The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-30
Gigantic Plan of the Ring of
Certificate Forgers.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN IT.
Max katasauer. the Notorious Vie.
toria Smuggler, in Jail.
All His Money Obtained BY Dishonesty
in British Columbia >quandered in
san Francisco-A Clear Case Against
the Con>piraiors.

San Francisco. March ea-After MANY
delays the internal revenue department
has nnaliy succeeded in landing one of
the biggest gangs OF counterfeitel-s tha,
have operated in California ctnca the days
OF the Boyd-Ciprico gang. That comhina-
ton sold fraudulent certificates issued 10
Chinese ny the custom house In China
ana reaped a fortune. Boyd ran away TO
Australia. came hack. turned states evi-
dence against C.prico. and afterwaryi shot
himself. Ciprico was acquitted, Kip never
came 70 trial. and Whaley fed the coun-
try. Another OF the gang died before his
case was called.
There were FIVE conspira tors In the
Boyd-Ciprico gang. and there are five in
the one Just landed. Like its predecessor.
Il also dealt in fraudulent Chlne-e certih-
Gates. The names OF the men arrested
are; II. l.. Foss. freight clerk on the OCe-
anic Steamship Company's dock: James
III. sullivan. formerly deputy county clerk;
Max katasauer. a new arrival from Vic
toria, and said TO be the leading SNUG
gler of Puget sound: Fernando u. Ciprico.
the man who was tried and acquitted for
completely In the Boyd-Ciprico ring. and
NJ Greenwald. brother of Louis Green
wald. the man now serving time in San
Quentin for being mixed up In the opera
tions of the Emerald smuggling ring.
They are all charged with conspiracy in
attempting TO land Chinese in the United
States by means OF forged certificates.
The counterfeiters were caught in
room down town, which had been rem
devious and In which many of their ope-
rations took place. The officers had 10
break in the door. and when they secured
admission they found one man tearing up
documents, while another was caught
q ~.f
the window. where they were caught by
waiting detective below. Marked photo
graphs for certificates were seized. and
also seals rubber stamps and other para
phernalia used in counterfeiting. All the
members of the gang were landed In the
county jail. The band had already estab-
lished agencies at Vancouver. Boise city.
Helena Lincoln, Denver, Chicago, Phila-
delphia, New York and Victoria, and had
laid plans to do business not only with
the Chinese they intended 10 import. but
with as many as possible OF the $4,000 lin-
registered Chinese supposed 10 be in the
United States. Estimating that they could
have reached 20 per cent. OF the unregis-
tered residents. or 1900. they beheld the
profits Of their enterprise running far into
the millions. and they believed that their
fabulous profits would soon he enough to
enable them TO bribe officials, buy Juries.
influence politics, and otherwise escape
the penalties OF their crimes. Seven Chi-
nese firms in this city were In partnership
with the forgers, and they had agrecd 10
take Is 900 Of the certificates without much
delav. The band is supposed TO have be-
gun operations in Philadelphia, where
there is a large paper factory and print
ing Office the proprietors OF which are be-
ueved TO have undertaken the contract OF
making the paper.
This morning the prisoners were taken
stf,n nj tad AL
They were all very much dispir1ted. ara
refused 10 talk IL is understood. now
ever that Greenwald. sullivan ana ross
are ready 10 make a confession tipt"o'
too. II is said. is willing TO tell OF MS con-
nection with the ring.
The authorities will make three charges
against each of the conspirators. Tney
will he accused OF conspiripg 10 forge
Government document. OF forging 'oiIeN-
tor Welburns name, and also NJ fiolat-
ing section OF the exclusion act, winch
nrovIdes: ANY person who shai hho"-
ingly and falsely alter or supsutut@ His
name for the name written in the ceru-
5cate or forge such certificate, snail ne
e,,,;ltv of a rylisdemeanor, and upon con-
1stc,to, thereof shall be fined In q sum
NOT exceeding 81, 600 or imprisoned IN 'he
penitentiary for a term OF not more thah
five years. 49,, q, -
.t,.,a n esCape. The evidence IS so CON
ci",etva that the authorities are not IN
cfroa n heed the offers of several OF
the culprfts TO turn states eNlde"Ce'
THAT more arrests are to t"li"" ~
rection with the certificate iofselles
there Is little doubt, In fac', y l,,o5 - s'','
,Lot several other parties are suspe1'en'
ara although still enjoying theu hDoitS
tIev are being kept under survelIlahce py
~ snacial agents. Prisoner Foss hSs
ttr.o4 to the officers that he could put
49,, On the trail Of big gang OF opium
srnuggiers who are operating
.hfs ,or+ and Victoria and HcI4oiu'u'
'i1ts ,,s.isirand Ciprico. Harston l. Foss, y.
c,,uivan (ex-deputy collector MAX
y;.osa,,er and Moses Greenwald were All
.,,g,ss before United states Commits
s,oner ueacock today. They are eharse1
u,i.h forging and uttering ceFtl''cAle ot
.ntto,,cs issued 10 a Chinese contrary 70
ar.,o,5ed law Of November ;. 1898, and
also with conspiracy. The pfhaiN
60, ~ imprisonment not TO exceed hVe
years. .., ,o.,,a ,bo
commissioner they had nothing 70 say i'
thcir own behalf. Attorney I. u hlot-
dan who appeared for them. ~Aitea t"e
ea,,frs- NJ the information and tnph
I,-,.-.,5ssfr,,ar Tfeacock set the bail in the
o,ea - F-oss Caprice and katasauer ~
sla nal each. and that Of Green~ald ana
Suttf,s, At & 90 each. MF- kiofdah iaai7
on atiarnrt 10 have the hail reduced On
Inc ground that two Of his clients couih
m. rossfhlv raise the $1,000 bail ana con.
ses,,ently would have 20 remain N la'i
,,rt0 their cases were tried Ine tflted
S,stae district attorney objected ana the
,e,rtne % the matter was put over untii
uext Monday az =. m The prisoieI &C
rorsfinefv had 10 spend anofheF HlRht ~
tati huf the chances are that some OF
tber, viii get out on bail tomorrow
Among the men suspected bur not ar
resred are a hrother-In-law OF CipTtco ana
counla of people now in Oregon tlP-
rt>, IS "A great friend of Foss. ana me
nair were often seen tn conference On me
ao.x. A man known as Opium Brown
: also said - have been in the plot
h,it me internal revenue officers have not
s,IfFrienr evidence against any of them 10
warrant an arrest
rs~,4a information that "a TOW leaking
c,st il appesrs thar some q The men IN
rser a~res. z-ere not only engaged n the
manufacture and sale OF forged eer1-;i-
yates. bur we're also IN tne opium SNUG
Sing business The drug vas brought
h4.~e from Victoria and shipped % Homo
lrlf,t where rwo ave~tael cans are SAD q
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES