The San Francisco call., 1897-05-29
C0UN IERFETERS
AGAIN At WORK
Numerous Nearly Perfect
Five-Dollar Pieces
Passed.
The Crooks Reaped a Harvest
at the Recent Butchers
Picnic
Secret Service Agent Harris Is Wor.
ried Over the Mai and Is
Watching.

Adangerous gang of counterfeiters, sup.
posed to be the same one that operated
extensively at the racetracks some time
ago, has been carrying on its nefarious
business on a large scale within the past
fe W days, and Secret Service Agent Nick
Harris is very much worried over its dep
relations.
1t was supposed that when the racing
season closed the showers of the queer"
would depart but they have found just as
promising a field in the picnics, where
change is made rapidly over the bars,
and it is at the resorts of the Sunday
revelers that the counterfeiters are now
working.
The counterfeiters chose the butchers
picnic at Shell Mound on Wednesday to
ply their trade, and the mum ber of coun-
lerfeit So pieces that have come TO light
since that event has almost driven Agent
Harris 10 distraction.
Captain Slebe, the manager OF the park,
came to the City yesterday and called on
Harris with eight golden half eagles that
had been passed on his barkeepers, and it
is known that large mum ber were taken
in by those conducting other privileges as
well as at the gate.
The coins are remarkably perfect in
looks, none but an expert being able to
detect any defects in the workmanship or
weight. The ring is poor, however, and a
few rasps of a file or an application OF
strong fingers soon shows that they are
nothing but lead.
The gold plating is very heavy, how
ever, giving them the right feel as the
lead gives them weight.
Those who passed them on the bars ana
lunch counters were evidently experts in
Z ha h,tcy fNr in yva ara Z how nUn
suspected, and in most instances the
fraud was not discovered until the coins
were presented to banks for deposit or to
merchants whose cashiers were experts In
detecting fraudulent coin.
One bank even took q number OF the
counterfeits, and one OF the coins found
its way into the pocket of mem Der OF the
banking firm. When that individ ual tried
TO pass 1t on wellknown refreshment
caterer it was handed back with the re-
mark that it was bogus. The banker in
sisted that it must be good. because it had
been taken in over his counter, and a
number of business men who examined
the coin declared they wished they had a
"barrel like it"
The mixologist is possessed OF strong
fingers, however, and after he had bent
the bit of gold-covered lead out of shape
all were convinced that most dangerous
counterfeit had been unearthed.
Harris has determined to run the gang
10 earth or drive it out OF town at the
least and will keep an eye out at future
picnics. Ii is reported that the counter
feiters will try to work their wares off at
the Caledonia picnic to-day and 10 prevent
this and arrest the men If possib e. Mr..
Harris will attend the picnic with squad
OF exp rienced assistants and keep sharp
lookout all day.
The agent is under the impression that
the crooks are Eastern men who are un-
known TO the local authorities and are
therefore able to ply their shady trade
with much greater ease than would other
wise be the case.