Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-01-27
THE ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE
MORENO.

MVnGNVs
twenty-five Shots Fired by the Pursusrs.
Seven BY tho Pursued, and Nobody Serious
ly Hurt.
For some time past it has been
known to the authorities of the
county and city that Moreno, the
notorious horse.thief, has been In
the habit Of coming into the city
to visit his family, who live on
CASTELAR, street, Sonoratown, and
consequently the officers have been
on the alert to affect his capture.
On Tuesday night, about II o'clock,
Deputy Sheriff J. A. Berry, in
passing along Buena. Vista street,
saw three men lying on the plaza
where the Mexican festas are held,
one of whom he suspected to be
Moreno. In order to make sure
that Moreno was one of the party,
he repassed the place aud was con.
armed 10 his suspicion. He then
came down to Police Head
quarters. Securing the assist.
ancs OF Captain Davis and
officers Fletcher, Willing and
Hart, the party returned to Sonora
town and posted Themselves In the
shadow of some pepper trees 80 as
to commad a view Of the house
that Moreno was expected to visit.
Presently they saw him and two
other men go up to the door and
knock. Not being admitted, the
men turned into the street and
walked towards the place where
the officers were concealed. As
they approached Berry stepped out
from the shadow of the trees and
commanded the party, in Spanish,
to throw up their hands. His com.
panions did SO, but Moreno stepped
behind them and STOPPING, covered
himself with their pers0ns, and
started TO run Off.
Berry again commanded them TO
throw up their hands, telling Mo.
reno by name that he was his pris-
oner. The men who were In front
answered that their hands were up,
and in proof clapped them over
their heads. Moreno now jumped
from behind his cover when Berry
dred from his shotgun, Moreno
firing almost simultaneously. He
then turned aud ran up the street,
Berry and the officers following
and firing on the fugitive.
Moreno ran like y deer, turning
every now and then to fire at his
pursuers, the second time he turned
firing four shots. The race contin.
ued until Moreno had fred seven
shots, the last passing through two
coats worn by Berry and CHANGING
off his thigh without going through
his pantal0ons, and SO numb ing
the limb that he thought he was so
seriously wounded rs to disable him
from proceeding further. This end
ed the race, the aid OF the other of.
fcers being necessary to assist their
wounded companion to Police
Headquarters, where his wound
was examined by DR.. Lindley and
found to consist of . bruise which
will stiften the limb for q time, but
will not result in any permanent
injury.
The following is q summary Of
the shots fired: Berry 6. two from o
shotgun and four from q revolver;
Davis I, two from shotgun and
Eve from revolver; Fletcher 8. all
from rev0lvers, and Moreno 7, also
from revOlvers, the last of which
was the only effective shot during
the fusilade.
We were waited OH yesterday
evening by Mr.. Jose Maria River
ra, who Informed US that about Q
quarter before 3 O'Clock yesterday
morning, he and companion en-
tered Carmona's saloon, In Son0.
ratown, and were confronted by
Moreno, who thought they were of
ficers and was prepared to give
them q warm reception, AS they
entered the door he jumped to his
feet, tucked the skirts of his coat
under his arms so as to leave &C.
cess to his pistol pockets unlm.
peded, from each OF which the
handle Of revolver protruded. He
also had one in his right hand
ready for use. They told him In
Spanish that they were not after
him, when he sat down again and
com menced the recital of his
nights adventure with the officers.
MOreno's account Of the firing and
pursuit was substantially the same
~ that given above. He said that
he knew from the stopping Of the
officers that his last shot had hit
one of them. He continued rum
ming, howeveA as far as the next
corner when he stopped and, look
ing back, could see by the refec.
ton from the gas lamp near the
officers that they had given up the
chase aud seemed to be taking q
wounded man off the field. He
then felt secure the pursuit was
over for the night at least.