Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-06

Ndiueu di pA,SVV, Poo1 LII colI, anu SlVO Ii
| gold dust.
During the early part of August, 1873
while the officers were still exercised ovel
the robbery of the Colfax and Grass Val
ley stage, an elderly gentleman of respect
| able appearance arrived at the quiet and
secluded village of Coloma, Ell Dorado
county, and put up at the hotel kept by
Mrs. Hank Meyers under the name o.
Robert Walker, stating that he was 8
mining superintendent, having been lately
employed at the St. Patrick's mine, al
Ophir, in Placer county. Having depos.
tied with the landlady some thousand dol.
lars in gold coin and a small bar of gold
bullion, he turned in to have a nice, quiet
convivia! time. He was very liberal with
his money and won the sympathies of all
the parents of the town by making pres
ents to the children. Whenever he saw a
barefooted child of needy appearance he
would at once present it with from 81 sc
to S. to buy shoes, hats, or whatever
seemed most needed In fact, his deport.
ment at all times was so polite and gentle
manly that he gained the affections of the
entire community, and it was subject Of
almost universal regret that one so good
and generous should be so addicted to over
indulgence in the wine-cup.
On the 9th of August, Cal Montgomery,
of Coloma, being on visit to Placerville,
CHANGED to inform J. B. Hume of the good
angel who had taken up his abode in Co.
Iona, and the latter, who was compare
lively familiar with the incidents of the
recent robberies of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s
treasure boxes, decided at once to investi-
gate the unusual phenomenon at Coloma.
As a preliminary step, he telegraphed to
Ophir and learned that no such person as
Walker had ever been employed in the
st. Patrick mine in any capacity.
Hume then procured a team, and at
midnight of August 9th he started for Co.
Iona, reaching the latter place early on
the morning of the 10th. At Hume's re-
quest Mrs. Myers produced the coin and
bar of gold deposited by Walker. This
bar had evidently been cut from a larger
bar with a cold chisel, and from appear
ances was portion of the one stolen in
the Oregon House stage robbery of June
23d, and many of the gold $50 pieces were
bent and powder-burned, as if they had
gone through an explosion.
Hume was directed by Mrs Myers to
the room occupied by Walker, where he
found the ma In bed.
"Get up" said Hume ;" l want you"
Want me? What for ?' inquired the
astonished and half-awakened philan-
thropist
For stage-robbing Put on your clothes
and come with me. | am going to take
you to Placerville"
The man arose and pu on his clothes
and was taken down stairs, where his cap
tor said to him: "You have some money
here with the landlady, and as it is prob
able that you will not be here again very
soon, you may as well turn it over to me
and | will give you receipt for it."
After some demur the man did as
Hume suggested, and the latter, after TAX
ing possession of the money, ironed the
man and placing him in his buggy started
for Placerville. Walker, being suddenly
cut off from stimulants after his protracted
spell of hard drinking, was in state of
nervousness bordering on delirium trem-
ems, and in no condition to talk intelli-
gently.
Hume's first care after placing him in
cell in the Jail at Placerville, was to Sc
cure the services of Dr. Cook. Thanks to
this gentleman's skillful treatment and
the liberal quantities of iced chicken
broth administered by Hume, Walker was
soon on the way to recovery and reform.
Hume then held an interview with his
prisoner, pointing out to him that the gold
bar in his possession was clearly portion
of the bar stolen in the Oregon House
robbery, and that the bent and blackened
nOndIftn of y,,r1ch Of he Ok
clusiyely that it was a share of the spoils
in the Grass Valley stage robbery of July
9th, on which occasion the iron treasure
box had been blown open with powder.
On being confronted with the weight of
circumstantial evidence against him, the
prisoner wished to make confession, on
condition that Hume would promise him
immunity from punishment for his par
tieipation in the crime This, of course,
Hume refused to do, merely informing him
of the customary procedure of the Courts
in the case of prisoner who has turned
States evidence. On receiving assurances
of Hume's trustworthiness, the prisoner
then made a full confession in regard to
both the Oregon House and the Grass
Valley stage robberies. duplicating as his
associates IN the latter James Meyers, a
saloon-keeper of Grass Valley; Bill Early,
alias Thompson, an old convict n c.
Slower, miner living near Grass Valley,
and George Lane. He gave his own name
as Louis Dribblesbie Immediately upon
receiving this confession, Hume tele-
graphed Sheriff Perrin, of Nevada City, to
meet him at Grass Valley, and setting out
at once Hume reached that place shortly
after dark. Here he found Sheriff Perrin
awaiting him, and learned from him that
Slower was employed at the Coe mine, be-
tween Grass Valley and Nevada City.
Perrin assured Hume that he knew Mr..
Hill, the Superintendent of the mine, and
that he was reliable man, who would CO.
operate with them heartily when he should
learn their mission. PERKINS, team being
in readiness, they drove at once to the Coe
mine, reaching it about midnight. Super
intendent Hill was aroused, and inquiries
were made where Slower could be found
Upon learning the object of their visit,
the Superintendent scoffed at the idea of
Slower being implicated in robbery, stat
ing that Slower was the most industrious
and reliable man in mis- employ, and that
he could be found in cabin a short dis
lance from the mine, having Just returned
from hunting expedition of several days
duration. He added that the only thing
which could be urged against Stover's
character was the fact that he was living
with d woman TO whom he was not legally
married. 1t was finally arranged that Mr..
Hill should go to the cabin, and by telling
Slower that the pump had broken in the
mine, induce him to come up, as he had
previously done, to repair it, and the
officers could then interview him and
satisfy themselves that he was innocent
Hill accordingly set of, and Hume at
once proposed to follow him. Perrin was
in favor of waiting for Slower at the mine.
Hume urged the ACCESSIBILITY of following,
claiming that Slower might take alarm
and escape them. His proposition finally
prevailed, and following closely after Hill,
without his being aware of their proximity,
and reaching the cabin at almost the same