Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-26
JUVENILE CRIMINALS.
Tho United Birds nnd brothers ana
How they Came to GRIEF.

The arrest ard confession Of one or two
young men at Jamaica, charged with coun-
terfeiting, has brought out unique story of
crime. Acting under the information OBJ
tanned from Merton G. Clark now in Jail,
officers of the United States secret service
and the local authorities made an important
discovery in wild and lonely gulch in the
mountains few miles from the village OF
Jamaica. They found the headquarters of a
criminal gang which for some time has been
coming spurious dollars and committing
depredations on the surrounding country
Complete CONTRIBUTING outfits were seized
including molds, boxes, kettles, plaster of
paris, bsmuth, lead. etc. The most inter
esting part of the story is the history of the
gang, which had begun extensive operations
1t is Il secret society of the blood and thunder
variety, now numbering 23 members. 1t
was organized according to its records
June II of the present year. Its men,
bers are Young mcn IS to 81 years old,
living in South ond)nderry, Jamaica, Yves.
Townsend aud Wardsboro, VT, and Ashua-
lot and Winchester, n. II. The band was
governed by a captain, first and second Off
GERS, secretary, judge of fire arms, and II
board Ct directors. they styled themselves
the United Birds nd Brothers They had
organized an elab system of signals
and secret alphabets, to which the officers
now have the key. Their secret records
were kept by sys en-, which is translated
according to the key by an arrangement of
figures. A. being represented by the figure
/; b. 9, etc. j. 10; k, 30, etc. The
stories about the process Of initiation. Each
applicant was required to take the following
unique Oaths:
"Do you solemuly sweat upon your honor,
by all that is great and small, to forever keep
secret what we are about to tell you, under
the fears of being laid below the rays of the
sun, moon and stars by the united band OF
avengers. So help you God"
Second Oalh-"Do you solemnly swear
upon your honor to never tell or cause to be
known by any being except yourself and
your informers the secrets We have trusted to
you under the fear Of being avenged by a
party of which you know nothing of at pres
ent. So help you God"
Third Brother, knowing our secret
purposes, do you solemnly swear upon your
honor aud by all that is great and small, by
the devil and all his imps, kel and all its ter
Tors, this world and all its dungeons, the
United Birds and Brothers and all their
avengers, never to betray or cause to be be-
trayed, any one of our party, but to always
defend each and every one of us, through
thick and thin, t. the last, upon the fear of
being shot dead in your tracks or stabbed
through the heart with ninc-inch blade. So
help you God"
When the last oath was administered, says
young CLARK, the applicant knclt, and a
cooked revolver, loaded with ball cartridges,
was held at his head. On one occasion the
revolver was placed at the candidates head
during the administration of the first OATH
lie got scared and started % run, but was
brought back, and the ceremony was COM
plet,d with some notifications. Thus far
the gang had coined considerable bogus
money. 1t is of fair workmanship. The
officers have found the source of their sup
plies of bismuth, lead, etc. The gang has
stolen horses once or twice, but had not got
quite ready for the wholesale career of crime
that was contemplated.