The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 9, 1901, Page 2

2 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1901.° DRAGGING THE o SEARCHING THE HILLS FOR STOLEN BULLION Detectives Scour the Land for Evidences of the Gold Bricks From the Selby ROCKETT, Aug. 8.—Every indica- tion to-day points to the location of the stolen gold from Selby’s Smelting Works as being within uarter of a mile from the scene of the robbery and hidden from view by the waters of the Search this morning of the cabin of John Winters—known as Buck Taylor— strengthened this theory. Beneath the floor of the cabin was found an iron rod nine feet long with a sharp hook and a pointed spear attached, similar to a boat hook, and a pair of oars. A sounding line and plummet also found serve to strengthen the theory that the thief of bay - Which Were Taken Vault Last Tuesday | conduct to-night added to the belief that he can give important information. Don- aldson was the only man known to be an associate of Buck Taylor and visited the latter many times in his cabin. Both / men have been seen in saloons and other resorts and in the past three months have been very friendly. Both came to Selby’'s about six years ago. Donaldson was examined by the detectives on Tuesday, but gave them lit- tle information. As one officer said to- night, Donaldson tells mighty little for a man who knows so much. Donaldson is about 35 years old and is either a Swede or & Dane, as he speaks with a _L ully took soundings to find to dump the boodle in the cation as would ren- t many hours to-day ing along the water front in g dredge hooks and other ap- X arch resulted unsuceess- 1 be continued with vigor. From the spot where two bars of gold i on rocks the water slopes deep bottom. Ten to fifteen e found twenty feet from at flood tide. Veale of Contra Costa County, s of Crockett and Dete n worked together to-day this evening by ex-Chief ers of Pinker- representative. Con- this evening at the ith the superintendent t the greatest secrecy learned, howev or to-morrow workman, un- donaldson’s ac- uspicion and BNDITS ROB | POKER PLAVERS Northwestern Outla.wsi Make Pot of Coin and Jewelry. to The Call. Aug. 8.—Two he players in a Nelson, in the Three hundred | ces walked in. nd the men who und the tables at | and | of the rob- fashion to range p in a row down the center One man tried to pull his | e was hit on the head with ber's pistol and was n the desperadoes a co went through the | d took all the jew- | d. All the money on the made into one pot and put in | one of the robbers carried. | covered the row of men | did not say a word during | 1t osed that he ¥n_in the p and was ing his voice recognized. The t clear away and are probably | Jine before this. 1p] o CLERGYMAN FOUND GUILTY | OF MALICIOUS PROSECUTION | Purchased Liquor 'at a Saloon to Secure Direct Testimony Against | the Proprietor. { FORT SCOTT, Kans., Aug. 8—A jury | e church in guilty of malicious prosecution in a liquor | this district, | case. The defendant was acquitted and | the costs were assessed against the cler- gyman. The defendant was the keeper of | 2 saioo it that has been running wide open | and several witnesses readily admitted | having purchased liquor at the place, Rev, | Mr. Price having bought some for the | purpose of getting direct testimony. The | verdict i the result of a bitter fight for | and against open saloons. s < | Husband and Wife Shot. { DENVER, Aug. 8—Mrs. Philllp P. Hitchcock, Wife of a prominent raflroad man, to-day shot and seriously, if not fa- tally, wounded James W. Roberts and his wife in their candy store on Sixteenth sireet. The woman was shot in the face and the man received two bullets, one in the middle of the forehead. It was at| first thought that the man was Kkilled, but at the hospital he revived and the hvsicians hope for _recovery of both. | ealousy was the cause of the shcoting. | | where he was formerly employed. Jfli[/i/fié LoOUND Txa Soyas o BAY WATERS FOR GOLD- DIVERS MAY BE USED TO LOCATE THE GOLD Pete Donaldson, a Close Friend of John Winters, Will Be Questioned by the Police Concerning Their Relations marked accent. He is working on roaster No. 2, being on the day shift. After sup- per to-night he went to his room ang re- tired. He positively refused to open his door and answer any questions and called out: “The proper time to see me is in daylight.” Donaldson will be put in the sweatbox in the morning by detectives and important developments are ex- pected. It is possible that the Selbys will seek ald of the Japanese divers from Carmel Bay. Officers here recognize the diffi- culty of locating the gold in the bay by means of dredge hooks and anchors. Divers could- stay beneath the water for E | B | IN THE VICINITY OF THE CABIN ON THE BLUFF ABOVE VALLEJO JUNCTION, THE HOME OF THE PRISONER, JOHN WINTERS. POLICE AND DETECTIVES CONFIDENT‘_THAT THEY HAVE THE MAN W HO STOLE THE GOLD light battery., This is a portable affair, and around the battery the detectives found sand corresponding to the sand of the tunnel that undermined the Selby vault. A shovel was also discovered, a“éi on the blade was the same kind of sand. A Colt's revolver, 38 caliber, lying on the floor showed traces of sand also. A rod with both ends bent over is supposed by the detectives to have been used in the foreing of the steel plate upward. locating in Los Angeles. four