The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-06-03
TEXAS DESPERADOES.
Some More Clever Work Performed
By the Local Police.
Two Colored Criminals Wanted for
Arson and Robbery In Texas
Are Captured.

once more have the Sacramento police
demonstrated that they are of the wide
awake and thoroughly vigilant variety.
Several days ago letter was received at
police headquarters from Sheriff Phillips
OF Coils County, Texas, requesting the
authorities here to be on the lookout for
two desperate colored criminals, who
were wanted at Mckinney, Coils County,
for arson and robbery. The letter con-
tanned description of the men, and said
that they would probably be found travel
ing as brothers-Sam and Bill Harding.
They are not brothers, however. Their
real names are Horace Harding and
Samuel Bates.
WENT A-FIsHING.
AS is usual in such cases, Police Cap
tain Lee instructed his officers to read the
descriptions and keep their eyes open.
And 1t appears that the Captain kept
his own eyes open, too.
Yesterday afternoon, just as the Cap
tain was leaving the police station to go
up town, his attention was drawn to two
men who were coming from the direc-
ton of the river. One was q white man
and the other was colored, and the latter
was carrying a string of fish. AS they
habit, scrutiniZed their faces.
He started rather suddenly when his
eyes fell upon the black mans visage, for
he Immediately recognized him as being
one of the men wanted in Texas.
There was no time to lose, as the men
were walking rather rapidly, and, not
stopping to summon assistance, Captain
Lee set out in the wake of the two men.
ON THE TRAIL.
Il foll0,rro1 tI,oy,, M T e4,oo+ 70 Cooo,,J
and down Second to the alley between ]
and X. Here the men separated, the
negro going into the alley and entering
the rear of Corbin's saloon, while the
white man went off down Second street.
After satisfying himself that the negro
was not likely to leave the saloon right
away, the Captain went down to Second
and K streets and found Special Officer
Mclaughlin, and, returning with him,
the two made a descent upon the saloon.
They found the colored man in rear
room cleaning the fish, and he became
greatly excited when they informed him
that he was under arrest.
HARDING'S CONFESSION.
The negro admitted right away that his
name was Harding, but denied that he
had ever been in Texas.
Upon arriving at the police station the
officers took the negro into the Captain
private office, where the latter questioned
him at length.
''Oh, there's no use denying it at all, -
said the Captain finally. I'VE know we
are right, and Sheriff Phillips is on his
way here after you. He traced you
here"
Harding gazed at the Captain for fully
a minute, and, evidently believing that
the official was thoroughly in earnest,
wilted. Heaving a deep sigh he said,
mournfully, well, boss, guess you's
got me-"
81 guess so, too" said the Captain,
smiling grimly.
Little trouble was experienced in get
ting Harding 10 tell where Bates, his pal,
was. Following his directions the Off
GERS took a cab and went out to Twenty
fourth and NJ streets, where they found
Bates engaged in whitewashing chicken
house.
BATES Willis, TOO.
Bates maintained "a stiff upper linz as
the saying goes, for some time, but was
only laughed at by the officers for his
acting.
''By the way, Bates" said the Captain,
as the cab neared the station, when did
you leave Denyer?'
My names not Bates, an Use never
been in Denver was the sullen reply
The officers laughed again, and then
the Captain tried once more.
- say, Bates he said, ''whatrdidIyOu
do with that white hat you bought in
Denver?"
This was too much.
The negro's jaw dropped, and he
wanted to know how in the name of Old
Nick anybody knew about that white hat
Then he acknowledged everything. He
felt easier, however, when he learned
that his partner in crime was also under
lock and key.
Sheriff Phillips was telegraphed to and
he will start Immediately for this city.
Last evening Harding's room was
searched, and bundle of letters were
found which will prove of value to the
Coils County authorities. These letters
were nearly all written by friends in Me-
Kinney, since the flight of Harding and
Bates, and in nearly all of them are ref
erences to the crimes for which the two
prisoners are wanted. The letters also
implicate others, now in Texas.
Harding and Bates are both said
to be dangerous criminals, and the
Texas authorities were making a most
vigorous search for them. They were
traced TO Denyer-where Bates bought
his white hat-and there it was learned
that they had gone west.
The capture is an important one, and is
all the more interesting from the fact that
a large reward will revert to the captors.