The Arizona champion., 1884-10-18
BOB PAUL.
How He Broke up Gang of Desperadoes.

was sparsely settled and outlews raid ed at their pleasure, Bob Paul won such distinction for bravery and de- tective work as will never be forgot ten by the old settlers of that county. A gang of robbers under the leader ship of the noted Tom Bell, had one of their rendezvous on the south fork of the American river near the Noun tain House, on the road leading from Auburn to Sacramento. This hotel was kept by Jack Phillips, friend of the gang and sharer in their plum der. In times when it was safe for them to visit the hotel, flag foated from the staff on the top of the build ing, and when danger threatened the flag was lowered. In risky times Phillips would visit them in a secret spot near by and carry provisions to them in game bag.
 The overland stages were robbed, miners were murdered and the most terrible depredations were there com. mitted by th;s gang for years; yet their operations were so concealed as to defy detection, although their ex. istence and the name of their leader was we'll known, to the terror of that portion of California.
 Bob Paul was deputy sheriff of Calaveras county, and he set to work determined to exterminate the whole band. Fortune favored him when the noted outlaws, Spanish John and Bill White, entered Calaveras and stole some horses. Paul traced them to Knights Ferry and captured them both. He sent White back to jail, from which he had escaped, and with difficulty saved the life of Spanish John, who, during Paul's temporary absence, was taken by mob and had a rope around his neck, when the res olute deputy appeared upon the scene.
 While on his road to Calaveras with Spanish John, that robber was so greatful to Paul for saving his life that he imparted to him Tom Bells secret slgn of membership, which was the exhibition of a leaden ball con- taining four holes. Paul had already located their headquarters near the Mountain house, and was certain in his own mir d that Phillips was mem Der of the outfit.
 One day, MT. Rosenthal, a mer. chant from Nevada, while travelling toward Sacramento with S4,ooo in his possession, stopped at the Mountain house for dinner, and on resumine his journey was followed by Tom Bell and his ruffians, and murdered ana robbed not far distant, at Dotan's bar
 This atrocity caused Paul to put his long meditated plan into execution. A short time thereafter he selected { posse of resolute men and stationed them near the hotel in the night, anc at o'clock, a. m., he went alone into the bar room and called for drinks asking where the boys were.
 Jack eyed him with surprise ane suspicion, and asked him what h, meant.
 Paul then exhibited the leaden bal when Phillips put up his finger in tok en of silence, and, as others wer, present, beckoned him into an adja cent room. When in the loom h, told Paul that the gang had gone ul to Little York to rob store. Pau soon joined hls companions and, fol lowing up the trail, met the robbers and they refusing to surrender, h. opened fire, killing one of their mum ber, named Conway, and capturin, several others.
 On their return Paul arrested Phil ips, who was sent to prison for hv years, and eventually broke up an, dispersed the entire gang of highway men. Tom Bell was hanged. Thi notable act of Bob Paul, then but 2 years of age, made him the most pop ular idol of law abiding citizens, whil it caused him to be equally feared b the criminal element.
 The circumstances above are fur nished us by an old and esteemed ci, izen of Tucson, who at that time keI a trading post at Miners ravlne, nea the Mountain house, the rendezvou of the bandits.-Minipg Index.
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