moniths there as a street contractor. Thai s in the fall of 1890. From there I went to 0 fn San Bernardino County, where I worked for Richard Gird. After leaving Los Angeles I drifted to San Francisco. Failing to- get employment here, I went to Stanislaus County, where I worked on a ranch for Henry Hamilton. A short time afterward I returned to this city. After loafing around for some time T got employment at the smelting wWorks. Continued From Page One. skipped out of Crockett and fled to San | Rafael. He is a cool, quiet and e: sively reserved man, so his neighbors s: They know little of him beyond this. Ac- cording to his own story he always had | money, which he was in the habit of | burying in the earth simply because he | did not care to trouble himself with banks. A pistol-shot of no mean attain- I have been working there for about seven ments, he constantly practiced shooting | A suspicious circumstance is furnished | years. I always carry from $0 to $100 with on his small acreage in the hills half a | by the remains of fires that Winters set | m¢: The fact that"I had $60 when I was ar- rested thould not be construed as being a sus- plelous circumstance against me, as I have never been without money. Has No Use for Banks. 1 like to spend money. -As 1 have no use for banks I always hide my money, sometimes burying it. At the present time I have some money buried, but I refuse to reveal its hiding place I had $2700 when I went to the smelting works and have saved $1600 since. Pete Don- aldson used to live with me. I understand that he is now guarding the safe at the smelter with a rifle. When I was sick he came to my cabin to €ee me. That was about six weeks ago. I have not seen him since. I-left Crockett Tues- day on the 7:50 a. m. train and had my bicycle with me. After the train reached Oakland mole I got on my wheel and went to San Ra- fael, arriving there at 10:30 o'clock on the same morning. I visited a house where I was well known. I don't know that they expected me, although I have been in the habit of going there about once a month. The last time I was there was the middle of Jume, T don't know that T am going to marry the girl who lives tM®re. We are not éngaged. I have known her for about three years. She used to live at Vallejo Junction, where she kept a boarding-house. I have not worked for three months on ac- count of stomach troubles. I have not been away from the smelter except in June last when I went to San Rafasl. I sometimes go out with a gun or wheel. I have been at the mouth of the tunnel at night. I went to Er- rickson’s saloon on Monday about dusk. His saloon is opposite the station at Vallejo Junc- tion. I went to bed about 10 o'clock that night. I know where the postoffice is at the works. 1 am positive I was not there Monday night, Burns 01d Clothes. On Monday night I went part of the way to the tunnel. I went to the end of the coal bunkers to find the old man Who brings my papers to_the. saloon. I read all about this robbery. I cannot tell what I think about it. T guess somebody got away with the bullion lan rignt. T have never been in trouble. 1 in front of the house. -He says he always burned his clothes when they were worn out. Charred buttons told this tale. The police hold this is rather a strange habit. The hole through which the thief crawled was jagged and must. have torn the clothes of the one who removed the bul- lion, and the detectives think this ex- plains the fires in the front-of-the house. ‘While conducting the inquisition of the prisoner in Captain Seymour's office De- tective McParland noticed that on Win- ters’ right hand recent callous-lumps had been formed, while the left was as Soft as a woman's. Drilling the iron sheet will do this, they say. These and other like circumstances are forming the links around Winters. < Hat Found in the Tunnel. The golf cap found in the raflroad tun- nel fits his head exactly. It is thought that the wind blew the cap off his head Wwhile he worked in the dark packing the golden loads. Winters was seen about 8:30 Monday night in the vicinity of the smelter, and on four or five occasions was discovered near the hole. On Winters’ cabin door is attached a sign: “‘Any one attempting to force an entrance to this house takes chances of getting killed. J. Winters.” When the sign was put on is not kmown. After his grilling by the three detectives Winters was allowed to tell his own tale. It runs as follows: My neme is John Winters, but I am better knowr. as “‘Buck” Taylor. I was born in Koenigsberg, Prussia. I have been in the United States for twenty years. I first landed in New York City and stayed there for three days. I then went to St. Louls and remained only a short time and en went to Texas, where I lived about six years. While there 1 was employed herding cattle. From Texas 1 went to Memphis, Tenn., where I secured empioyment driving a street car. I also drove a street car at Dallas, Texas. ¢ After leaving Texas I came to Californta, mile from the Selby Smelting Works; Winters Flees to San Rafael. ‘Winters lived in a cabin on the hillside and showéd no disposition for af- filiation with® men or women. In and near this cabin the police have found all the material evidences which they claim will fasten the guilt upon him. Winters left Crockett on Tues- day sfternoon and took his bicycle with him. On that evening he