Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-03-13
Elk GROVES PRIDE.
HE ARRESTS FIVE INNOCENT MEN FOR
ONE BURGLARY.
Each Proves AN Aiibi and Is Allowed TO
Go His Way-More Arrests
Imminent.

A couple of weeks ago a store at Eli
Grove was broken into by burglars, and
plundered of q quantity of merchandise
The matter was reported to the Jealous
Constable of that place, and that official
started out to make record for himself
which would cast into eternal oblivion the
achievements of the famous Vidocq. With
all the caution ard preparation of the
dime-novel detective-hero he glided from
place to place until he satisfied himself that
he had struck the trail of the thieves.
He learned that there were three OF
them. and from persons who had seen the
trio hanging around Elk Grovehs obtained
good description of them. He also
learned that they had shaken the dust
of Elk Grove from their feet, and headed
for Sacramento.
Armed with his descriptions the Con-
stable gave chase to Sacramento. He
searched the city thoroughly for couple
of days without success but on the third
day his vigilance was rewarded by the ap-
pearance of two men, whom he inn
mediately recognized as his game. He
shadowed them until they wandered into
the neighborhood of the County Jail, and
then pouncing upon them suddenly, ran
them into jail before they could realize
what had happened. These men gave the
names of Thomas Reed and James Glenn
Both protested, and stated that they had
not been near Elk Grove, but the Con-
stable knew his business, he thought, and
assured the Sacramento authorities that
they were the right men.
On the following day the Constable re-
sumed his search, and succeeded in over
hauling another man who tailed with the
remaining description. This man, whose
name was James Sullivan, also protested
against being arrested, but the Elk Grove
official was confident. Sullivan, however,
made such vigorous plea for liberty
when brought up for arraignment in JUS
tice of the Peace Henry's Court, that Dis
trict Attorney Bruner became interested in
his case. and promised to investigate im-
mediately. He did investigate and by
nightfsll found conclusive evidence that
Sullivan YVES entirely innocent of the
charge preferred against him by the over
Jealous Constable of Elk Grove.
Thinking that, perhs Reed and Glenn
might be in the same fix as was Sullivan,
Mr.. Bruner also looked into their cases,
too. They informed him that on the day
of the alleged burglary in Elk Grove they
were employed in Truckee, and were not
discharged from their employment until
March 1st (the burglary took place on Feb
ruary 2Sth). They asserted, further, that
by reason of the impossible condition of
the Central Pacific road it was several days
after their dismissal before they arrived in
Sacramento and as soon as they did arrive
they were arrested. The District Attorney
communicated with parties in Truckee,
and forwarded complete description of
both men. Yesterday morning he received
a telegram from William McDougal, cor
roborating in every particular the state
ments made by the men.
Accordingly both men were taken before
Justice Henry during the forenoon, and on
motion of Assistant District Attorney A. j.
Bruner the charge against Reed was dis
missed and he was allowed his liberty.
Glenn's case was, however, taken under ad-
visement until to-day, as another Consta-
ble-or rather Sheriff from Ell Dorado
county-believes that Glenn has committed
some offense there, and will be down to-
day to identity him.
In the meantime the Elk Grove Consta-
BILE was not idle. Being convinced that he
had apprehended the wrong men, he set
out again and succeeded in arresting two
more men who fitted to his elastic descrip-
tions. These men he lugged into Jail, as he
did the Others, and charged them with the
Elk Grove burglary.
AS in the other cases, these individuals
vehemently declared themselves innocent,
and, as in the other cases, the District At
torney felt in duty bound to investigate, as
the law did not contemplate the incarcera-
ton of innocent men.
Again-as in the other cases-was it con-
clusively established that these two men
were not the Elk Grove pillagers. A letter
was received from Sheriff Butler of Placer
county, in which that official stated that the
two men were at the very time when the
Elk Grove burglary occurred confined in
the Placer County Jail for petty offenses,
and therefore it was impossible for them
to have been at Elk Grove.
The efficient Constable, it is said, is still
camped on the trail of the true culprits.