Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-25

Experiences 81 q Sort OF Claude DuV1l
In Colorado.

In C0t0rado.
Now that Billy Miner alias California Bin'
has been arrested and is serving Q nfe-term
sentence in the California state penitentiary, at
Sacramento, many points In his life may be
made known to the public which were kept dark
during the noted stage robbers freedom Col
Carpenter, post-office inspector at Denver,
thus tells Of him:
''The life of California Bilr has been fuli of
eveHtful episodes which would ill % volume of
no little dimensions. stage rObnng seemed TO
be his principal pleasure. and he always did his
wora with a reckless bravery that is only egnaled
By the not Orous Burton, who, single handed.
robbed thir teen people IN an Aiam0sa Del Sortc
stage coach. Miner performed his robberies
generally with a single assistant, and was al
WAYS successful
''How did he acquire the name of California
Bill ~ was asked.
Because he has been known as California
Desperate for a number of years, and the e,i-
pnOniOus name was given him as a mark Of dis
tinctiOn. He vas born IN Michigan and Is about
% years of age. He left his native state in 1854,
aud went direct to California, and with the ex-
eeption Of one year passed in Colorado. he is
EOt known to- have been out Of the state. He
had been in the Codes State less than two ycans
when me robbed his first stage. Up to that
time he had 0een a common labJrer. Arerkcss
abandon seems TO have. OveFtaken him at this
time which made grand turning point in his
life. From an industrious f;lrTa hand he turned
into q modern Claud, DuTal.
1.-The first stare robbcry fOT which he was tried
and convicted occurred on April 3, 1866, in San
joaquin county, California he was sentenced
for term of three years, but after serving
abGIt two months. he was released BY an order
OF the court, some fiaw having been found in the
proceedings. He was out 10 years old then.
His second robbery was committed within three
months after his release from the pcnitcnJiary,
and he was arrested again. he was aided by
another party, who escaped. At his second rob-
berry the mail was left untouched. the passengers
alone being stripped of their valuables. This
robbery took place i'm Placer county, California.
Not having robbed the mail, he was tried for
grand larceny. aud received five years SEN
tenee. which term he served. Shortly after his
release he committed his third robbery. hOffllng
mp the passengers in q coach in Caaveras county.
For this he sent up for ten years In the same
penitentiary ia which he had been previously
confined He served FIVE years of this sentence
and was then pardoned by the governor Within
a month after his release no robbed another
coach i'm the same county. and, being found
guilty, was sentenced for SIX years. He served
this time, and was discharged July II, 1880. He
then thought the state too hot for him, and i'm
mediateiy after his release came across the range
and after time found his way to the Colorado
frontier.
About the middle oi September, 1880. Cali
f0rna Bill met Billy lie Roy near Pitkin. Billy
was then unknown to crime, and was WOrkiag In
q saw-mill.
of September "a, when they stopped the coach
between Pitkin and ohio City. on which Harry
White, then connected with the Union Pacific
road, was the only passenger. very small
haul was Inaie-nOt tn exceed $50. On October
following they committed their second robscry
together. near BelfOFd post office at which time
they obtained very little money. week later
they perfetrated their third robbery, and Sc
cured good haul. The Lake City stage was
robbed o! So 0sD. which loss was sustained by
the First National hank DpDVaF and
bio bank
''Three months later Leroy was caught in
Denver, but escaped California Bill hung
around Colorado until the return Of Billy Lee
Roy after his escape from the United States mar
shall We traced him to Pueblo, Colorado
Springs, ManitOu and various other places He
met Billy Leroy near the scene of their former
crimes, ard three more stages were robbed in
quick succession The population Of the whole
country was ineensed, aud strong posses of men
hunted the highwaynen day and night The
story of the capture Of Billy Leroy and his
brother after hard fight. and their lynchng at
Del Norte, will be readily remembered Cali
fornia Bill escaped There is no doubt of his
teachery. He sacrificed the lives of the Lee
ROys in order to save himself. and it has since
come to light that he was present at the lyuch-
ing Of his brothers in crime.
''The Dflicers renewed their vigilance, but it
was fully two months before he was heard of
again. when he was arrested, in company with
an unknown man, near Wagon Wheel Gap. by
Sheriff Bruno, of Rio Grande county. and
deputy. The matter was kept very quiet. be-
cause the arrest of another party depended upon
secrecy. They were captured in the mountains
after q hard chase. Being far away from civ
iiZatiOn the officers were not provided with
shackles Of any kind and the two prisoners
were loosely secured with two small leather
straps. They were kept In the saddle all day.
and at night halt was made ut a deserted
cabin which had formerly been used by pros
pector. Two hunks were formed and to make
the prisoners secure the sheriff and his deputy
cached bunked with a prisoner. At the dead
hour of midnight, when the officers, who had
been in their saddles tor forty-eight hours, and
were, consequently. very tired and sleepy and
were doing away, thinking the prisoners under
their charge we're doutiy secure California Bilr
loosened his fastenings anu grabbing pistol
and jumping from the bed fired two shots one
ut the deputy and one at the sheriff All was
then cOmmOtiOn. and before the astOnished Off
Gals could fully understand what was going on
their two prisoners had escaped. kicking off the
boards which covered the window and making
their exit through the aperture They made
their escape, although hunted for days Moth
ing has ever been heard of the partner, and
California Bill was not heard OF again until his
Arrest in California"