The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-06-18
GANG Of COUNTERFEITERS
A Series OF Accidents Leads to
the Capture
TRICKS WILL NOT AVAIL
The Cases to Come Before Inv Next
Grand Jury
Three Prisoners in the Santa Barbara Jail
and Two Officers Here TO Aid in
the Jury Investigation

James Brown, Sam SOFTEN and Edward
Wilson, three OF gang OF counterfeters,
were arrested in San Luis Obispo and
yesterday were taken to the Jail at Santa
Barbara. by United States Marshal Cow
arrubias, who returned home from mis-
trip late in the day. The three prisoners
are counterfeters of coin. City Marshal
J. W. Cook aud Officer J. W. Crawford OF
San Luis 0bspo are now in Los Angeles
to go before the federal grand jury in re-
laton to two gangs OF spurious money
makers, to which gangs the three mem
toned prisoners belong. If true bills are
returned against the latter they will be
brought to the city tosawait trial.
/: seems that week ago Saturday two
men and woman, the latter half
breed. were camped in gum grove just
outside the city of San Luis Obispo. They
We're Charles Howard. his wife, and
James Brown. Howard or that day gave
Brown some monay with which TO pur-
chase q supply OF beer, in San Luis
Obispo, and which was intended to he
the intoxicant for party carousal.
While Brown was gone upon his mission,
Howard, who wished to be rid Of him,
hired q wagon and horses and slipped
out. heading for Arizona.
Brown arrived at the camp with che
beer and was much disappointed in not
finding his com anions. II Immediately
dawned on his nina that they were try
ing to shake" him. Without further
ndo he went to work to drink up the
her or try to consume It all. In very
short space of time he was sloriously
drunk. He went to San Luis Obispo
and became so obstreperous that he was
locked up by Officer J. W. Crawford.
While in maudlin state he COM
muncated to the officer the fact that he,
in company with Howard and his wife.
had manufactured counterfeit So gold
pieces. He had none with him, but vol
unteered to show the officers where the
plant was located. This he did. The
officers got ladies', crucibles. gold color
ing, and other paraphernalia left behind
by the Towards. 1t appears that in 60
ing away the Towards not only stole the
rig but some of Browns effects. Brown
swore out a warrant for the arrest of the
Towards. who were captured fifteen miles
below San luis Obispo. When searched
there was more counterfelting apparatus
and a cast OF an imperfect vs. gold piece
which had become chilled in the mold.
Besides these tools there were found safe
cracking tools, knives and revolyers.
The husband and wife appreciated the
fact that everything was up. and in order
to escape federal prosecution pleaded
guilty OF grand larceny before the supe-
ror court OF San Luis Obispo and were
sentenced to serve five years IN the peni-
Tertiary. This trick. however, will avail
them nothing. for at the end of their
term they will be prosecuted for counter
feiting, and in all probability will COM
mence another long Term.
On the Monday following the arrest of
Howard and his wife, Officer j. W. Craw-
ford arrested Sam SOFTEN on a charge OF
assaulting another man with deadly
weapon, and on his person was found a
mum Der of counterfeit silver half dollars.
In the sweat box SOFTEN revealed the
name of Edward Wilson as his confeder-
ate. This is the trio of worthless that Mr..
Covarrubias has lodged in the Santa
Barbara jail TO await the action OF the
fede. al grand jury which convenes i'll this
city tomorrow