The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1884-05-11
THE PREscorTs AND STEELE.
Their statement. Retu,so.

oNuSo0IouS9 rOIOk60s
II. A. Travilliou, brother OF the
Sheriff of Baker County Oregon, and
Deputy Sheriff VIM. Harper, arrived
here from Baker City by the train this
morning for the purpose Of conveying
the parties captured by Willard and
Triplett, back to Oregon, to find that
they were already on their way there in
charge OF the latter, the parties having
passed each other on the Utah Northern
road, without the knowledge of either.
1t appears that the Oregon officers left
Baker City about the time the dispatch
notifying them OF the departure Of the
men was sent from here, and as Baker
Is some as miles from the nearest tele-
graph station, it failed to reach that
place in time to be effective.
Our reporter this morning interviewed
Messrs Harper and Travilliou with re-
gard TO the statements made here by
the captured men respecting their inno-
cence of the crimes charged against
them, and their rough treatment by the
officers at the time of, and subsequent to
their arrest iii Oregon. Both these gem
tiemen most positively assert that there
is very little, if any truth in the state
ments referred to. That the evidences
OF the guilt OF the seven men arrested
with possibly one eIception-is over
whelming. 1t is admitted that they
were somewhat cramped for space in the
Jail, the building being small, and six
| persons being confined therein for minor
ohenses ut the time the seven mentioned
were arrested, making thirteen in all,
but that the building was filthy, or that
they were denied any privileges or COM
forts compatible with their safe keeping
Is totally false. They state that two
extra guards were supplied by the COM
mlssioners, and the prisoners were suf-
fered to go outside with an attendant
whenever they asked the privilege.
The whole interio. Of the inil was also
thoroughly scrubbed and swept every
day, III order to keep it as clean and
wholesome as possible. Recognizing
the demand for more Jail room the COM
missioners had ordered wing built and
material for its construction was being
hauled upon the ground at the time the
prisoners made the break. The state
ments that the feeling against the arres-
tea parties is caused by misreprescnta-
tons of irresponsible persons, these
gentlemen report as incorrect. The sup
posed tramp whom they employed, and
who, they charge, is their principal ac-
cuscr, was in reality, a detective, en-
ployed by the Stock Associations for the
purpose of ferreting out the thefts Of
which these parties were suspected, and
to procure the proofs. The fact that
the parties now under arrest had been
furnishing n. Z. railroad contractors
with beef that excluded competition, and
the further fact that their stock consisted
OF little else than horses, was well cal
culated to arouse suspicion in the minds
OF neighboring stock men. Their ina
bllity To discover from whom the beef
cattle were purchased confirmed the be-
lief that they were not honestly obtained
and the plan Of sending u detective in
the guise of working man in search of
work was adopted. lie succeeded in
getting employment as wood-chopp,r,
aud beng totally unsupported, made n
thorough search Of the premises without
alarming the occupants and found bur-
led hides i'll several places; some with
the brands mutilated and others with
the brand cut entirely ont. A number
OF others were found sunk in q slough
from which the brands had also been
cut The arrest Of the parties was hast
cncd however by the movements of some
Of the small stock owners in the vicinity
who being unnpprized Of the actions OF
the Associations, were liable to precipi-
tate matters and alarming the thieves
render their capture both difficult and
dangerous. But for this, the plan Of
the detective would have been permitted
to ripen more fully by the aid OF further
secret search for evidence. This cir
cumstancc made II necessary 20 bring
matters to n head Immediately, and the
parties were descended upon quietly at
night and arrested when they had little
chaucc for resistance.
According to the statement Of Deputy
Sheriff Harper and Mr.. Travillion, the
evidence against these men now in
possession Of the nutharities is Of such n
positive nature that their conviction of
the oifense with which they are charged
il almost certainty.
The band Of horses which the accused
men turned over as II fee TO their counsel
are being disposed Of by the latter as
fast MS possible to parties from abroad in
order that they may bc taken out Of that
country, as IL is strongly suspected that
ths title TO many Of them may not stand
the requisite tests.
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