The morning call., 1891-09-05

eesto we're kept war m. Early In the day
Mr.. Towne issued the following notice,
copies of which we're sent all over the STATE:
A REWARD OFFERED.
A locomotive Of the Southern Pacific Company
drawing the sOulh-bound express lraih NJ. 70
was boarded by armed aud masked fopoe.s
when aDOul six miles south OF Modesto, aoout
S:45 last evening. The engine men were COM eoim
PEELED at the peril OF their lives 10 STOP Tue tram
and afIrrward to get downsof the engine ana
proceed in advance of the robpers to the express
ear, where the robbers exploneu I CSn"'n''e ior
When the traamen approached In tne direc-
ton OF Inc express-car The robbers opened nte
with shotgun, shooting Len HARRIS "no ~
said TO be mortally wOunGed. ,r
Wells. Fargo q Co joins the southern facilc
Company In Offering reward OF S3ooO Tor lne
arrest and conviction OF each OF the traln-rop-
Ders.
In speaking of the possibility of an escape
Mr. Fillmore said: II do not think they
can get away from us this time. Tor the
whole country was surrounded IN less than
two hours after the attempted robbery. 1t
look to me very much like the work OF the
Goshen gang. They are desperate men, nut
Cunningham and his assistants will catch
them without any doubt"
From reports OF attending physicians it is
learned that the wound received by De-
tective Harris is not necessarily fatal one,
though it is extremely dangerous and last
sapping the vitality of the patient. In
charge of Drs. Sherman of Merced anu
Maupn of Fresno he was yesterday taken
by a special from Merced to his home on
Buena Vista avenue, in Alameda. DR..
Woolsey of Oakland and an assistant went
up to Lathrop and accompanied MIN nome,
milking an examination OF the wound lu-
mediately upon arrival. The snot, Wnlcn
has not yet been found, and which Harris
claims is a rifle ball, struck him in the
right side of the neck, directly under the
law. 1t severed several small arteries and
lodged in the nape, also having the effect Ot
paraIyzing the right arm. He was not
wounded in the head as reported, and this
is the only injury be received.
CHATTING WITH FRIENDS.
Coming down on the train he chatted
with the doctors and his son-in-law, who
had gone down the road to meet him. His
great grief seems to be that he received a
wound which disabled his right arm and
caused him to drop his revolver, which, by
the way, has not been found.
Though suffering severely, he was boil
stored up in bed yesterday and to number OF
friends who called recounted his expert
ences in dealing with traln-r0bOers on the
present and other occasions. VI IhurSday's
| affair he said:
81 went 10 sleep soon after we pulled out
| of Modesto, ami don't know whether we
| stopped at Ceres or not. do not think we
did, however. or the stop would have
aroused me. l think the robbers got on at
Modesto, and l am almost sure that they
belong to the same gang which robbed the
train at Goshen about year ago. Just the
other side Of Ceres the train slowed up with
a fearful jerk, and l awOke and turned
around in the seat. started for the door
and met Conductor Rocke, who said:
There is trouble out here, Harris. Iramps
are holding us up Just then | heard an
explosion of some kind. | saw men at the
door of the expTess-car, and took in the
situation at a glance.
SHOTS EXCHANGED.
81 got off the. train and crossed the track.
Jumped over a fence and went TO point
directly opposite theieXpress-car and opened
fire with O small revolver Ifred four shots
in rapid succession. The tall robber turned
and came toward me- When was about
to fire a fifth time he shot and | felt my arm
grow numb. In minute l lost conscious
ness and knew no more until awoke at
Merced. II any one had volunteered to
help me the gang might have been cap
tured"
Mr.. Harris is a native Of New York AMI
63 wears of age. He is a pioneer, and in
1856 was Sheriff of Sacramento County.
Here he berame associated with the rail-
road people and two years later entered the
employ of the Southern Pacific Company
During the troublesome times in Arizona he
was stationed at Tucson, aud from that
point was transferred to Los Angeles.
Three years ago he was called to headquar-
tiers in tHlS city, and since then he has been
working up eases in aud about San Fran
cisco. HIS official position is chief Of the
detective department, aad he is held in high
esteem by the company officials, by reason
of his strict observance Of duty as well as
his great personal courage.
CAPITAL oFFENSE.
BY virtue of an act passed at the last ses-
sion of the State Legislature train robbery
is now a capital offcnse in California,
whether murder Is committed or not. rhe
new section of the Penal Code provides as
follows:
Sec. 21S. Every person who shall unlawfully
throw cut SWITCH remove a raii or place any
obstruction on any rarOad In The State OF Cali
fOrua with the eniiOH of deral!ng any freight,
passenger OF other train, or who shall unl1w-
fully board any passenger train with the inten-
tOn Of TObOtuG tile same, or who shall uulaw-
fully place any dynamite or other explosive
material or any other obstruction on the track of
any railroad la the State OF California with the
intention OF blowing uD or derailing any raSsen-
ger. freight or; other Train, or who shall unlaw-
fully set lire TO any railroad bridge or trestle
ever which anY passenger, freight or OIner train
must pass with the intent OF wiecking said train,
upon conviction shall be adjudged gully of
felony, aud shall be punished with death or iIn-
prtsonment for life al The option OF the jury try
ing The case.