Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-17
NEATLY CAUGHT.
Four of the Robbers at the
County Jail.
CONFRONTED WITH THEIR Masks
How They We're Traced by JailOr
Russell-Part of the Booty
Recovered.

The robbery and burglary business,
which has been fourishing here for the
past week or two, received a severe set
back yesterday in the capture of the en-
tire gang that executed the Sepulveda
and the Five-Mile. House robberies Sat-
urday night. The three men who went
into the tavern near the Arroyo Seco and
held up the inmates, as we'll as the
fourth who held the horses out in front
while the job was in progress, are all
now safe in custody at the County Jail.
Their capture was as clever piece of
detective work as was ever crowned with
success. It was accomplished by VIM.
II. Russell, the jailor for this county, to
whom alone the credit for the capture
belongs.
When the news came to Sheriff Kays
Saturday night he started Mr.. Russell
out on the trail. The search was kept
up until it became tolerably evident that
the men had come back to town and not
gone off in the mountains as was at first
supposed.
Yesterday morning Russell took
horse and buggy and went around to
number Of livery stables to discover
whether any men answering the descrip-
ton OF the masked burglars had en-
gagged teams. About 8 o'clock at the
City Pound he got his clue. Dick
Towne, who manages the livery stable in
connection with the Pound, said that four
men had hired a team of horses and
surrey there the night before and had
not returned it until nearly midnight.
Tho MI I~x ,,I
which showed that it had been driven
out Of the city,
"Now, one of those men," said Towne,
"wants to get buggy to-day to 90 out
riding with his girl. He will be back at
noon and you can get look at him.
At O'Clock the man came and got q
rig with large white horse. Russell
followed him short distance and saw
him call at house, where young lady
with auburn hair joined him, and they
drove off together.
In the meatime Towne, who had been
investigating the matter with Russell,
had discovered that the men who had
hired the buggy the night before lived
at old Mother Waters boarding house
on San Fernando street, below the depot.
Mrs. Bridget Waters will be remembered
as the woman who had some difficulty
with her husband several months ago,
as a result of which he died very sud-
denly. The jury thought it was SELF
defense. She is now maintaining her
self and family by providing rooms and
board for such wayfarers as happen
along her way.
At this place it was found that the
four men described by Towne were liv-
ing and their names were: George
Kirby, stout, black-bearded, dark-eyed
man of middle age; Bill James and
Frank Cochran, two men about "a years
Of age, and, lastly, j. W. German,
generally known as "Shorty," a good
locking youth whom Mother Waters
described as very nice young man that
was going to get married pretty soon.
This was the young man with the white
horse outfit.
None of them had been at Mrs. Waters
place very long, and they were very
much together and away from the
other boarGers. They had been away
Saturday evening until late and then had
all four come in together. This was
enough OF clue for starter and Russell
started out to find them. Two of them
were discovered about O'Clock in a
Chinese restaurant, and were sent back
to the Jail by George Russell, the
deputy jailor, who had been sent for
to take a hand in the business.
These were Bill James and Frank Coch-
ran. A little later Kirby went back to
the ''ken" and was captured by Russell.
Last OF all, German returning from his
ride with the girl was taken in charge by
Tommy Botello, and the whole gang
were then lodged in separate rooms in
the jail.
Each was asked to account for himself
on the previous night They told a va
riety OF stories, none of which hung to-
gether On the person of one of them
was found silver watch bearing the
initials which were on the one that had
been taken the night before. One OF
them, Cochran, had $55 in gold, and the
others various sums Of money.
The keys found in the pockets of the
prisoners were appropriated, and Jailor
Russell, accompanied by the reporter
and several others, went back to Mother
Waters establishment to search the
rooms. In the room occupied by Ger
)main were found two valises.
30, Shorty is all right" said Mrs.
Waters. HE is a good boy and pays
his bills to me quite regular. You won't
find anything wrong about him."
"Wont WEI" said Jailor Russell, who
had been fishing around in one of the
valises. ''What do you say to this,
mother?" and he turned toward her with
a blue crepe mask fitted down over his
face. He had drawn it from the pocket
of long linen coat in the valise.
Three other linen coats were produced
and in the pocket of each was mask of
the blue crepe. There also were some
mud stained and wet garments, which
had evidently been worn on the expedi-
ton of the previous night. Two revol-
vers, fitting the description of those
taken from the men at the Five Mile
House, were also found.
In the room occupied by Kirby long
pistol and q cartridge belt were found
under the pillow OF his bed, also slouch
hat such as he is described as having
worn.
.The.four men are all new comers, and
their record elsewhere will be looked into
later. 1t is very evident that Kirby him
self is thoroughbred, whether the 9TH
ers are skilled hands or not. 1t is quite
possible that his record may make enter
tanning reading.
Unde:iyered kilograms.
The following are the kilograms re-
manning at the Western Union telegraph
Office up to 10 O'Clock last night: Wm.