Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-02
THE JAMAICA COUNTERFEITEHs
Exssseratisn OF the story-How II Or
iginnted.

A Brattlcboro correspondent Of the Spring
field Republican writes The opinion Il
pretty general among those who have taken
pains to ascertain the facts that the story OF
the discovery of q hardened gang Of real
counterfeiters Sin a wild and lonely gulch In
the mountain, few miles from Jamaica
village, wa, highly colored and intended as
something of "sell." To be sure, two boys
have been arrested for horse stealing and
alleged counterfeiting and lodged in the
county Jail, where one Of them, Morton G..
Clark, young chap of no particular ability,
| is said to have unfolded to an officer the
| secrets Of this organization, called "Tht
United Birds and Brothers," consisting OF q
youthful members, who were bound together
by the most solemn oaths. Acting under the
excitement occasioned by this blood curdlinl
tale, Officer SpraGue telegraphed to j. f.
McIlrath of Boston, chief of the New Eng
land division of the secret service, who nj
once went 10 the haunts of these desperate
criminals. At the house of one Myers was
found the diary of the atter's son. j. Henry
Myers, a young man who is charged will
being leader Of the band, but who is now 0
fugitive, pursued also for horse stealing. lr
this diary were found engrossed the awful
oaths which have been so widely printed and
commented upon. The complete counter
feiting outfits" which were eagerly seized
arc described as being couple of pieces Of
square hard wood which were bupglingy
split in two, the centre of which had beer
cut out for holding an imperfect mould
| The lead intended for this wholesale coming
was stolen, it is supposed, not from somt
extensive establishment, but from loca
saw mill, from which, it appears that some
refuse had been missed. The few pieces Of
coin discovered are said to have been so i'm
perfectly made as to render their circulation
absolutely impossible, even if such an idet
ever was entertained. The best citizens Of
Jamaica scout the theory that there vert
ever any systematic and prearrangcd plans FOL
extensive counterfeiting among such youths
On the other hand they attribute satisfac
torily to themselves and to most of thci
neighbors, the existence Of these crude
utensils and diary oa,hs to the fact tina
these boys had crammcd their limited Brain
with Dick Turpin's exploits aud dime move
trash, and were feebly attempting Il
emulate some of the mythical and intrepiC
rangers. That young Myers was bad ,hcr'
is no question, but nobody credits him will
sufficient brightness to formulate anything
like what has been dscovered therefore i
is reasonable, say they who have known him
TO believe that the oaths were borrowed
from some book or paper, and that the re
volvcr initiation process was simply tn,
meaningless outcome of weak and boyisl
brains. Young Snanks of Londonderry
whom Clark associated with the gang de
MES having any knowledge of the bant
whatever or of its secrets, and it remains t
be seen whether others who are nance
by Clark as residing in Townshend, Winch
chester and Ashuelot can be found. Jamac'
people have known for some time OF the ex
istence in the town of several young chap
wac were wont to congregatc in SOM
secluded place for the purpose of card play
Ing story telling and even more objectionabl
pastimes, and some of them have bcel
detected in various petty thefts. Possibly
may turn out that the Omitted Birds an
Brothers" had no formal Organization, o
really any existence in fact. Anyhow, tn
story was cleverly written and sent to tn
press by Detective McIlrath, who prevloHsl
pronounced it taking sensation for tn
Boston papers. But residents OF the Yves
river valley audbly smile as they refer t
"Claik's embelished story"