The New York herald., 1870-08-03
TIE L6s ANGELES STAGE ROBBERS.
Their Arrival In San francisco in Charge OF
natp

Their Arrival In San francisco in Charge Of
Detectives.
[From the San Francisco Alta California July Is.
We mentioned, few days ago, that the stage
robbers who had committed SO many depreda-
tions on the Los Angeles stage route had been
arrested by citizens at Natividsd who found it
necessary to form vigilance committee for their
protection against robberes perpetrated in that
place and vicinity, aud that Captain Lees, of the
detective force, with detectives johnson and
Noyes, had gone south after the prisoners. They
returned to this city yesterday, bringing with
them the three men-Francis G.. Claughton,
Thomas Selby and James l.. Burns--who are at
present locked up n the city prison. Claughton
and Selby were found in charge of the authorities
at Monterey, but Burns had been turned
loose. AS the detectives held warrant
for his arrest and, from Information in their
possession, believing him guilty Of the crimes
with which he is charged they at once made in
quiries "a to his whereabouts. and started in pur-
suit. Different routes were taken. so as 70 make
his esca pc impossible, but it only after they
bad travelled nincty-iive miles, to Pluto that he
was found. He was at once arrested. These
Turpns operat d extensively, it appears, wit hin
the past few months. Their arrest arose from
stage Of Wells, Fargo e. Co. and carried of the
treasure box. The company having determined
to stop so wholesale and persistent system of
robbery, sent down detective Noyes, Of this city,
robbery was committed on the 4th Of June, eight
miles this side Of Pluto station. On it. way from
Los Angeles TO San Juan, Immediately after dark.
while the stage was proceeding at its usual rate,
two men stepped up to the driver and ordered
him to stop. He did So and having thrown off
the cash box, in compliance with their request, lie
was allowed TO proceed. The robbers carried of
the box TO O creek convenient, where they broke
IL open and pocketed its contents, about $l00,
with some letters.
Ga the lst of the pres ent month the stage was
again robbed about mile ard half from the
place OF the other robbing, by two men on horse
On the 7th Of July Wells, Fargo 4 Co. sent down
detective Noyes, and in six days he got on the
track Of the robbers in San Luis Obispo county,
about fifty miles from the place where the robbery
Cambria, where lie found that vigilance COM
mittee had been formed by citizens for
protection against anorganized gang OF
ascertaned the names Of the two men and also
that boy, q cousin Of Claughton's, had know.
ledge Of the robberies. This boy was found at
Natividad, where he lived with class Of lawlcss
desperadoes and brought to San Francisco.
About this time the stage was again
robbed, and the robbers were captured
by the vigiantes. This robbery occurred
forty miles nearer San Juan, when the stage was
going to Los Angeles, and the arrest of the
highwaymen is mainly due to the strategy of
the driver, Tford, who changed with other drivers
and kept on the track until they reached Nativi-
dad, where they were captured. One of tho
prisoners, Burns, came to Natividad that night,
and claimed that he had been robbed. He was
shown the men, but failed to recognize them; he
thought however, the horses looked like those of
his assailants. While this conversation was going
on man came up and identified Burns as an ac-
complice of both Selby and Claugbtop, and he
was locked up. The detectives state that the
country, for some distal ce around where the rob.
berries occurred is infested by gangs of desperate
men, who invade farms and carry off cattle, and
commit all kinds of atrocities, making the organi-
cation of O vigilance committee necessary for the
protection OF life aud property. Tho warrants
sworn out In the United States District Court here,
upon which the arrest and removal to this city of
the three men. Clhughton, Burns and Selby, were
made, charge them with obstructing the United
States mails, and they Lave been brought here to
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