The morning call., 1894-04-15
IN A LONE CABIN.
A Counterfeiter Caught at
His Trade.
HEADQUARTERS IN AMADOR.
He Had Many Confederates in
the East.
BETRAYED BY LETTERS WRITTEN
Shreve & Co. Receive an Order From
Him for Dies to Make Bogus
Five-DoIIar Pieces.
BETRAYED BYLETTERs WRITTEN

Secret Service Agent Harris was sitting
in his little Office 10 the Government build
ing one afternoon in January last refresh
ing his memory with glimpses of the bad
and Indifferent photographs in his gallery
Of counterfeiters and crooks, when an
employe of George w. Shreve & Co., the
well-known firm of silversmiths. entered.
He said he had something of the greatest
Importance to reveal, and forthwith he un-
l0OSed his revelation. 1t was in the form
of a letter which had just been received by
his employers, and the meaning OF the
epistle could not be mistaken. The letter
read:
George ". Shrepe G Co.. San Fronciseo-
GENTLEMEN: | am desirOus OF obtaining an
engraVer to eugTaYe a set OF dies IOF me loi Tue
purpose of eecIrotyping IRON: ANA now II
you are not in the employ OF the government
and want TO do the Job for me please lei me
know what your charges Will be Tor nve-dollar
piece of 1892 or S93 and your money IS ready
for you If you conclude 10 do lie JoD 1or me-
i''Se i0' il' l'-' - '' c. E. JUNE.
Postoffce address lone, Amador Co., Cal.
Harris expressed his gratitude to the
bearer of the letter and forthwith began
TO set traps for the writer. A trusty
agent was sent TO AmadoT, and after
~reeks of weary watching and waiting he
convinced himself that c. E. June was the
sole tenant of an old and isolated cabin
about three miles from the town.
June played the part OF an agricnIturist
to perfection. He was fellow about 30
years of age. sharp featured and intelll-
gent. His attire was ragged and the con-
ditiOn of his nair indicated tnat he was OD
unfriendly terms with the barber.
Agent Harris man soon learned that the
lone agricuturist had many cOrrespon-
. l,aE fro hnp bn obi rran
frequent and substantial remittaDces and
10 whom he expressed heavy packages
marked Birds eggs"
Among the letters mailed by June,
shortly after Harris placed him under
surveillance, was one addressed to ). ID.
Childs & Co., 140 and l42 Monroe street.
Chicago. 1t was obtained from the firm,
who are siiYeTsmiths and engraVers, and
proved to be similar TO the letter sent 10
SbreVe & Co. Childs Il Gu. wrote TO the
man in AmadoT that they were not en-
gagged in the business Of making dies for
counterfeters, and that answer received
By June has been secured. Harris obtained
proof that the occupant of the cabin was
in league with a gang of counterfeit
dealers in the East TO whom he was Tegu-
laTly sending bogus coin made in the
cabin. He also learned that June's true
name is James Barclay, and that he has a
partner named Dummy.
Harris and an officer descended upon the
cabin Thursday afternoon and found the
couDterfeiter busily engaged at his trade.
He had forge and furnace. n metal plat
ing machine, plaster of paris mo!ds and
dies-eyerJ thing, IN fact, that counter
feiIeT who wants TO do really artistic work
should have. he and his possessions were
seized, and he spent the night in the Gala
boose at lone.
When Harris was taking him to the train
the captive broke the handouts that held
his wrists together and tried TO escape. He
was landed in this city yesterday after
noon and told gauZy tale about his past.
He said that he was q member of a we'll
to-do family in Michigan, and left them to
make bis fortune in California. Bad luck
overlook him. and in order that his rela-
tlves might learn nothing concerning him
he changed his name and took to agricEl-
ture. BE denied the authorship of the let
ters received By Shreye & Co. and Childs
, & Co.
Barclay will be prosecuted by the United
States attorney for counterfeiting and
misusing the United States mails.