The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-05
A COUNTERFE|TER'S HONE.
CURIOUS OUTFIT FOR MAKING
NICHELs AND DIMES.
Onicers Were DisappOfnfeo N MOI
Finding nm Up-to-Date Plant
Landers' Place on vashOn Island-
Ideal Snot fer Smugglers' Retreat.


serfeiter. on yashon island. The search
for counterfeiting implements was sue
'cessfui. bur not III the way the oAceIs ndu
anticipated A curious handmade outnt
for the manufacture of dimes, nickeis ana
25-cent pieces was discovered under tho
work bench in blacksmith shop. Iu>ked
away ia corners were several sheets OF
metal. presumably used in the manufac-
ture of scent pieces. What surprised the
officers most was the disco Tery or twenty
one silver spoons, one OF which bore the
initials 'P. b.
The condition OF the counterfeiting
plant was such that Powers came TO the
conclusion il had not been used for some
time He is inclined to the belief that
Landers has a newer outfit, but that he
succeeded in secreting il before his arrest.
This theory is strengthened by Landers'
unconcern when he was told that his
house and ranch were TO be searched for
evidence of his guilt. He knew some time
before his arrest that he was under sus-
picion and 1t is only fair TO presume that
he made good use of his knowledge. He
admitted to Chief Of Police Reed that Bill
wilkins, an alleged eounterfeiter. had
been living with him, and intimaied that
perhaps wilkins might have left things
that he knew nothing about. wilkins
told me- said Landers. that he had
stacks of the queer If l wanted any OF it,
Then Landers went on to say that he had
no use for such stuff.
The search was conducted by Detective
Powers and Capt. G. NJ Wheeler and
Deputy United States Marshal /. S. Davi-
son, both of Tacoma. They landed at
Quartermaster Harbor Friday and walked
five miles across country to Landers
ranch. 1t Is located on the island, COM
manding a clear and unobstructed view
OF the west passage. At the back of the
house there Is steep bluff and on either
side are hills, which extend toward the
water. 1t is an impossibility to approach
the house from the water unobserved.
The general surroundings suggested to
the officers that they were in an ideal
place for smuggler's retreat. Dawson
and Powers Immediately commenced a
search OF the premises, while Capt.
Wheeler went foraging for grub. His eff
forts were successful to the extent of
seven eggs, some ham and potatoes,
which he soon transformed into what ne
termed regular Thanksgiving Klondike
dinner. After the table was cleared the
search was renewed. The first discovery
consisted of some white metal sheets I'M
der the blades Of hay cutter. Others Of
q similar nature were found in out-of-the-
way places. Some mutlated coins were
picked up. but not a trace of counterfeit
money was discovered. Under the work
the name OF blacksmith shop. and among
some tools were discovered some peculiar
steel implements. One Of these was found
to be arranged in such a manner that it
could be attached to the anvil It's use
did not appear at first, but when several
steel blocks, each with different sized
hole In it, were discovered some light was
cast on the problem. BY closely examin-
ing the surface at the bottom of the small
est hole. the imprint of Decent piece was
discovered. An examination of the holes
IN the other blocks revealed traces of let
ters and figures. Among the tools was
also discovered a round piece Of paper on
which was clearly reproduced the face of
a lucent piece. II was discovered that
each OF the steel blocks fitted into a sort
Oh socket in the first implement men
TONED. Punches We're found that fitted
the holes in the steel blocks
implements We're found for cutting ont
pieces OF metal the size of a nickel and
quarter. Ii is the theory of Detective Pow
efs that Landers made his 10-cent pieces in
tne Following manner: He would split a
genuine lucent piece by the use of a very
me saw. One of the halves would then
be placed in the hole of the steel b,ock
plank side up In order TO protect the face
OF the coin. which was in contact with the
surface OF the bottom of the hole. a niece
OF paper would be inserted On ton OF tho
blank surface of the half of the coin wo,,Id
De placed the other half, engraved side
Gown Pressure being brought to bear the
blank surface of the under meta, wound
receive the imprint of the TOP metal In
otner words. Landers is supposed To have
spit Decent piece into two halves re-
stamped the blank faces, and thus mazda
~ cents out of 10. As to the nickeis no
was not bothered about the milled EDGES
SO ne could simply cut out piece of metal
the SIZE OF the genuine coin and stamp it
III TINS is the extent of Landers' counter
tel'hs' DIS work has been very crude The
otncers expected 10 find moulds for differ
ent denominations but failed Their s,au
cial reason for this expectation is fonnd
IN The story OF the woman who BETRAYED
Landers. She said that he told her he had
a large amount OF s. gold pieces which he
wanted her 10 work off when she made
change for intoxicated men.
Inc ofilcers discovered that the residents
or Nashon island are not inclined IN tall.
much about Landers and his life. They an
pear 10 be afraid OF him He is looked una,
as bad man. and according to one stony
he is always ready with his rifle. II is said
thar ne made so much OF nuisance Of
himself on the steamer that the cantsir
refused 10 answer his signal to take hin,
ai'oaFd 10 get even ne took his rife and
commenced firing on the steamer His
for smngglers and bad characters The
presence of Bill wilkins at his plsre IL m
certain extent. corroborative OF this sus
! picion. Eighteen or twenty months aro
biil wilkins and man named Barnes
were arrested at Vancouver. Wash for
counterfeiting. They were tried bu+ VII
| k'ns, playing the ''greeny." got of. while
barnes was sent up for one wear. Afser
! this wilkins went TO live with Larders
! Detective Powers thinks that this may .c-
count Tor i-anders being mixed IN in a
CONTRIBUTING ease. I4anders annaares n
support himself by making 4 iark-Se,a,.
row and then. lie would leave homo nre-
| sumahsy for The purpose OF selling his
product. He has a son Eph I.anders who
! Is married and lives not far from him. IN
| quiry as 70 how t.ph lived brought ON, tho
vague information that he helped his
/ father.
l. %. 1.anders is a very old man. He
| admits having been a member OF Oman
treils Euerrillas and having served with
| fhH notorious Jesse James He lef, Aie.
! souri, because things were getting TOO warn,
| for him and moved n Astoria. whore sa
| got into a shooting scraps and lost his leg
| In british Columbia. according To hts s.n,.,,
/ he aAd more trouble and host an eve. Then
! be settled down on Nashon island when
| ne IS under the influence of liquor he saws
( thai he knows all about the mysterious ale
/ appearance Of Wood Hite. a cousin Of Jesse
| James he told some one thar MS ftt.Ia
| itager was defoTmed about the time Wood
/ Hite disappeared. When he il sohar ia
| says that the finger vas simply cut hy a
knife ana that Il vas put toge Their In a
! b. NJ .p-~