r. J. Potter, the popular O. R & N. Seaside excursion steamer, makes Its first trip to North Beach, touching Astoria going and returning. Very low excursion rates now in effect. Delightful outing trips may be made to tipper Columbia River points; the new local O. R. & N. train leaving Union Sta tion at 8:15 A. M. daily and returning at S P. M. the same day makes it possible to spend a day at any of the points of in terest alone the river between Portland and The Dalles. Very low rates in effect. For particulars about the faummer re sorts and trips ask at Third and Wash ington streets, Portland. C. W. Stinger, city ticket agent. BUSINESS ITEMS. If Baby Is Cuttlnr Teeth. Be sure and use that old and well-tried rem edy, Mrs Vv'lnslow's Soothing byrup, for chil dren teething. It soothes tbs child, softens the gums, allaya all pain, cursa wind coHm and diarrhoea. SATURDAY SPECIALS Regular Value 2.00 Picture 21 x 25 inches. Frames in Golden or Weathered Oak, Brown or Gilt. On sale all day. 18c Regular Value 25c sharp. On sale from M FOR DIVORCES Unhappy Wives and Husbands Seek Decrees. MARRIAGES WERE FAILURES Desertion, Cruelty and Unfaithful - ness Are the Causes for Which Legal Separations Are Granted by Court. Lizzie DoBord, whose husband, Georgs) H. DeBord, a bartender, ran away with their child Gracle, 2 years old, was grant ed a divorce yesterday by Judge Sears. DeBord took the child to San Francisco and placed it in a home. Mrs. DeBord followed and recovered possession by means of habeas corpus proceedings. The little girl Is now with her grandparents, E. F. and Mary DeBord, at Montavllla, and the mother is willing that they shall retain possession, and asked the court to order the defendant to pay alimony for the support of the child. The DeBorda were married in Trenton, N. J., April 14. 1903. Mrs. DeBord testified that her hus band abandoned her In March, 1905, and said he did not treat her well while they lived together. She gave a dramatic re cital of the legal battle for her offspring in the Bay City. Husband's Temper Bad. Edith Baldwin, who was married to George Baldwin in Portland in February, 1SS6, was divorced by Judge Sears yester day. There are four children as the lssua of the union, aged respectively 20. 17, U and 12 years. Mrs. Baldwin testified that all of the children were being properly cared for. She said her husband possessed a bad temper, and they were unable to live in peace, and he rendered her life) miserable. Judge Sears dissolved the bonds of mat rimony existing between Charles C. Naeva and Margaret Naeve because of cruel treatment. They were married at Oregon City in November. 1S93. Naeve testified that his wife accused him falsely of run ning around with girls and of unchastlty. B. S. Pague appeared as a witness in the case. Jennie Train testified that H. "W. Train deserted her December 25, 1904, 17 daya after their marriage in this city, and went to Chicago. She was granted a divorce. Lelia Dwyer. who was divorced from Richard E. Dwyer, testified that he aban doned her without cause in 1901. They were married in Portland. November 26, 1892. Her maiden name, Lelia Dwlght Wllmer, was restored to her. Cruel Treatment Charged. Because of cruel treatment, Mary O'Hearn was granted a divorce from Ed ward O'Hearn by Judge Sears. She told the court that he choked and beat her on numerous occasions. The couple were) married at Council Bluffs In November, 1S99. Edward Wedemeyer was divorced from Bernice Wedemeyer on account of deser tion beglnnin- in August, 1904, two years after their marriage, which took place in Cleveland, O. Judge Sears granted Minnie McDonald a decree of divorce from Roderick 'Wil liam McDonald because of drunkenness and cruel treatment. They were married In Portland September 15, 1905. The plain tiff said that in February last her hus band villifled her in Hall's restaurant, in the presence of a large number of people. She asked for H0 a mont(f alimony. . Anna Belle Holdlman Has sued William B. Holdlman for a divorce because of de sertion at Chicago, beginning September 15, 1904. She alleges that he has since re fused to live with her. They were mar ried in Portland In 1891. and have two sons. The mother Is willing that tho father should have their custody. ENTRANCE FEE DROPPED. To all who Join the Y. M. C. A. be fore July 15 the entrance fee of t9 wlil be remitted.