The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-27
MOONLIGHT AT sUwANNEEl
DARK TALES OF MOUNT DIABLo.
Secret service Men Raid Ways,de Inn
of sydney I lat.

From the San Francisco Examiner.
Travellers through Contra Costa county
can now stop at the village of Sydney Flat
without fear of having their throats cut
during the night, or waking up in the morn
ing to find that they had been 70 bed while
they slept, or of having bogus money handed
to them in exchange for their gold. They
will owe their feeling Of security to United
States Secret Service Agent Harris, who
has just broken up the gang of outlaws who
for years infested that country. He has
lodged IN Jail at Martinez on the charge Of
utttering spurious coin, John Fl. Green, alias
William H. Green, and Mrs. Fanny Page,
keepers Of notorious inn at Sydney Flat,
and Is now searching for ex-COnvict "Bob"
Brown, the leader of the gang
The roadside inn called the Sydney Flat
hotel IS situated about five miles from An
tioch and q miles from Summervile, on
the road between these points. Many a
dark tale is told of men who have retired to
its bedrooms after exhibiting large sums Of
money and who we're never seen to pass out
Of its door again.
Robbery was an every night occurrence
there, and men who, being compelled to
pass night under the roof of the Sydney
Flat hotel, had been warned of what might
happen to them, were in the habit of Sleep
ing with their revolvers in their hands.
Few travellers ever enjoyed its hospi-
tality, and the place would long ago have
passed out of existence as an inn had it not
been for the custom derived from the
Mount Diablo coal miners, who on every
pay day we're wont to squander their earn
ings at the Sydney Flat hotel and indulge
in wild orgies with the girls whom Mrs
Page hired to entertain them.
Green was the instrument of his own IN
doing. Several weeks ago. while on visit
- t-.s-
Agent Harris that he would deliver into his
hands a counterfeitar If suitable reward
were offered. Harris induced Green to con-
fess that Brown was the counterfeiter for
whom he said he had bought blocks of tin
not knowing they were to be used in making
bogus money, which service Brown had re-
warded by palming some of his counterfeits
off on Green. Brown, according to Green,
had left the cabin in Sydney Flat, in which
he lived and had his coming plant, because
of row he had with Green.
Several weeks after the interview with
Green the secret service agent was informed
that Antioch was flooded with counterfeit
money. Through Constable Dennis Pitts of
Antioch Harris instructed the merchants of
that place to examine every coin they re-
ceived, and note the man who was passing
counterfets. 1t was not long before he was
informed that Green was the man. At Jas
and Pitts, armed with a warrant, alghted
from buggy in front of the Sidney Flat
hotel, and aroused the sleeping Green and
Mrs. Page. They denied having any coun-
terfeiting tools or spurious money in their
house, and declared that everything of that
description would be found in Browns
vacated cabin, which was situated off the
road about 100 yards from the hotel.
A search revealed concealed under the
clothing in a bureau drawer two steel
molds for 50-cent coins and plants for hold,
ing them together, plaster of paris molds,
block tin, anthony, crucibles, a ladle and
assorted files, all of which ara used in the
manufacture of bogus money.
In the eX-convict's cabin they found jars
for electro-plating battery, more cruel
bles, a charcoal stove and drippings from
molten metal, showing that the coiners had
been at work recently.
Bogus 50-cent, % cent and 10 cent coins,
all brand new, we're found in the possession
of Green and Mrs Page.
A dozen men are willing to testify that
Green gave them bogus money IN exchange
for genuine coins at the Sydney Flat hotel
and during his visits to Antioch.
Investigation developed the fact that Mrs.
Page deserted her husband about ten years
ago, since when she has been spending her
time with Green. He is IS years old and she
has seen 10 years. The prisoners were taken
TO Martinez and committed to Jail In de-
fault of giving bonds in the sum Of $500
each. The people of Antioch and the sur
rounding country rejoice over the fact that
long terms Of Imprisonment await Green
and the woman, because their inn was the
plague SPOT of the county.