Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-14
face and then there was a convulsion
and he was dead.

face and then there was a convulsion
and he was dead.
LOOKED LIKE LYNcHING.
An angry crowd collected at the
jail and the Sheriff, who had hurried
his charge to the cells summoned all the
force at his disposal and arming them
heavily, posted them 80 as to drive back
any possible attacking party. Doctors
Baylis and Burns hurriedly examined the
prisoner and found that his wounds were
not serious and then asked him his
name. John Oakes" he replied. A
search through his clothes resulted in
the discovery OF a letter from an insane
asylum at Rochester, Minnesota,
in which doctor inquired
how he was getting along.
Oakes was evidently non compes n,entis,
and this letter confirmed such an i'm
preston, so Sheriff Cole, to whom it was
handed, took it to the steps outside and
announced to the crowd that evidence
had been obtained that the man was in
sane. The statement was received with
incredulity, but the crowd soon afterward
scattered, so evidently all danger of an
| immediate attack was over. Donahue
had of course been released on arrival at
the Jail, as he had simply aided in ar
resting the prisoner, and it was this that
gave rise to the rumor that was current
during the day, to the effect that two
men had endeavored to rob the bank.
Cakes refused to make any statement all
when questioned as to the motives of his
crime, but simply shook his head as the
questions We're propounded. He was
neatly dressed and wore a white shirt
with collar and necktie, his ensemble be-
ing that of staid workingman. Mr..
Baker, OF the legal firm of Baker & Cole,
obtained audience with the prisoner and
the two conversed quietly together for
about half an hour. When Mr.. Baker
had gone away Oakes became more COM
municative. He talked freely with
Sheriff Cole, but made most remark
able statement. He said that when he
could not get the money he fired at what
was to him nothing more than target
in the image of man. II fred back and
stung him, he said, whereupon he called
on man in the corner to help him, and
as he would not, he fred at him. Cakes
said that he had been in an in
sane asylum at Rochester, Mime
sofa, for four years, and that he
was expecting some money from there.
When asked if the cashier of the bank
had insulted him he said "No" and added
'"When he refused the money I said to
him, I am very sorry, but I'll have to
kill you.'" Continuing, Cakes said:
"After had shot him started off for
my lodgings, but rough man caught
hold of me and brought me in here"
AN INTERVIEW WITH CAKES.
Sheriff Cole at first shook his head
when the HERALD reporter requested to
be allowed to interview the prisoner,
but finally good. .naturedly said, "Well,
as you have come all the way down
here, I'll let you see him for minute"
Through heavy iron door and then
down score OF so of steps the scribe
was ushered and found himself in large
vault, in one corner of which in sit
ting posture was Cakes. He proved
to be a man OF about 40 years of
age and evidently toiler. for his face
was weather-beaten and his hands
showed that he lived by the sweat of his
brow. His head was bandaged and his
wounded arm hung by his side, but heI
looked up with inquiring eyes as th,
Sheriff and his guest approached.
"Here is newspaper man who wan
to talk with you," said Mr.. Cole, ar
Oakes nodded assent, so the reporter
gan his interrogations. The prison
replied in a very rambling man,
He said that he had been pc,
cuted for four years and that
had some money coming to him
could not get it. The cashier of
bank was among his oppressors, he sa
and that was why he killed him.
"Did you have any individual spite
against him?" asked the scribe.
"No," was the prompt reply.
"Did you 60 into the bank this morn
ing with the intention of killing him ?"
was the next question.
"Yes," replied Cakes.
He looked very mysterious when
asked from whom he expected the
money, and said that he dared
not explain, as there was some
one in town interested with him in
the affair. 81 didn't kill anyone to-day"
he blurted out in the midst of the con-
versation, and then, shaking his head,
added, "Iam sure of that" He stated
that he was a railroad man and had
worked on construction trains in Minne-
sofa for some years, adding that he had
been employed by Mr.. Sanborn of the
Santa Fe in, Ohio, His language was
without doubt that of lunatIc, but
whether or not he was simply acting q
part is of course impossible to say. His
eyes were quite clear and his mode of
expression correct, but he showed cap
ability of contradicting himself that was
quite astounding.
oAKEs' RECORD.
Inquiries about town showed that
Oakes arrived in San Bernardino on the
25th of November last and went to the
Eureka House, boarding place for la
borers, near the Santa Fe depot He
was evidently in very Strengthened cir
cumstances, for since he has been there
he has only paid "a toward his expense
account. He hunted up Mr.. Sanborn,
who is quartered in town as Trainmaster
for the Santa Fe, and it appeared that
Mr.. Sanborn knew him, for he gave
Oakes $5 and promised to give him
work as soon as an opportunity occurred.
Oakes told the people at the house
that he had come from Minnesota.
but beyond this he made no
reference to his former movements. The
only thing peculiar noticed about him
was that be was singularly unsociable
and would sit out on the porch alone
until late in the night. After Mr.. San
born promised him work he hung around
the Santa Fe depot and was frequently
noticed bV the railroad man tn ha ta akinO