Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-11-22
SHOWERS OF THE QUEER.
o.uutsrfeiters Arrested in Los Angeles


Two men from Azusa, who an
swer to the names of w. r. Lewis
and Emery Matlock, respectively,
were arrested on Thursday even
ing on charge of passing counter
felt money. 1t appears that Lewis
entered a fruit store at the corner
of Main and First streets, and at
tempted to give o spurious five dol
lar coin in payment for a little
purchase. The storekeeper at once
detected the baseness of the money
and returned 1t to the man, eau
tioning him about attempting to
pass 1t. The fellow claimed entire
ignorance of the fact and persisted
in saying that the coin was good.
Finding, however, that the store
keeper would have nothing further
to do with him he departed. A
little later Chinaman appeared
at Police Headquarters and said
that stranger, whose description
Tailed exactly with that of the
man who went to the fruit store,
had passed bogus five.dollar coin
on him. Chief King, who had
meantime been informed by Mr..
Ed. Huber of what had happened
at the Main street store, at once
set to work to find the
offender, and after long search
officers Lockwood and McFadden,
whom he had detailed to help him
in the work, succeeded in finding
and bringing him to the office.
Upon being searched, a spurious
five-dollar coin and some good sill
yer were found in his possession.
The prisoner informed Chief King
that he had encountered man
named Matlock whilst driving to
Los Angeles, who had asked him
for seat in his buggy, and that
while travelling along Matlock had
shown him four bad five.dollar
pieces (every one of which bears
date 1879 and had agreed to give
him half the proceeds if he would
make it his business to change
them. Lewis accepted this pro-
posal and succeeded soon in passing
them all, but also in getting
Acting on this informa-
tion, the Chief sent the same OFF,
GERS out again, and they found Mat.
lock at the United States Hotel,
and arrested him. He only had So
in his pocket-a good $3.50 piece
and half a dollar in silver. This
man put on a very injured appear
snce on being charged with pass
ing bad money, and denied all
knowledge of the matter. It ap-
pears that Lewis passed off one of
the bad coins on Mr.. Quinn, of Ell
Monte, In payment for a revolver,
which was found on him at the
police office, and another on Mr..
who resides near the old
depot. The two men we're brought
up yesterday before U. S. Com.
missioner Whiting and held in
$4,000 bail.
Their examination is to take
place next Tuesday. We have
been informed by residents of Azu-
20 that it has long been suspected
in that locality that q gang OF
were located some.
where in Dalton Canon, and, al
though spurious money has been
passed there from time to time, it
has never been done in the reckless
way in which Lewis did it.
Officers McFadden and Lock-
wood, who have been sworn in as
special Deputy United States Mar
shalls have gone to Azusa to arrest
the remainder of the gang if they
,an be found.
Great praise is due to Chief OF
Police King for the energy he has
in this matter. 1t has
been the means of arresting two
men, whom all appearances point
TO as great criminals and 1t may
cause the bringing to justice of
several others.
LATER.
Officers McFadden and Lock-
wood returned at late hour last
night from the Azusa and brought
in two more prisoners connected
with the counterfeiting business.
One of them is A. Q. Matlock, a
brother of the previously arrested
man, and the other is called
Thomas Forster. The officers
found Indications which clearly
show that the gang were engaged
In the making of the queer. They
discovered some base metal and
piece of steel somewhat similar to
q die and the size of five dollar
piece. Also some other material
which would he indispensable to a
counterfeiter. They failed, how
ever, in finding any crucibles or
blacksmith's forges,
Messrs. McFadden and Lockwood
are confident that the chain of evil
dence they have obtained against
the prisoners is amply sufficient to
secure the conviction of all of them.
4 4 L i