The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-05
ROBBERS ROOST.
A Gorgeous Outfit in the American
River Jungle.
The Retreat From Whence Thieves
Have Been Making Descents
Upon the Community.

jungle nOfIneaSJ OF the city.
james Holland, who lives in little
cabin near the American River bridge,
has been annoyed considerably OF late by
gang of tramps who had been making
frequent raids upon his place and steal
ing whatever they could lay their hands
on.
He complained of the matter at the
District Attorneys office yesterday, and
as a result warrants were sworn out be-
fore Justice of the Peace Henry for the
arrest of "John Doe" and Richard Roe"
The warrants were placed in the hands
of Deputy Sheriffs Alter and Newbert,
who raided the tramps' nest and brought
IN four Of them.
DISCOVERY OF THE RETREAT.
The officers had some difficulty in find
ing the camp, which was hidden in
dense thicket about half mile from the
north leVee and Twentieth street and
close TO the river. The trail thereto lay
through the thick brush, and the officers
had got within few yards of the camp
when they saw three men Just making
their way out.
They had no difficulty in placing them
under arrest, as they had the drop on
Lhem," and the prisoners were immedi-
ately handcufted together. They were
told TO lead the way to the camp, which,
although only few yards distant, was
still out of sight
On being asked if there was anybody in
the camp, the prisoners replied that there
was one man looking after it while they
were absent. Newbert was left in charge
of the three handcuffed gentry while
Alter went ahead. Just as he got near
The camp he saw the other man starting
20 leave, and called him back When the
others came up they were all handcufed
together.
A TRABIP's PALACE
The officers were almost paralyzed with
establishment when they struck the
camp and examined its appointments
There was a new canvas tent. l2xI4 feet
IN size, surrounded by a trench to carry
Oft the rain-water. The inside of the
tent, however, was revelation. 1t was
1tted up in great style. There were mat
Irasses filed with straw and covered
with new quilts, and some supplied with
pillows, affording sleeping quarters for
Beveral persons.
The larder was well-stocked with choice
provisions, while chicken and turkey
wings and legs about the entrance told
the story of many despoiled poultry
yard.
MEAGHER's CHRISTMAS EATABLEs.
There is no longer any doubt as to
where the good things went that were
fbO4cn 4IOIIl AllCHdel II. hleagnGr'S cellar
ON Christmas Eve, for there in one cor
ner was the thirty pound jar of butter,
potatoes, onions, jars of preserved fruit,
cans OF corn, etc, of which Meagher was
robbed on the night before Christmas
An inventory of the place revealed the
following articles, all of which were of
course stolen from about town:
New tent, l2xl4 feet, Locke IL Laven-
son, makers; another tent, 10x12, not
new; eight or ten bed-quilts, some nearly
new; two feather pillows; one new $50
suit of mems clothes; several second
land suits; one-half sack of potatoes:
One-thlrd sack of onions; thirty pounds
picked butter; eight half-gallon Jars of
lruit; several partly emptied cans of
corn; new pair of shoes, stolen from
Mr.. Holland; grub-ax and Ratchet; a
bottle OF vinegar; two quilts, stolen from
Holland; two new reel tape-measures;
sour razors; can of fresh cranberries: a
can of coffee and various other things
amounting in value to S75 or $50.
Under one of the beds was a leather
purse containing two lock cts, and another
purse containing Watch-chain and
locket. The officers found no guns nor
pistols about the camp, but believe there
IRE some hidden in the vicinity.
FOUR INNoCENTs.
The men were marched into town.
while the camp plumber was loaded into
wagon and taken to the jail. The pris-
Oners gave their names respectively as
James Kelly, David McKenna Frank
Moore and James Metcalf All are
young men, one (Moore) being appar-
emily not much more than 20 years of
age, and all are quite we'll clad and look
as If they had been living well of late.
WHAT THEY SAY.
McKenna was the boss of the place.
lie says he met man on the levee last
Saturday, who invited him over to the
camp. There were two other men there,
and the three wanted to go to Oregon that
night. They wanted McKenna to buy
them out, he says, but all he had was
three dollars. Small as the figure was.
they consented to accept it. and for that
nunltcent sum he became the owner of
the whole Outtt-tents, bedding, butter
and everything. He says it was none of
his business how they came by the stuff.
and he asked no questions.
Moore says he met McKenna on the
leVee on Sunday, and was invited to the
camp and partake Of its hospitality. He
knew nothing about its contents, only
what McKenna had told him.
Kelly says he was walking on the levee
on Sunday afternoon, when he happened
TO meet Moore, whom he had known in
Oregon, and he was invited over to the
camp. He knew nothing of its history.
Metcalf was the only one who talked
freely and apparently told the truth. He
gay . NC NdS III IilG I6SIduIduI business III
Seattle some months ago, but sold out,
went to San Francisco, and spent his
money while on spree. He is an edu-
Gated man, and his speech and manner
indicated that ne had seen better days
lie said he was a victim of rum and
never quit drinking while his money
lasted. lie walked all the way from San
francisco here, and had done odd chores
shout TO get little money with which to
buy food.
He said he had been sleeping in a barn
over in Yolo. Yesterday he wanted to
wash his shirt, and went up the river on
this side. He went as far as where he
was found, because he was afraid he was
within the city limits. In searching for
8 can in which to boil some water. he
met the occupants OF the camp, who in
Vited him over and told nina he could use
their appliances. He was just about TO
make fire when the officers bounced
upon him.
Metcalfs story is corroborated by all
the other men, but McKenna, Kelly and
Moore look like hard cases. They all
say they came from Oregon here, from
one to two weeks ago, and Kelly says he
blew all his money inn at the Casino, q
notorious rendezvous for hard cases.
A GOOD CASE.
Sheriff Stanley and Deputies Alter and
Newbert believe they will have sufficient
evidence to convict some of the prison
ers, as there is little doubt that they have
been doing wholesale stealing.
Police Court Cases.
In the Police Court yesterday Mary