Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-18
BURGLARS BAGGED.
CAREER OF A TROUBLESOME GANG
BROUGHT TO A SUDDEN HALT.
Young Walter Farren Turns States Evil
dence and His Accomplices Are
Held to Answer.

The police are now confident that they
have broken up the gang of burglars who
have for the past few weeks operated 50
successfully in this city.
The bufglaries were not, as was at one
time thought the work of Eastern crooks,
but of 'home talent" as Chief Lee aptly
puts it.
The officers had been on the right scent
for nearly two weeks, but could not fasten
substantial evidence upon the suspects.
Finally, after STEMS general merchandise
store on K street, between Eighth and
Ninth, bad been broken into and robbed,
officer Cunningham learned that young
man named Walter Farren, whose parents
are said to be respectable people, had some
of the stolen property in his possession. He
found Farren and took him to the station
house. The youth was kept in Jail for sew
eral days, but he denied all knowledge of
the affair, and was finally released.
On the day after the Stein burglary, a
tough-looking individual named John
Wolck was arrested for picking a young
lady's pocket at the dedication ceremonies
at Pythian Castle. This man was suspected
by the police of being connected with the
burglaries, as he and Farren and another
suspect named James English had been
seen together frequently, and The actions of
all were Of the kind TO arouse suspicion.
English was recognized by citizen as be-
ing the individual who attempted to rob a
resident on P street few days previous to
Thanksgiving, and police officer Frank
Rider arrested him on a charge of va
grancy.
The principal operators were now all. or
nearly all, in jail, but still the police lacked
positive evidence, and the result was that
they had TO be released.
But murder will out" and in this case
burglary got out, too. Young Farren's
conduct aroused the suspicion of his par
ents, and he finally confessed to his father
that he had a hand in the Stein bur-
glsry, his accomplices being English and
Wolck. The elder Farren is law-respect-
ing citizen, and even though his boy was
implicated he realized that the case was
one for the Courts to deal with. He sought
the advice Of his attorney, Frank Esta-
brook, and the latter agreed that it would
be better to report the matter to the police,
and take chances upon the youngster receiv-
ing mercy.
Accordingly young Farren was taken to
police headquarters, and there made full
confession. Upon this confession English
was arrested yesterday morning and charged
with burglary, as was also Wolck, who
was already in custody. Another young
man, Charles Logan, was also arrested for
receiving stolen property, Farren having
implicated him in his confession. Farren
also told the police where the stolen prop
erty had been hidden under the Clunie
building, and police officer Eldred recov-
cred some of it, together with some articles
which were taken from a saloon, which
had been robbed previous to the Stein bur-
glary.
AS a reward for turning States evidence,
the charges against Farren were dismissed
when the cases came up in the Police
Court yesterday. English and Wolck were
placed on trial, and on Farren's confession,
as well IS their own inability to give a
straight account of the affair and Major
Anderson's vigorous cross-examination,
were held to answer the charge before the
Superior Court Farren admitted that it
was himself who broke open STEMS place,
and accompanied by English robbed the
place, while Wolck stood guard out
So Wolck and English tried to
squlrm out CT the matter by laying all the
blame on Farren, but it was to no purpose.
Fsrren's statement regarding Logan s
connection with the affair was not of suffi-
Gent weight to legally hold that worthy, so
he was discharged.
Although Farren would not admit it,
the police are satisfied that he and his COM
panions were implicated in the various
other burglaries which have occurred i'll
the past month or so. A close watch will
he kent upon him