Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-30
AREGULARHIGHWAYMAN
u,YNNING GIRLS HEARTS AND
uOLDING UP STAGECOACHES.

SkilIful WOrk'
From the We,o York Sun.
s.N FRANCISCO, March 7.-San
onentiu prison. 20 miles from this city,
Contains a vast number Of outlaws and
desperate men generally, but conspicu-
ons among these imprisoned road agents
Is ~Brlly', Miner, VINO has not only fig
ured prominently as a highwayman IN
tnis State, but is known in the same ca
pscitv in Colorado and the Rocky Noun
tain districts. He has also posed as a
lion OF society in a quiet town IN the
peaceful State of Michigan. Miner Is
now 81 years OF age, and notwithstanding
his many years of confinement IL vet
handsome and graceful fellow, nuenG Oh
tongue and captivating in style. PreVl-
ous 10 1880 Miner served Jour years IN
San Quentin for stage robbery, and, nm
mediately upon his release, quietly ois-
appeared from the State. Early IN NO
yember. 1880, he arrived in Denver Col,
where he met Billy Leroy, one or the
most noted and daring highwaymen that
ever stopped stage or stole morse IN
the Rocky Mountains. Miner ana Leroy
at once formed partnership. miner
adopted the name Of william a. morgan;
he was better known among the thieving
fraternity as California Billy" The fin
anees of the pair were low land they imme-
diately set out upon prospecting tour 10
the southwestern part ofCOlorado. About
the middle of the month of December
thew robbed the Del Norte stage, realizing
from this hazardous undertaking the sum
of So, 500 in gold coin. They were closely
pursued by Lew Armstrong, Sheriff of
Rio Grande county. Leroy was subse-
0uently captured and hanged by vigil
no.
usual good luck, escaped with all the
booty, and made his way TO Chicago. He
remained in that city only long enoughto
secure q most fashionable outfit, and,
having fllsr{ two Saratoga trunks with
gorgeous finery. he speedily left this
prominent point for the quiet seclusion of
Michigan. He settled upon the retired
town OF Onondaga in which to make his
debut in society. The advent of a fash
ionably attired. dashing and handsome
young man with apparently unlimited
resources created quite Stir in OnOndaga
society, and Miner soon gained an entree
10 the best families in the town. He
claimed to be wealthy gentleman from
California that was East attending to
some private buslness-winding up an
estate of which he wastbe sole surviving
beir. The prodIgality with which he
spent his money gave color to his story
and at once established him as a great
catch.
He was particularly attentive to the la
dies, and told them all manner of fabulous
stories about his great wealth in CalHor-
nia-great blocks of houses in Sacramen-
to and San Francisco, and rich gold mines
without number. One girl, more dazzled
than the rest, became engaged to marry
him. But Miners reckless eXtraVagances
soon depleted his finances to such an ex-
tent that he made uD his mind to leave
the quiet retirement of OnOndaga society
and again seek the wilds of the West for
further supplies.
During the latte part OF February,
1881, Miner told hi1 new friends that ur-
gent business called him at once to Cali
fOrnIa. HIS aged mother was in feeble
health, and 1t was absolutely essential
that he should take her upon an ocean
voyage, and allow the gentle breezes of
the Pacific to fan back to her faded cheeks
the bloom and glow of health.
On the eve Of his departure the promi-
nent citizens or the town gave him.a ban
quet, at which the Mayor presided, and
Billy became the hero of the hour. He
babe his tearful betrOthed an affecting
goodbye, promising to return as soon as
he had performed a most eOlnmendable
act offilial duty.
He again turned up in Denver, where
he sold all his fnery, and with the money
purchased Winchester rifle, two pistols,
and knife. He then joined forces with
Stanton L. Jones, formerly of ChihcOthe,
Ohio. The pair Immediately made their
way to Del NOrte, and again the Del Norte.
stage was robbed, but this time the plum
der was but small sum. They made
their escape to theROcky Mountains close
ly followed by Armstrong and a posse.
After a long search they were finally
captured, but while the officers were on
their way to Del Norte with their prison
ers, they stopped to camp for the night.
The officers were tired. aud fell asleep,
leaving Jones and Miner to be watched
by teamster. At l O'Clock in the morn
ing the two men broke away, and with a
pistol that had been overlooked in the
search, Miner fired four shots at the Off
GERS, breaking the arm Of one and serious
ly wounding the other. They then
dashed away in the darkness. This was
the last heard of them in Colorado.
On the morning of Nov. Z, 1881, the
stage from Sonora to Milton, in Tuolumne
county, Cal. was robbed by four masked
men of So, 200. The job was neatly done
IN ten minutes, and not mark or sign
was left TO denote who bad committed tie
act. Detective Aull, then in the employ
OF Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, but now
Captain Of the yard at San Quentin pris-
on, took charge of the case, and arrived
on the scene the day following the rob-
berry.
BE at once determined that the work had
Deen supervised by Miner, although at
mat time 1t was not known that he was on
lne Pacific coast. Aull, in company with
tne Sherius from the surrounding cOun-
tles, secured the country. A trip made
through Stanislaus disclosed thefact that
notorious horse thief named Jim Con-
nor mad been seen in the vicinity in COM
Rany with dashing young man named
" III. Anderson. Anderson was laid up for
some time at Chinese Camp with chills and
ever, and while their made many friends.
Alter MS recovery Anderson attended a
country ball at Angels Camp, place
made famous from the poem OF "The
9pelilng School at Angels" by Bret
Harte.
At this ball Anderson was lionlzed by
.ne ladies', and during the evening prom
lsed 70 send some music from San Fran
Sisco 10 a young girl who had attracted
MS passing fancy. This ball occurred the
1Nehlng before therObbery. and two weeks
ateI the music was sent, which furnished
We hrst clue To the robbers. They were
Traced to san Francisco, where they had
eIrlFed after five nights OF long rides on
.OrseOack. While in the city Miner, or
AnuerSon, purchased $50 suit OF clothes.
FoV oyercoat and a gold watch and
nalu' mus gorgeously equipped he
.arIed back IN company with Crum to
pursue the c0urtship begun on the night
the Dali. When about half way back
uey learned for the first time that Capt.
a Z TaHs Htus.aa II.