Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-18
The Story of the Lancaster Bad
Mans Capture.
He Steals Tame Horses With Which
to Capture Wild Ones.
Justice Morris Issues the Warrant, Trails
His Man, Arrests Him and Ar
rsigns Him-A Good Dime
Novel Story In Con-
densed Form.

lJOulo vi IllC Dllnl anu JUG Os tACbCAlluC,
down from Lancaster yesterday after
noon, and lodged them in the county
Jail, to await examination in default of
$4,000 bonds. The story of their crime,
the subsequent pursuit by Morris and
Mayes and the final capture of the men
near Buckhorn springs, short account
of which appeared in yesterdays HER
AID, makes one of the most thrilling
tales in the recent history of the county.
Grain and Ketchline have recently
been engaged in the business of batting
and killing coyotes in the vicinity of
Lancaster and Elizabeth Lake, for the
bounty which the county offers on
scalps. Within the past two weeks,
while engaged in this business, they dis
covered band of wild horses back
of Lancaster and turned their attention
to capturing them. The coyote hunters
were poorly mounted, however, and re-
alizing that they stood no chance to get
the broncos with their iaded steeds, ap-
propriated four fine saddle horses be-
longing to Peter Andrada and his sons,
Marcus F. and Manuel Andrada, which
were on the range near the Portrero and
about twelve miles from the Andrada
ranch.
These horses were stolen on Monday
the Sth inst. By mere chance Peter
Andrada wanted to use horse day or
two later and rode up to the pasture to
the four stolen animals, and. seeing the
tro II do hxyG Groi1, MI Eato h1ir,a 1aoA-
ing away from the pasture, he started off
toward San Bernardino and then turned
lowed it for long distance and then
took short cut across country.
Getting into Big Rock creek caflon on
Thursday afternoon he ran full onto the
thieves before he was aware that they
Andrada, made motion to Grain and
the latter covered Andrada with his
Winchester.
The old man, in telling of the occur
renee, said: II thought that my last
moment had come, but [ was determined
to make bluff, even if it was my last
move on earth, so | stuck the spurs into
my horse and loped in ON Grain, shout
ing out to him that | didn't want any
trouble and was only looking for my
horses"
"Rony," for some reason or other,
didn't let his gun off, but he kept An
drada covered for full hour while a
parlev was going on. The horse thieves
seemed to realize that they had got
themselves into tight box, and after
long talk they made proposition to the
4 / l, 6 l.1, =
they would give him his horses back
and a note for SIS which Grain was car
rying around in his pocket. AS another
inducement Ketchline promised to send
Andrada two cases of honey, and the
old man, fearing that he would be killed
if he refused, accepted the offer. The
next day he was given his horses, three
of which were saddled up in the camp,
and Grain conducted him as far as
Alpine, telling him as they said good
bye, that if anyone attempted to pursue
his party he would never take him
(Crain) alive.
Andrada rode back to his ranch Fri
day and on Saturday went into Lancas-
ter, where he made complaint against
Grain, Ketchline and the man Louis,
who was with the party on Big Rock
creek. Justice of the Peace Morris
issued warrants and looked about for
some one to serve them, but not finding
anybody except Constable Mayes, who
wanted to go, he determined to
accompany that officer himself.
The two men started out
Saturday and made for Big Rock creek,
where Andrada had left the party. The
camp was empty, and the pursuers fol-
lowed trail that seemed to make to-
ward Little Rock creek. They jumped
the trail finally in order to make short
cut, but not having found any trace of
their men late Sunday night, Morris left
Mayes and returned to Lancaster, MAX
ing a rendezvous to meet the constable
Monday afternoon at Buckhorn springs,
which point they thought the party
would strike for. Mayes went back to
the trail and followed it closely all day
Monday. Morris started out again Mon
day forenoon, and on arriving at Buck
horn springs learned from Hit, the
owner of the place, that the gang was in
camp about three miles from there.
Getting man named L. G. Stuckey to
accompany him, the plucky justice
started for the camp and rode into 1T
alone on a lope, leaving Stuckey a
little bit behind. AS luck would
have it, Louis was found there alone.
He was quickly put under arrest with
out resistance and taken back to the
Hit house. The prisoner appeared
willing to tell all he knew, and pointed
out the direction in which Ketchline
Grain, who were out setting bait for
coyotes, had gone. After leaving Louis
in custody of Hit, Morris and Stuekey
started out again, and after riding about
twelve miles, came upon a lone high
wayman. Morris, thinking he was
Grain, rode up and covered him. On
approaching close to the man, however,
he found him to be Ketchline, and his
arrest was made without much trouble.
After taking Ketchline back to the
Hit house, Morris took his horse, in
order to deceive Grain, and accompanied
by Stuckey, rode over toward the Cut
terback cattle camp, where he was in
formed Grain had gone. Alter
riding about twenty-five miles the
pursuers spied a camp fire, and Morris
again rode in alone, expecting to find
his man there. Not a soul was about,
however, and the justice, upon looking
about, found the "bad mans" pistol
and rifle, which had been carelessly left
behind.
After securing these, Morris and
Stuckey waited for developments. They
were not long in coming. Grain, the
neighborhood terror, rode out of the
darkness about 10 o'clock, and was