reached San Rafael and stopped at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, owned by Mrs. Spencer, whom Winters knew fairly well. It was report- ed that he and Miss Ida Spencer, the daughter of the hotel proprietor, had something of a heart affair between them, but this the young lady denies. At the Cosmopolitan Winters was found by De- tective Gibson and brought to the city. Damaging Evidence Found. And now for those circumstances which weave a wéb of incrimination about John Winters. With the occupant away the detectives searched the cabin on Tuesday and Wednesday and found many sus- picious material evidences, which caused them to make the arrest. Chalk of the same quality and seeming compbsition and of similar appearance to that found in the hole where the robber worked was discovered in the cabin. The slat frame, covered with black cloth and used to cover the entrance to the tunnel when the robber was resting from his labors, will be a valuable piece of evi- dence. In Winters' cabin was found black cloth of the same texture as that used on the frame and similar slats were dis- covered on the premises. The tacks used by the robber in constructing the frame were of a peculiar kind and their dupli- cates were found in Winters’ cabin. The suspect is something of an electri- cian and he owned a medical incandescent | 1 worked three or | have not carried a pistol for a long time. I have a-bolt cutter and two shov I did not cut the handle off the police found. I threw away my pantaloons. on’ Monday morning because they were useless. Prior to that I threw my coat Into the bay. I think it was on Saturday. I burned my: trousers be- cause they were diity and had no buttons on them. The reason I had for getting rid of the coat was because it was worn from constant bicycle riding. I seldom wear a vest. I threw away the coat between Port Costa and Crock- ett. It\ls true that I burned my .shoes. I did 0 because there were holes In them. My object in destroying my old clothes and shoes by fire was that I did not want a lot of rubbish around the cabin.. I lost my cap on Monday night.. The wind blew it in the bay. I was not up all Monday night. I am positive. T was ‘In bed until 6 o'clock in the morning. From thie best of my recollection I arrived at the house in San Rafael at 10:30) o'clock,a. m. 1 slept alome in my friend's house. Errickson, a brother of the Vallejo sa- loonkeeper, was there at the time. I was sur- prised when I was arrested as I hove to be able to prove that.I had nothing to do with the robbery. Winters will talk freely of, his actions and himself. He is cool, calm and collect- ed and speaks with great deliberateness, which may be due either to the fact that he is a foreigner or that he is careful of himself. He does not seem worried over his position and is doing very little fret- ting, although plied with questions by de- tectives and rcporters. Winters will be taken to Martinez to-day by Sheriff Veale and the charge of grand larceny will be made against him. at my cabin. ovel that the MERCHANTS FEAR CHINESE DUTY ON FLOUR IMPORTS Manufacturers’ and Producers’ Asso- ciation Directors Indorse Pro- test to President Sbarboro. The board of directors of the Manufac- turers’ and Producers’ Association yester- day approved the action of President Sbarboro in joining with the Chamber of Commerce in calling the attention of (he Secretary of State to the injury to the Pacific Coast -that will result from che roposed impost by China of a duty on jour under the proposed rearrangement of the Chinese tariff to meet the Chinese war indemnity. Imports of flour into China are mainiy from the Pacific Coast. .More than two million barrels were exported ‘from this coast to Asiatic’ ports during the year endin, v 1, 1901. A duty on flour would *)un local merehants the burden a portion of the. Chinese war indemM®y, and might, in fact, stop the importation of flour, which must now compete with rice. W. M. Bunker, who was appointed rep- resentative of commercial bocies of this city io the Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress at Cripple Creek, submitted his report, which will be printed. The follow- ing firms were ,elected as members of the associatio auer-Schweltzer Hop and Malt Com- any, California Optical Company, Eagle M. Ettinger, Gray Bros., B. Grave Company, A. P. Hot&llng & Co., Independent Electric Light an Company, Jesse Moore-Hunt Company, Lachman & Jacobi, Sterling Furniture Company. —————— Collins Charged With Contempt. Matthew Collins, special watchman, was arrested vesterday by Detectives Dillon and Crockett and locked up in the City Prison. He was arrested on a warrant is- sued by Judge Dunne charging him with gontempt in not appearing before the Grand Jury as a witness last Friday. Collins was arrested some weeks ago on the charge of breaking into the store of Rinaldo Brothers & Co. and stealing a quantity of cigars. When the case was called in Judge Mogan's court no one would testify against Collins and the Judge dismissed the case. The District Attorney has brought the matter before the Grand Jury for investigation. —_——— Bisaioli Arson Case. The preliminary examination of Vincent Biraloli on the charge of arson for setting fire to the furnituré in a flat at 425 Do- lores street so as to get the insurance money, with which to marry his sweet- heart, Fannie Rousseau, was