The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-06
CROPS OF COIN.
Oregon Farmers Take to
Counterfeiting.
" Doc" Davenport, Leader of the
Criminals, in Custody-Sampies
of Backwoods Justice.

1.-THE mountains of Oregon swarm with
counterfeters and robbers" said Secret
Service Agent Harris yesterday. 'The
farmers hidden in the woods and far away
from populous towns spend their leisure
time manufacturing bogus dollars and
eagles, which they send by trusted agents
to the cities of the coast"
This remarkable statement was made by
the veteran detective just after he had read
telegram from one of his assistants in
forming him that Doc" Davenport, one
of the most notorious cOunterteiters in the
Webfoot State. was arrested Friday night
ana that The evidence against him was
overwhelming.
I'VE have been watching Daven port for
some time" said Harris. land now that be
is in the tolls we feel confident that many
of his accomplices will soon be in our
hands. Davenport is one of the leaders.
He was once druggist and studied me0i-
cine. but during his leisure moments
learned the art of cnunterfeiting. The
fruits of his unlawful industry flooded the
district in which he lived, and in due time
he was apprehended, convicted and served
term of one year IN the penitenliary.
When he emerged from his enforced retire
ment he fell in love with and marrieh a
widow who owned farm valued at $4,000
His experience arp irently taught hun
notblngsIOr he was soon at the head OF a
gang of counterfeiters, most of whom
were farmers and lived near Lebanon.
they were connected with the gang 10
Shasta County, CAL, ten of whom were
arrested several mon,hs ago and are to be
trien by Judge Morrow. They send agents
10 Puget Sound and this city 10 dispose Of
their coin, and are generally successful" ~
Justice. according TO Agent Harris, has
slipped the bandage from its eyes in the
county infested by the cOunterfeiters. SIX
months ago notorious maker of bogus
coin was captured near LebapoD. He had
one hundred cOunterfeit half eagles in
belt about his waist, and the secret service
men were confident that his punishment
would be swift and sure. Their astOnish-
meDt may be imagined when the Judge re-
leased the criminal on $1,000 bail and &C
eepted two of his accompices as bonds
men. The man fled from the State and all
efforts TO find him have been unavailiug.
About the same time another member of
the gang. who was, like the fugitive, a tiller
of the soil was captured with six counterfeit
dollars in his pOssesSiOG. There is no
United States Commits sioner in that part
OF the State and the Marshal who made
the arrest was compelled TO take his IrIs-
ouer before Justice of the Peace. That
learned Interpreter of the law set the
co uDierfeter's ball al SIS.
"Why, your Honor" The Marshal in
dignRntly exclaimed. that man has CON-
mItted q crime that is punis liable by long
term of imprisonment. You cannot re-
lease him on S25 bail"
"Well. now L want you to understand"
exclaimed the Dlgberry, that Pm admin
istrating on justice here. aud that l know
what Pc about. This here prisoner is
charged with counterfeiIing six dollars,
and he has put up twenty-five good dollars
as his bail. Ii he got good money for them
bad coins he'd rob some one of So, wouldn't
be? Well, when a mans bail is five times
as much as he steals it's about big enough
in the eyes of this court"
OF course, the prisoner fed.
The secret service agent believes that
the former counterfeilers are also robbers,
as many of those who are now under sur
veillance are Intimate with gang of
thieves and highwaymen who infest the
country near Lebanon.
The agent who arrested Davenport was
himself arrested by village Haw kshaw,
who was trailing brace of robbers. He
thought the Government detective was one
Of the criminals. aud after shadowing him
for two weeks took him into custody. The
agent, with some difficulty, opened his
captOr's eyes and was graciously permitted
10 90 unScathed.