Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-11-15
[san Francisco Bulletin, November 14sh.l

lSan Francisco Bulletin, November l4th.I
Last Monday evening the detectives of Wells,
Fargo & Co., of whom J. B. Hume is chief, succeeded
in running down and capturing after long chase OF
about six years, one OF the most noted and daring
stage robbers of the country, Black Bart, as he is
generally known. His real name is said TO be Chss.
Z. Bolton, although some doubt exists as to this
being his true patronymi,. Detective Hume was as
sisted by Captain Stone Of the city police, and de-
tectiye Harry Morse.
CLUES THAT LED To HIS CAPTURE.
They found their man in the Webb House, on
Second street His capture was effected in q Pc
culiar MANNER and was in consequence OF clue left
by the highwayman at his last operation, near Cop
Peropos, on the morning of the Sd instant. As the
Sonora and Milton stage was running over the
mountain road man, whose face was concealed by
-four sack that had been ripped open and ceansed,
jumped from behind the thicket skrting the roadway
and ccmmanded halt. He enforced his bidding with
presented revolver. No passengers were in the
stage at the time, and the driver, Mcconnell, was
compelled to get down from his seat, unharness the
horses and drive them behind the conveyance. The
robber then broke open the treasure-box OF Wells,
Fargo Co. and took therefrom 22S ounces of ANAL
gam, valued at S4,l00, which had come from the
Patterson mine at Tuttletown three and quarter
ounces of gold and $3.50 in gold and silver coin. As
Mcconnell drove the animals to the OF the stage
he noticed an Italian boy on the foothills short
distance away, who was carrying Henry rifle, with
which he had started out to hunt. He beckoned to
him, and the lad came. The robber had secured his
booty and was making off with it, when Mcconnell
seized the rifle from the boys hands and fired at
the despoller. Black Bart, for it was undoubtedly
he, ran. Mcconnell pursued, and discharged three
more shots at him. In running Black Bart lost his
hat, little round Derby. and his handkerchief fell
out OF his pocket. He also threw away package
of papers that he had taken from the stage. These
were red with blood, and this fact induced McCon-
neil to think that one of his Shots at least, had
wounded the robber The articles that Black Bart
had left behind were picked up later, when posse
of men from CoIperopolis returned to the scene
after Mcconnell tad driven back to town.
A further clue, another piece OF property, which
is presumed to belong to Black Bart, was found be-
hind some rocks near the spot where the stage was
stopped This was the case OF pair OF spyglasses
which it is thought he used descry the stage from
afar and to note how many were about it. On the
handkerchief was a laundry mark which was the
means of securing his arrest.
A TELL-TALE MARK.
The articles were brought to this city. The mark
on the handkerchief was a private laundry mark
and search among the laundres of the city, Chi
nese and otherwise, resulted. In a few DAYS the
detectives located the of the mark at a laun
dry agency on Bush street, KEEP; by 7. c. Ware
From Mr.. Ware it was found that the owner of the
handkerchief was c. E. Bolton, who was stopping
at the Webb House, No 70 Second street, Room 40
This person was Immediately put under surveillance
Hume notified hunter near Stockton, who had
seen Bart, to hold himself in readiness to come
down aud Identify tbs man, the programme being to
make sure he was the proper person before making
the arrest. From all descriptions it was evident that
Black Bart and Bolton were the same.
A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST.
Sheriff Thorn procured warrant for his arrest on
charge of stage robbery from the Superior Court
OF Calaveras county, and armed with this document
he came to this city. 1t was found that the occu-
pant of Room 49, Webb House, was a we-known
man about town. He was thought to be a mining
man, having conveyed that impression in the society
OF others by his conversation. His departures from
the city at various intervals were accounted for on
this suppostion. He generally ate at the New York
Restaurant, on Kearny street, near Clay. He
Was ever scrupulously neat and clean, and,
though he wore diamonds, was in mannerdardy-
ish. His conversation was void OF vugarty; he
never drank to excess and had no taste for tobacco
His speech was ever civil and he treated all coTdi-
ally. Bolton, it seems, was out of the city last
week, but returned Saturday. The Stockton hunter
saw him on the way from the train, and identified
him as Black Bart. On Monday evening Captain
Stone, Captain Hume, Henry Morse and a fourth
party took hack up town and were driven to No
81 Second street, where they arrested Bolton with
out much pareying The same hack took the party
to the office of Captain Hume where Bolton was ac
cused of being Black Bart. He vas shown that his
captors had positive proof Of his identity, Captain
Hume explaining that he had been tracking him for
six years. and had in the last three years got full
and hinute description OF the lone highwayman;
he rehearsed the story of the lost cuff and the silk
gave the history of the laundry mark
and suddenly cast the peculiar looking hat at his
feet, as il to overwhelm him with evidence, but to
all this Mr. Bolton was imperyOus an said his real
name was Spaulding; he smiled in a polite way, de.
MED everything, and passed the night in the tanks
at the City Prison.
TAKEN TO oALAvERAs.
He was registered in the small book under tie
name of Spaulding, that he had last given Yester-
day morning he took ride on the cars to Stockton
Detective Morse, Johnny Thacker, of Wels, Fargo
u 20. 8 force, and Captain stone, OF the regular
police force, accompanying him. At Stockton his
photograph was taken. From thence no resumed
his journey to San Andreas Calaveras county,
where he was given quarters in the jail and where
he will be tried. On his person when arrested was
found fSl60 in gold and $40 in silver The latter
sum he allowed to retain. The Derby hat fitted
him so accurately that he said he was almost
tempted TO buy it. In his room nothing of pecuni-
Bry value found, but an old suit Of Clothes,
identified os those worn by him when he robbed the
Sonora and Milton stage, was picked up. These he
had discarded for newer garments, which he bought
in Sacramento last week, and which he had on
when arrested.
BLACK BART's CAREER.
Black Bart is native of jefferson county, New
York, and 40 years of age. His first appearance in
California was made on the Sd day Of August 1877
lie then ntroC uced himself to the express company
by stepping out on the road in front Of the stage,
hen winding its way from Fort Ross to Russian
liver, and, with double barreled shotgun, de-
handing that the treasure-box and mail bags be
.hroTn to him. The box, followed quickly by the
nail bags slid from the drivers hands in a twink.
ing; the driver, at sign from the man, whipped
up his team and disappeared in the dust of the
oad, leaving the stranger to rife the box of about
300 in coin, a check for S305 81 drawn on the
Changers Bank in this city in favor of Fisk Bros.
md relieve any letters which contained coin OF their
contents. About one year after the above robbery,
July 25, 1879, the stage from Quincy to Orovie
vas stopped by one man, and Wells, Fargo Co.'S
1oX robbed Of 1919 in coin, one diamond ring (said
% be worth 5000, one silver watch valued at S25.
The mail was also robbed. In the box, when found
next day, was the following
Here lay me down to sleep
To wait the coming morrow,
Perhaps success perhaps defeat,
And everlasting sorrow.
Yet come what viii. III try it on,
Ny condition can't be worse,
And if there's money in that box
It's money in my purse.
BLACK BART the Pos