Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-07-14
C0UNTERFEITERS
ARE ON TRIAL
JOSEPH ). LEE, COUNTERFEITER,
MAKES FEDERAL TRIAL AT
HELENA INTERESTING.
sherif Merritt Gives His Testimony
and Old Man Lee Dismisses His
Attorney aud Makes Novel State
ment 70 the Jury.

STANDPOINT, Idaho. July TO-
The trial of Joseph S. Lee and mis-
Lee, on the charge of issuing counter
felt money, was begun in the federal
court at Helena on Wednesday. A
letter from Sheriff Merritt received
at at the jail yesterday stated that
the trial would probably occupy
week. Sheriff Merritt, Onicer Kit
chen and Deputy Sheriff Hutchinson,
who went from this city undre sub
poena from the federal court, gave
their testimony in the case the first
day
Joseph S. Lee, the father, whose
arrest last September in noun
tain fastness near Trout Creek was
brought about through detective
work accomplished by Sheriff Mer-
ritt Of this county and Deputy Sheriff
Tissue of Sanders county. Montana,
made something of a sensation when
the trial OF the case was commenced.
With his white hair and long white
beard, he looked for all the world
like the pictures Of the prophet
Elijah. He peremptorlly dismissed
the attorney appointed by the court
to defend him. After the securing
OF the jury Wednesday. the elder Lee
made HIS own speech to the jury.
Lee advanced the argument that the
coins issued by the government are
counterfeit and that there was no
law against duplicating counterfeit
for the purpose Of exposing It. Con-
cluding. Lee declared that be stood
before the jury, "even as Christ had
stood before the Jews, innocent Of
any wrong-doing." and could not be
punished He declared that he was
the seer Of the mighty God that
ruled the land" and asserted that he
had predicted many things that had
come true. Old Lees peculiar at
titude attracted much attention and
is giving the trial a peculiar inter-
est. IT is claimed the old man crossed
the plains with Brigham Young.
when the Mormon leader went 20
Salt Lake. and that in after years
he renounced the Mormon religion
and proclaimed himself the leader
of new sect.
The counterfeiting plant" which
was taken possession of by Sheriff
Merritt and Deputy Tissue on the
day last September when they made
the raid upon the Lee cabin, are ex-
hibited in the court room. Among
the large number OF exhibits there
we're IS bogus $40 gold pieces. per-
feet as to design and color although
considerably off in weight There
were large number of lead 50-cent
pieces. Slabs Of metal, bottles Of
acids. moulds, scales and almost
numberless articles We're among
those making up the exhibits for the
prosecution.
The arrest Of the Lees was effected
September 21 Of last year through
the arrest of Henry Lee who had
passed some bogus gold pieces at
ponderay. He was encountered on
the Northern Pacific railroad track
coming toward Standpoint and was
placed. under arrest by Deputy.
Sheriff Hutchinson and Omcer kit
chen. The officers met Lee near the
Humbird boarding house at night and
when Kitchen flashed his light on
him. Lee started to run and drew his
revolver. Kitchen was too near for
the fellow TO fire and the officer
grappled him by the wrist and threw
him. both officers jumping upon him
and overpowering him. His gym was
an automatic with every chamber
filled. and Lee stated afterwards that
he intended to shoot.
The arrest of Lees fatherr and
brother and the finding Of the coun-
terfeiters' nest near Trout Greek re-
suited from some clever detective
work through the local sheriff's
Office Young Lee would make no
statement as to where he secured the
counterfeit gold pieces which we're
found on him. Deputy Tissue came
here from Sanders county and inter-
viewed Lee in the Jail. Lee wanted
an attorney and Tissue had some
fictitious cards printed at the Review