continued before Judge Mogan yesterday. The wit- nesses examined were Mrs. Annie Brady, James F. Dorland, George H. Cain, John Prentiss and Lieutenant A. W. Welch of Engine Company 7. The case was contin- ued until to-day to get the evidence of Miss Rousseau, against the protest of At- “torney Spinetti for the defendant. ————— Dr. Gardner’s Resignation. Dr. M. Gardner, chief surgeon of the Southern Pacific Company, has forwarded to Governor Gage his resignation as a member of the board of managers of the Mendocino State Hospital. Though Dr. Gardner sent in his resignation some time 0, Governor Gage has not as yet ac- owledged its receipt. Notwithstanding this fact. Dr. Gardner will not serve long- er on the board. His professional labors occupy all of his time in other directions, hours and make a thorough search. The matter was discussed by the detectives to-night. For the first time since the dis- covery of the robbery the detectives went to bed early to-might. They have been on almost constant duty scouring the hills in hope of finding the hidden gold. The finding of the iron hook, the sounding line and oars in Winters’ cabin to-day served to make them all come to the theory that the gold was dumped in the bay near the end of the railroad tunnel or not very far away along the water front. VALLEJO, Aug. 8.—About 4:30 o’clock this afternoon Eric Larsen was arrested in this city on a charge of grand larceny preferred by R. Knudson of South V lejo and is now in the City Prison at t place. It seems that last Monday Lar. went to Knudson at South Vallejo negotiated the hire of a boat to go the Sacramento River, say y. He w boat and this afternoon returned, not to South Vallejo, but to North Vallejo, where he landed with another man an came up town. Chief of Police Stanf of Vallejo had been complained to Knudson relative to the long absence of Larsen with the boat. and Stanford being on the lookout for incoming boatmen took up Larsen. After the prisoner had been questioned a little the police were rather surprised when Larsen admitted he had worked at Selby. This fact, coupled with a garbled story as to why the boat's re- turn had been delayed led the Chief to think it best to allow the charge of grand larceny regarding t boat already pre- ferred to serve as legal excuse for de taining Larsen pending further investiga- tion. As the Chief could not find any rea- son for suspecting Larsen’s companion he let him go. SHARK CRIPPLES ohILOR FOR LIFE Bites Off Leg of Seaman of the Gunboat Annapolis. WASHINGTON, Aug. 8. — Admiral Kempff has forwarded to the Navy De- partment an official report, thrilling in its details, of the biting off of the leg of Quartermaster S. McKie, third class, of the gunboat Annapolis, by a shark or other mammoth sea monster. The Annapolis has been stationed of late at Hoilo, and on June 24 last a party was sent out for rifle target practice. Commander Rohrer, in command of the Annapolis, states that permission was | given to several of the men to go swim- | ming while the others were engaged in | firing. Two of the men had been in for some time when McKie, who joined them, asked if they had been able to touch bot- tom. Being answered in the negative, he made a dive and was gone for several . One of the seamen says he heard a gurgling sound beneath the water. A moment later McKie appeared on the surface and shouted, ‘Shark, shark!” The surface of the water was covered with blood near where he came up. McKle started to swim, and, al- though crippled, reached the boat and was pulled in by his companions. A horrible sight met their eyes, the quartermaster's leg having been bitten off near the knee. With all dispatch he was taken aboard the Annapolis, where the surgeon found it necessary to amputate the limb be- tween the knee and hip. The surgeon in hig report states that while the accident was not in line of duty it was incident to the service. Admiral Kempff, however, in {ndorsing the papers, holds that as Quartermaster McKie had received per- mission from the officer in charge to g0 in bathing the accident ocew in the line of duty. Under these circumstances the crippled quartermaster probably will receive 2 pension. e MAY CONTEST WOODS' TITLE TO THE LAND TUnited States District Attorney Says That He Has Violated the Homestead Laws. PORT SILL, O. T. Aug. 3.—Horace Sipeed, United States District Attorney for Oklahoma, when he hearl of the Weceds selection of a quarter section ad- joining the town of Lawton, was quoted as saying: ny good lawyer can defeat Woods It a contest is instituted. The law con- tcmplates no such perversion of hcme- stead rights. If a contest is instituted there can only be one result.” Buildings have already been beJum on the V\'oogs homestead. Persons who have established themselves In business along the south border of the town calle} Me+ Coy avenue have received the tip mot ta move and to pay no attention to Woods. He will, it is said, have to instituts legal proceedings to eject them. Word has also been recelved from Washington that Emmett Cox, - s |law of Quannah Parker, has inst ed a contest before the Interfor Department for one of the quarter sections adjoin- ing the townsite. { The sale of town lots is proceeding so slowly that McCoy avenue will be an es- | tablished business street before the lots in the main business distriet are reachad | by the auctioneer.