The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-31
California Dandlttl.

Since the withdrawal of the telegraph
from the San Joaquin country, says q
California paper, in the neigiborhood
Of Firebaugh's Ferry, there has been a
great influx Of desperadoes to the sec
tion, and acts OF lawlessness have be-
come OF daily occurrence. The absence
Of the telegraph gives these characters
every opportunity to ply their vocation
without the fear Of speedy capture, and
life and property aro in constant ieop-
ardy. Bands Of cattle and sheep are
boldly driven of, and horses arc stolen
under the very noses Of their owners.
George L. Hoffman keeps store and
hotel there, and is Postmaster and
Wells, Fargo L Cos. agent. Wednes-
day evening, about 7 o'clock, Just as
supper was over and the boarders, seven
in number, were seated about tho fire,
enjoying their pipes, five men, armed to
the teeth, entered the room with pistols
drawn, and ordered the astonished crowd
to throw up their hands. Being taken
SO completely by surprise, no alterna-
tive was left bit to comply with the
demand, when they were bound and
laid upon the floor. So little disturb
ance was made during this proceeding
that Mr.. Hoffman, who had not yet
finished his meal, knew nothing Of what
was going on until he emerged from the
dining.room, when ho saw guard ut
each door, and found himself looking
down tho barrel Of o large.sized revolt
yer. He was commanded to hold up his
hands, but not complying at once with
tho command, it was repeated with m
carnestness which left no doubt OF the
intention OF the ruftians to enforce tho
order. Mr.. Hoffman was then obliged
10 open his safe, from which was OF.
tracted $3.50 OF his own money and 800
belonging to Wells, Fargo 1 Co. Tho
stage from this place to Visalia drove
up during this time, and tho driver,
Dennis Conroy, was seized, bound, and
laid on his face in company with tho
others, after being relieved OF $40.
Twcnty-seven dollars were also taken
from man named Allen, and about 5000
worth Of clothing from tho store. But
five Of the robbers were seen, all Span
iards except one, WHO was q Frenchman,
but the house was supposed to be sur
rounded with desperadoes.
Mr.. Conroy, the stage driver, was
bound and robbed about year ago near
Soap Lake, while making his usual trip.
Ono Of his assailants was captured and
tried, and Mr.. Conroy's testimony Sc
cured for him term OF twenty years
in the State prison. Among tho band
on Wednesday night he recognized an
other Of the party who had attacked him
year ago, and the ruliian seemed to
family remember him, for ho scrutin-
lied his countenance closely q number
of times, and turned him over and over
in order to find some moro sure resem-
blance. He then consulted the leader
Of the band, who asked Mr.. Hoffman
who this man was, Mr.. Hoffman, re-
membering tho previous robbery, re-
piled that he had just arrived in the
State, and that the regular driver being
sick, he had been driving in his stead.
This explanation seemed satisfactory,
and the robbers left, much to tho re-
lief Of the poor fellows feelings, for he
says had he been identified they would
certainly have killed him for sending
one Of their comrades TO prison.
The canal company is at work some
miles from Firebaugh's, and the party
headed directly for that point, and Il
was thought they contemplated IN at-
tack on them, though when our infor-
mant left nothing definite was known.