The record-union., 1892-02-02
A GROUP OF SIX.
Clever Capture Made by Officers Glib
son and Mclaughlin.
One of Them Proves to be Joe Botanco.
Wanted in Oakland for Assault
to Murder and Robbery.

officers Mclaughlin and Gibson made
q very clever and important capture last
night, as result of which the City
Prison has behind its bars young crimi-
nal who is wanted in Oakland for rob-
berry and assault to murder.
The crime was committed several
months ago, and Chief of Police Tomp-
kins of that city communicated the facts
to Chief Drew here, with description of
one of the men, young fellow named
Joe Botanco. The matter was placed in
the hands of Officers Gibson and Nc
Iaughlin, and they have ever since been
on the lookout for Botanco.
Recently word was received from Chief
Tompkins that Botanco and others of the
gang were in this vicinity, although for
months past their whereabouts had been
shrouded in mystery. Two watches that
were portion of the Oakland plunder
were recovered here by the officers, and
they expected to run upon the men at
almost any moment.
About o clock last night Mclaughlin
and Gibson met group of six tough
looking youths at Ninth and X Streets
and suspecting that Botanco was one of
the number, the officers placed them ali
under arrest. They marched them over
10 SbIeel. III OTu6E 70 dNOlO Tie c1ONGS
on the main thorOughfares, as they feared
that some of the party would manage 10
escape on the more crowded streets. At
Fifth street the officers met Special officer
George Rider and requested his assistance
IN getting the six men to Jail, who were
divided into two groups of three each.
Mclaughlin believed that one OF his
three was BOtanco, and told Rider that, if
one should try to escape. to look after the
other two while he (McLaughlin) gave
his attention to the runaway.
When Second and streets was reached,
sure enough one of McLaughln's trio
made break for liberty. Leaving Rider
to look out for the other two. McLaugh
lin followed the runaway, and being
something of a sprinter, he soon over
hauled and had him in his SulliYan-like e
grasp.
The fellow yelled ''Murderr and strug-
gled but the officer held to him. On the
way to the Police Station the prisoner
said his name was Clark. and he claimed
TO be wholly innocent of any crime After
the rest of the gang had been safely locked
up, Clark was taken into Captain Lees
office and there confronted with the de-
scription of Botanco and the recital of the
crime:
When he found the police were con-
vinced that he was the man wanted he
abandoned his air of innocence and made
q clean breast of the affair. He admitted
that he was Botanco, and that he was the
man wanted for the Oakland crime.
OF the five lads arrested with Botanco
three were turned loose last night and the
other two-Charlie Brown and Thomas
Burns-are held to await further develop
ments.
GIVING AN OFFICER POINTS.
AT late hour last night the officers had
another interview with young Botanco,
in which he told of various crooked
transactions in which ne has had a hand
The lad is only l6 years of age, but has a
very old head on his shoulders. He told
Officer Gibson that, thst although he (Bo-
tanco) had been in town but two days he
had ''got onto him.
He explained by saying that when Glib
son meets Notwithstanding persons he
''sizes them up'' too severely-in other
words, eyes them too keenly.
"We fellers get onto a thing of that
kind too quick,' said he. "You Just
want to slide along and give one of us
sly glance without being seen a-doing it.''
HEAVY ROBBERY IN STOCKTON.
During this latter interview Botanco
told the officers that himself and two
other men (whose names he would not
diSclose) were the parties who, about
the last of November, robbed an
old shoemaker of Stockton of 81, 900. He
carried the money about on his person,
he said, and they rode from Modesto in
the same coach with two detectives who
were looking for the thieves.
Botanco says he and his two comrades
went East as far as Denver and had a
good time on the money. He said he
had just spent his last nickel a few min
utes before he was arrested last night.
1t seems that he had soaked" at an up
town saloon couple of watches, and the
officers, learning OF the transaction, sus-
pected who it was that had pawned them,
and were waiting for Botanco to call for
them when they met the suspicious look
ing group ofyoung toughs of which he was
nTln