Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-12-01
A NEAT CATCH.

"A very neat piece or detective work
was consummated within the past
week by two California detectives.
After three years of hard work in
ferreting out the case and travelling
1000 miles, they succeeded in their
purpose. running down two criminals
who committed a daring deed in that
State. Although the scene of the
crime is located on the Pacific Slope.
it has Il local interest from the fact
that the criminals made visit to this
city. and the last link in the chain of
evidence against them was discov-
cred here. The parties during their
stay i'll this city made u number of
acquaintance, and no doubt many
of them will recall the occasion of
their visit. The crime for which they
We're SO rclentlessly. hunted down
stirred the State of California from
the border to the interior.
On September l, 1879, stage on
route from Moore's Flat to Nevada
City. in Nevada county, California,
was stopped at high noon midway Of
the two stations by a couple of high
waymen. The point where the stage
was halted is an isolated place in a
clump of trees and the cover of dark
ness was not necessary to the accom-
plishment of their purpose. One of
the highwaymen was armed with a
shotgun, and he compelled The pas
sengers and stage-drlver to alight
and form a line at the side of the
vehicle, while the other stood prepared
with pistol in hand. When the ar
rangement of the victims was COM
pleted, the robber with the pistol
LOWERED HIS WEAPON
And began an examination of the
passengers personal effects, relieving
them OF their money and valuables.
This completed, he began an over
hauling of the baggage and booty ON
the stage, while his pal stood menac-
ing the passengers with his shotgun.
Shortly after the plundering robber
pulled out of the baggage valise,
and, holding it up, inquired to whom
it belonged. William F. Cummins,
a banker of Moore's Flat, stepped
forward and claimed it. The valise
contained two gold bars of the value
OF $4,000, and. as he acknowledged
the ownership, he said it was all he
had and he would defend it with his
life: He then grappled the robber,
and fierce struggle ensued, both
falling to the ground. The o.ner
robber looked on approvingly until
the two combatants had rolled to the
end OF the stage. Then it was seen
that his pal was having some trouble
in subduing his man, and he stepped
forward and, placing the gun to
the bankers head, blew out his
brains. This little affair" in no
ways disturbed the equanimity of the
robbers, and they continued their op-
erations as if nothing had happened.
After completing their job, they
hustled the passengers into the coach
and, gathering the corpse from the
ground, tumbled it into the stage and
ordered the driver to move on.
Upon the arrival of the stage at
Nevada City the alarm was given and
Il hundred or more men Immediately
went in pursuit of the men. They
secured the mountains for miles
around, but failed to find trace of
the murderers. The deed excited
much attention throughout the State,
and every detective put himself on
the lookout for the perpetrators. SO
general was the effort to ferret out
the crime that within a few months
it was determined that the murderers
were Charles Dorsey. alias Charles
Moore. and John G. Patterson, both
exconvicts. The former had served
a term of three years in the State
Prison for highway robbery, and the
latter one year for burglary. Both
stood six feet in height, and were large
men. Mr.. Cumm ms, the
murdered man, was
PROMINENT BANKER,
Quite wealthy, and was a Knight
Templar. No effort was spared by
his friends or the authorities to ru n
down the murderers, but for a long
time the hunt was unsuccessful.
In Dec, 1889, a man named 10 hn
Z. Collins, alias "keyhole," was ar
rested in st. Louis upon the charge
Of burglary. His shrewd intelligence
and general demeanor made him a
customer for the st.