Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-25
He IS THE MAN.,
BOwler's Capture Proves to Be
Lee HOrrell.
He Admits the Fact When Questioned
Yesterday.
How the Fellow Was Apprehended-The
Result of Interrosating Suspi-
cious Looking Strangers In
teresting Details.

Last Friday evening Detective Bowler
of the police force made capture of a
young fellow in whom he thought he
discovered Lee Horrell, wanted for MUIR
der in Fairfield. A reporter for the
HERALD was present at the time of ar
rest, but, at the request of the police
department, refrained from making any
mention of the case, inasmuch as there
was supposed to be possible chance of
capturing Horrell's pal. Since then the
fact of the arrest has been published
through breach of faith, and if the Sec
ond man was here he has had plenty of
opportunity to escape.
On the Goth of last January at half
past O. clock in the morning, the night
watchmau of the Southern Pacific at
Rio Vista station, a man named How
ard, was shot and killed by safe-r obbers.
The burglars were at work in the sta
ton and were surprised by Howard
while engaged in blowing open the safe.
The watchman ordered the thieves to
throw up their hands, but was made the
target of volley of pistol shots. He
was hit by one of the bullets and died
llODl luC NOuDo. CIIlCC bllCh u lCWdIo
of $400 has been standing for the cap
ture of the cracksmen.
The officers north came to the con-
clusion that Lee Horrell, alias Bob Pow
ell, and John Williams, alias Frisco
Slim, alias Boston Slim, were the men
who committed the crime, and de-
scription OF the two men was sent out
broadcast.
Sometime ago local deputy sheriff
captured man who resembled one of
the safe.crackers, but later on it was
discovered that the case was one of mis-
taken identity. On Friday morning De-
tective Bowler, while walking along
Spring street, ran across trio of young
fellows near First street. They looked
like strangers in the city and he
approached them to take e better
look at them. One of them had
been here before, and knew the officer.
He therefore readily answered the
searching questions put to him, while
one of his companions seemed rather
uneasy. Bowler therefore became
suspicious, and was fairly overwhelmed,
when, under the glare of an electric
light, he discovered the remarkable re-
semblance of one of the three to the
photograph of Lee Horrell, the picture
on file in the rogues' gallery. The sus-
pect was at once arrested, and at the
police station was subjected to careful
examination.
The physical description OF the man
wanted was found to fit the prisoner
perfectly. Another important point in
the circular issued was that Horrell
carried silver watch bearing the ini-
tials 81. H." and double chain. On
the prisoners person, within the
lining of his waistcoat, WAS
found a silver watch with the en-
graved letters "R. L. H." as we'll as a
double chain such as described.
When first arrested the prisoner pre-
sistently denied that he was Lee Hor-
rell, or that he had ever heard of the
case. He declared that he was born in
Sacramento, and that his name was Ray
L. Harris.
Since the arrest number OF detec-
tives have compared the prisoners
marks with the description given, and
have in every instance been convinced
of the identity of the captured man
with Lee Horrell. The prisoner
still denied knowing anything about the
case. He acknowledged on Saturday,
| however, that he had been in trouble in
Napa county for petit larceny. Detect
i've Bowler asked him whether he knew
any of the Napa delegation of the Native
Sons, and he replied that he did. Then
they went out to find some of the dele
gates. He had not succeeded, when he
took Detective George Insley to the city
Jail to look at his man. Insley agreed
with Will Smith and others that the
Identification was perfect, and the con-
fidence he expressed seemed to weaken
the prisoner. This fact was noticed by
the officers. and after the interview was
over, Detective Bowler returned to the
cell, and prevailed upon the alleged Har-
ris to confess that he is really Horrell.
The prisoner, who is only about 20
years of age, went no further in his
confession beyond acknowledging that
he knew he was the man accused of the
murder of Howard. The news of the
capture and confession has been sent to
Napa, and an officer is already on the
way here to take the prisoner north.
HorrelPs partner, John Williams, alias
Frisco Slim, alias Boston Slim, accord
ing to the description sent out by Sheriff
0. L. Henderson, of Fairfield, is man
about 80 years Of age, weighs 175 pounds
and is 5 feet 10 inches in height. He
has blue eyes, brown hair, a fair com
plexion and long features, and wears
small mustache. His forehead is high
and narrow and he has large Romar
nose.