Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-03
THE OUTLAWS RETREAT.
THE STRONGHOLD OF DORSEY AND
sHINN is INSPECTED.
An Ideal Robbers Roost"-More Evil.
dences of Nelson's Innocence-A Vic
tim of CircumstantiaI Evidence.

The startling statements contained in the
confession of Shinn, the outlaw, published
in yesterdays SUNDAY UNION, was the
main topic of conversation about the
streets and hotels yesterday, and the gen.
eral opinion was reached that to Dorsey
and Shinn deservedly belong the cham
pionship belt for being the boldest and
most audacious desperadoes THAT ever
cut throat or stopped stage"
Great praise is justly awarded to Detective
J. B. Hume for his achievement.
The revelations we're simply astounding.
Much sympathy was expressed in behalf
of young George Nelson, the unfortunate
individual who was arrested, convicted and
sent to the Penitentiary for ten years for a
robbery which he never committed-a rob-
berry which was committed by Dorsey and
Shinn. Nelson has now served about a
year of his time at Folsom. This is with
out doubt one of the most remarkable
cases of mistaken identity ever heard of IN
this part of the country. Thomas Davis,
foreman of the Curtis ranch near Arcade,
was taking an Eastern friend, John Cownie,
for drive through the -Haggin ranch.
They had gone about forty rods beyond
the saloon on the north side Of the Amer
lean river, and had just entered the narrow
roadway between the long bridge mot then
in use), and the heavy timber and under
growth OF the river bottom, when a man
stepped suddenly out of the brush, and
leveling pistol at Davis ordered him to
halt, which he did.
HE WAS MASKED.
The robber had colored handkerchief
over his face, with holes cut for the eyes,
and wore loose oveTshirt that came down
below his thighs He told the men in the
buggy to fork over their money, and to be
quick about it, that he meant business"
Davis and Cownie each threw his silver out
upon the ground al the fellows feet, and
the former was 50 excited that he also
threw out his pocketknife, poztoffice key
and tobacco They were then told to
throw down their watches, and Davis
promptly complied. CoGnie not showing
disposition TO part with his ticker" the
pistol was leyeled at him and the man be-
hind it began to monkey" with the trig-
ger, at the same tine telling Cownie that if
the latter didn't drop his watch be would
blow his brains out. Cownie parted with
the article.
After the robber had got all the money
and valuabIes the men had he ordered them
to go ahead, which was all that was left for
them to do, although there was probably a
dozen men at the saloon a few rods to the
rear. They drove towards the Esggin res
idence, a couple of miles beyond, while
their despoiler disappeared in the thicket.
RECOGNIZED HIS VOICE.
AS they drove along, Davis remarked to
his frippd that he hava knOUn the
robber somew here--he was sure he knew
that voice. 1t could belong to no other
person than George Nelson, a painter, who
had worked at the Curtis ranch on the
lower Stockton road, near Sacramento. He
Davis had occupied there the same room
and the same bed with him, and ne would
take his oath on a stack of Bibles that it
was George Nelson that had robbed BIN.
He did not know in what part Of the State
Nelson was, but if anywhere in this local
ity he was the man. Davis was so positive
of this that he repeated 1t to persons at the
Haggin ranch, on reaching which place he
telephoned TO Sheriff McMullen the facts
of the robbery.
Securing the services of a Constable Fred
Gotobed, Davis and Cownie returned to the
saloon at the bridge, and the former asked
the proprietor if there was a man anywhere
in that vicinity, or known to him, by the
name of George Nelson.
"Why, yes" was the reply, 81 know
him. He was here an hour or so ago, and
wanted something to drink, but had no
money. He must have gone over to the
dairy, few hundred yards away
EVERYTHING WAS AGAINST him.
This news convinced Davis that Nelson
was the robber, and as soon as Sheriff Nc
Mullen and Deputies Beckley and Coggs-
well arrived the officers went to the dairy,
and there found the man they wanted. He
was in the act of pumping some water to
take to the house when arrested. He said
he had cooked the dinner thsre for the men
that day, but the latter denied it, and said
that he was not there at dinner time, but
was preparing, when arrested about 2:30 P.
NJ, to cook the evening meal.
At the saloon it was learned that Nelson
reached there on his way from the city
about o'clock and left his coat and vest
there when he went to the dairy. Both
Davis and CoWnie were confident that he
was the man who robbed them, and he was
brought to the city and jailed. No plumber
was found upon Nelson, but of course, this
did not help him any. as everybody was
satisfied that he had hidden it.
The fact that Davis was satisfied he knew
the voice of the man who held him up
that Nelson was found in the vicinity; and
that his whereabouts at the hour the rob-
berry occurred had not been accounted for,
made il look so suspicious, that there was
little trouble in conyicting Nelson of the
crime.
BELIEVED HE WAS INNOCENT.
Police Captain Lee, then Chief of Police
was never satisfied, however, that Nelson
was the right man. Said lie yesterday: II al
fall II my hftu &C that that man was
innocent MaiOrsA nGerson. who ably de
Tended Nelson at the trial was also conf
dent that his client was the victim OF cir
cumstances.
Shlnn, in his confession, says that il "a!
himself who held up Davis and Cowni'
and took their vsluables. Dorsey, he says
was hidden in the brush near by ready t.
use his weapons should the victims re
monsirate.
Another remarkable feature of the affail
is that Shinn and Nelson bear striking
resemblance to each other, and those wht
have talked with both say that their voices
are very similar
Shinn never knew, and does not at thu
present time know, that another man wa
sent to the Pehitentiary for his crime.
Warden Aull had conference with Su
perior Judge Armstrong, who sentences
Nelson, and District Attorney Bruner, yes
terday forenoon. He laid the facts befor
them in formal way, and asked that the,
take charge of the matter, and see tina
Justice is done Nelson. Both Judge Arm
strong and Mr.. Braner expressed them
selves as being DESTROYS OF Fighting III
wrong done Nelson, if such proves TO be th
case. and they agreed to visit the Folsom
Penitentiary this week, where they wi
examine Shinn and Nelson. In the mean
time the police will render what assistsnc
they can in the matter.
THE RENDEZVOUS.
As was stated in yesterdays article, Chit
of Police Drew spent four weeks in search
ing in the brush east Of the north levee-
and, in fact, for six miles up and down th
banks of the American river-for the rer
devious of the despe.adoes. Early La
month Warden Aull informed him that b
had learned that the hiding place VS.
somewhere between Brighton and the rive
and the Chief went 10 work Immediately
He was assisted at times by his brother an
some bows who live near the levee.
The Chief was satisfied that If he coui
find the place his perseverance would
rewarded by the discovery Of evidenC
which would tend 10 prove that Dorsey al
Shiuu had resided there during the tin
fbe numerous stage robberies and oth'
denre6ations were going on (Shinn at th
I axsiupa1 any disposition