The record-union., 1891-07-23
OUTLAW, OR CRANK /?
He Was Armed to the Teeth, But
Bore no ScaIps.
A Youth Manned and Dying Near a
Railroad-Equippedf for Crime
His Identity in Mystery.

The engineer of the incoming Stockton
local which arrived in this city at 2:50 p.
NJ. was speeding his train along near
Brighton Junction yesterday afternoon
when he noticed the apparently lifeless
body of man lying in a ditch on one
side of the track.
He stopped the train, and backing up
to the place, found the man mangled
about the head in shocking manner,
and evidently in dying condition. His
skull in the back of the head had been
caved in, and on the forehead were two
frightful gashes. The flesh was torn
from the right hand and the forearm was
broken. His shoulder was also injured.
Around his waist was belt filled with
pistol cartridges, and hung to it was an
unusually large Colts revolver of 45-
caliber. 1t measured about foot and
half in length
The man was placed in the baggage-car,
brought to this city and taken to the Re-
ceiving Hospital. City Physician Mich
OILS was summoned to attend him, and on
examining his wounds declared them of
such nature that it would be impossible
for the man to recover. He was made as
comfortable as possible, but shortly after
4 o'clock he died, and the remains were
taken in charge by Coroner Clark.
An examination of the clothing of the
man brought to light some startling cir
cumstances, tending to show that his vo-
cation was either that of robbing trains
or houses, or else that he was victim of
dime-novel reading and had just started
out on some exploit, with full supply
of tools necessary to accomplish some of
the blood-curdling deeds he had read
about.
On his person was found bunch Of
skeleton-keys, a number of which were
of the latest pattern and filed in a careful
manner. 1t was the opinion of Chief
Drew, Captain Lee and other officers,
that there are very few locks that could
not be turned with these keys.
They're dandies to have, if fellow
wants to see what's inside house." re-
marked Chief Drew.
In blankbook in the dead mans pocket
were found four clippings from news
papers concerning deeds of lawlessneSs
done throughout the country. One clip
ping was an account of the death of
Stephen Nenard of Nevada City, the IA
NOUS hunter of highwaymen. 1t was
taken from the San Francisco Bulletin.
Another was a dispatch giving the news
that the express car of the Pacific Express
Company, which left Texarkana, Ark,
attached to the Texas and Pacific passen-
ger train, was robbed by highwayman
who held the train up in daring man
ner
An account of the outrages of Italian
brigands in Sardinia was also among the
clippings, likewise dispatch reciting the
particulars of the killing of Geronimo, a
noted Mexican deSperado, thirty miles
from Benson, AriZ., who had terrorized
the southern country by robbing stages.
a bill of fare Of the American Ex-
lot nl Of
among his possessions, beside a compass
attached TO a watch chain. also locket
containing the pictures of a young woman
and a ballet-gIrl. He carried tobacco
pouch, but evidently did not use the
weed, as he used the case to hold his
keys.
The strangest thing, however, was
letter from his sister, which was found
in the inside pocket of his coat. The
place whence it came, the date and every
rame excepting that Of "Eleanor'0 had
been cut out. The sister, in her letter
asked him what he was doing for liv-
ing, and why he did not write longer let
ters and oftener. She said She was IL
years old, and was very anxious to have
his photograph, to see what he looked
like. She told him of events that had
happened in the family, and used MANY
names, but he had carefully cut out each
one.
has seen the man before.
The general belief is that he received
his injuries by being struck by train.
but it IS quite as likely that he either fell
or leaped from a train leaving the city
which passed that locality shortly before
the one arrived on which the man was
brought here. Or, he may have attempted
TO board the moving train at the point
where he was found. The railroad Off
Gals had not been notified by the con-
ductor of the special train that ANYTHING
unusual had occurred after leaving the
city.
Some are inclined to the belief that the
unknown man did not receive his in
Jurles by falling from or being struck bv
q railroad train, but that possibly he and
one or more of his partners in crime had
quarreled-perhaps over the division of
plunder-and that they assaulted and left
him for dead. But if anything of that
KIND had occurred his aSSailantS would
doubtless have disarned and shot him.
Taken all III all, the circumstances of
the whole atfair-the manner in which
the man received his wounds, his identity
and his calling-are the most mysterious
that have occurred III this vicinity in
many day. The youthful, y almost boy
iSh, appearance OF 10 deceased rather
conflicts with the lea that he was a
genuine desperate, while the complete
ness Of his outfit indicated that he had
had experience in border lawlessness.
Here is a fine opportunity for aspiring
detectives TO exercise their talent by un-
yelling the mystery that surrounds the
case.
Captain Murphy of the Folsom Prison
happened TO be in the city and visited the
dying man at the Police Station. He did
not think the man had been in the
former institution.