The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-07-05

trusted men and stockholders, alone had
keys. He must, we concluded, have ad-
mitted the robbers to the bank, but the
fact of his having been murdered was
proof of his integrity. Had he put up a
job with them, they would not have fin
ished him off. He was a sharp, shrewd
fellow, and what excuse they could have
urged to gain admission was beyond our
figuring. Detectives were put to work
on the case, but not the slightest clue
could they get for weeks. 1t seemed as
if the robbers had taken wings as they
left the bank Three months later two
men, who were suspected of being "gOod
fellows, were arrested at a point 200
miles away, and in another State, for
stealing a horse and buggy. In following
up this case to a conviction it was proved
that they had arranged to do bank In
country town, and that the rig had been
stolen as a part of the programme. One
of the men was recognized as person
seen in our town about the time of our
robbery, and the bank people became
satisfied that both of them had hand in
it. They had no proofs, and the matter
would have been permitted to drop but
for me.
The loss of cash was only about S11, =
600. About S35, 600 in securities be-
longed to depositors, aud the balance
was the loss of the bank None Of the
securities had been negotiated thus far,
and it was my theory thet the robbers
had them securely hidden away some
where. While 1 could not be positive
that either Of the men arrested for steal
ing the horse and buggy vas the party
wanted for our job, two O. our citizens
were so positive in identifying one Of
them that l was ready to chance it. The
bank had offered a big reward for the
arrest of the robbers and murderers, and
after due deliberation with myself and
several consultations with friends, de-
termined on plan. The men had been
sent to prison for three years apiece.
When arrested they made a fight, and
burglars tools were also found in their
possession.
I visited the prison and learned that
one had been assigned to the boot and
shoe department, while the other had
gone to the chair works. I walked
through this department and saw him en-
gagged in chair painting. The two were
so widely separated that there was no
possibility of a meeting except in the
chapel on a Sunday. The one in the
chair department was the younger by sew
eral years.
One day, when had my plans all laid,
I entered a jewelry store in the city from
which the men had been sentenced and
asked to look at some watches. A tray
of them was set, and l grabbed one
valued at $40 and ran out. 1 could
have got clear off as well as not, but my
object was to be arrested. On my ex-
animation 1 pleaded guilty and was
bound over When the case came to the
higher court a lawyer was assigned me,
and had I worked with him the fury
would have cleared me. I refused to
answer any questions, admitted my guilt,
and was regarded by some as light in the
head. The jeweler did not desire my
conviction, and but for my impudence l
should have failed in my purpose. A
verdict of guilty was finally reached and
his Honor gave me year in prison,
though believe he was ready to suspend
sentence in case l broke down and
promised reform.
When arrived at the prison I gave my
occupation as a chair finisher, and, TO my
great satisfaction, was assigned to that
work, and soon found myself alongside
the man l was after. He was recorded
on the prison books as Jordon Hatch,
No. 21S0. I was down Us Charles Merritt,
No PISS. We were at least thirty feet
apart for the first three weeks, and had
Loo - 8 18Th before we passed
arriving