Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-05-04

and how, for three days and nights
they continued the search for their
man, without rest or sleep, is q
matter known only to themselves.
suffice it that. on May 3lst, 1871,
about daybreak (4:45 A. ny a man
was seen coming out of the old La.
fayette Hotel (now the Cosmopol.
itan) and Immediately thereafter
entered restaurant near by. or.
ficer Harris followed him, and
seating himself at a table near
where the stranger was quietly sip.
ping his coffee, was not long in
making up his mind that he was
the man wanted. So he
stock him iD," and calling to
officer Gard, who was in waiting
on the outside. they together ac-
companied the prisoner to GER
tain house OH Alameda street,
where he was recognized by one Of
the female occupants as the unso.
rhistfcated young gent who had
passed 800 bill there during
spree the night before. A search
of his person disclosed the fact
that, in the pockets of buckskin
undershirt. worn next to his body,
was secreted ninety.six los and
and tweDty-six 20's, counterfeit
bills. amounting in all to $l,480.
The prisoner, who gave the name
Of VIM. a. Ford, was safely lodged
in jail, and the case reported to
Deputy U. s. Marshal J. d. Dun
lap, who took Ford before U. 8.
Commissioner James II. Lander
(since deceased) had him held in
$1,000 ball and then reported
the arrest, etc., to Henry F. Fin
negass, by telegraph, at San Fran.
cisco, which was the first intima.
ton that Detective Finnegass ever
received of the existence of such a |
person as VIM. A. Ford.
On the 9th day of June following |
a few merchants of our city raised
a purse of eighty dollars and placed
it in the hands of officers Gard and |
Harris for the purpose of defraying
their expenses While engaged in OBJ
tanning evidence to convict the
balance of the gang of counterfeit
ers, who at this time were spotted
by the officers and known to be in
the vicinity of Los Nietos. The
following day, June 7tb, Gard and
Harris, procuring the necessary
papers, and being armed with au.
thority as special U. 8. Deputies,
started for Tenn escal, settlement
about sixty-tive miles southeast of
Los Angeles, where they had rea-
son to believe that evidence could
be obtained sufficient to warrant
the arrest of at least three more of
tue countcrfeiters. After their ar
rival at Temescal they were not
long in acquiring evidence suffi.
cienc to implicate Samuel Chilson,
Isaac Cole, John Birchett, L. l..
Chilson, and others, who were then
quietly rusticating at Gallatin, In
the Los Nietos settlement. About
IL O'Clock that night, June 9Th, the
officers procured the services of one
Policy Gatewood as a messenger,
who, in consideration of the pay
ment to him of twenty dollars,
his horse and start.
ed for Los Angeles with instruc.
lions to 90 as fast as possible
by the way Of Spadra, bearing u
sealed letter to the Deputy U. s.
Marshal telling him the circum.
stances and suggesting the i'm me.
date arrest of the above named
parties, adding the Information
that they (the counterfeiters) were
at Gallatin, and would probably
leave there after the breaking up
of ball that was to take place the
following night. Young Gstewood,
however, contrary to orders, went
by way of Los Nietos; was observed
by.some Of the gang, whose suspi-
cions were consequently aroused,
aud, communicating the circum-
stance to their companions, the
whole outfit pre- pared to skip. De-
tective Finnegass, who WAS then
en- route per steamer to Los Ange-
les. WAS expected to arrive the
next day, and the Marshal, no
doubt anticipating the Colonel's
desire to bs Sin on tho racket" de-
ferred the intended raid until next
when, with Col. f. in
they set out for Los Nj
etos, fnll of hope aud feeling as.
sured of success; but, as the sequel
showed, the gallant Colonel was
doomed to disappointment, for dur
ing the night previous to their ar
rival at the supposed scene of ac-
ton the birds had taken wing and
departed for
more congeuial latitude.
Thus endeth the first lesson.
ONE WHO KNOWS.