The morning call., 1894-09-08
FREE SILVER MEN.
Two Farmers Arrested as
COunterfeiters.
EARNEST POPULISTS THEY.
One Delegated to the Peoples
Party Convention.
EARNEST POPULIsTS THEY.
A LONE CABIN IN THE FOREST.
The Pris oners Are Prominent Among
Shasta County Agriculturists.
Extensive Operations.

Secret Service Agent Harris came down
from Shasta yesterday with twoprsOners,
who have been flooding the northern
country with counterfeit coin. manufac-
tured at their private mint in the heart of
a dense pine forest. The captives, James
Sylvester and George Short, are prosper
Gus farmers, prominent in the councils of
the Populists and agriculturists of
Shasta. Short was elected a delegate to
the State convention of the Peoples
party, but being very busy at the time
sent proxy. He and Sylvester. who is
bearded a la PETER, are ardent advocates
of free coinage and lost no opportunity at
fair or Populist assembly to preach the
doctrine they believed and practiced.
Sylvester owns two farms and was one
of the first settlers under the shadow of
the snow-crested mountain. Short, who
is married to his stepdaughter, has valu-
able ranch and is fond of horse flesh and
so are two of his sons who are now In
jail for horse-stealing.
Agent Harris knew long ago that some
one was running n counterfeit factory in
Shasta County, and that the product of
the mill was distributed in LasSeD, Modoc
and Shasta counties and in Southern Ore
gon. He made several Intellectual attempts
until week ago, when he received infOT-
nation that Sylvester and Short and
probably others were interested in
counterfeiting plant hidden in the heart of
a pine forest distant a mile and nalf
from the nearest human habitation.
Sylvester and Short lived nsar Fall
River Valley, aud Harris called at their
abode during their absence and found a
complete set of mOlds and other instru-
ments used in the manufacture of bogus
coin. He found the plant ir the forest
and there unearthed mass of metal COM
posed of tin, aDtimony and bismuth, used
by the counterfeiters in making what
looked like silver dollars.
Harris learned that some time ago the
two worthy farmers had sent an order to
Columbus. Ohio, for a silver-plating
machine. as they wished TO give their coins
an artistic finish. The nice new dollars
were generally taken by Short when he
went to the races. The agent learned that
Sylvester was frequently absent from his
heme for month at tine and that dur
ing these pilgTimages the volume of count
erfelt currency in circulation increased TO
a. marked degree. Harris first arrested
Sylvester. The bearded apostle turned
white when he heard the charge against
him, but stoutly denied his guilt. Short
was captured by a Sheriff as he was COM
ing from q fair 10 Oregon. He had a
pistol and slungshot in his possession,
| but no counterfeit coin. Like Sylvester
he denied his guilt and with him agreed to
engage Clay W. Taylor, the well-known
| lawyer, for their defense. The two farm
ers knew something of Taylor's ability.
| 1t was he who prosecuted their young rel
ative for borse-stealnG.
Sylvester and Short bluntly refused to
discuss the charges against them when
they arrived in this city, and coldly de-
cIined to give their views on the silver
question. They have been placed In the
Alameda County Jail.