The record-union., 1892-06-21
DESPERATE RUGGLES.
The Story Of His Flight, Written by
His Own Hand.
How He Left His Brother to Die In the
woods-Hfs Wanderings and
Reflections.

UNION YESTERDAY morning, WAS inc SCH
sation of the day, not only in this vlcln-
ity but throughout the length and breadth
OF the Sacramento Valley. The paper
was the earliest, by several hours, TO
reach the interior, and the particulars
were read with great interest everywhere.
All that was needed to make the story
complete was the written confession OF
Isuggles, which had been prepared by
him in case he should be killed while re-
sisting arrest. 1t was published yester-
day in an extra by the Woodland Demo-
crat. which supplements it by descrip-
ton of the events leading up to Ruggles'
arrest. The desperate stated that he ar
rived in Woodland on Saturday night and
slept in a haystack north Of Hoilings-
worth's shop. This was his first visit 10
Woodland since the robbery.
After the Shasta County tragedy he kept
IN hiding in the mountains for q few days
and then bought ticket ut Reddlng for
Woodland. After picking up newspaper
and discovering that his identity had
been discovered, he left the train at Ber-
lin and made break tor the hills, where
he staid on farm for several days. lie
then went to work for Oily Altman,
farmer residing between Williams and
Colusa, where he remained three weeks.
From thence he went to Cacheville and
thence to Woodland.
When Ruggles was searched the officers
found belt, the contents of which have
not been counted. Ruggles says it con-
tains between SIX and seven hundred
dollars. His pistol was a large nicl6le-
plated 44-caliber Colts revolver. Deputy
Sheriff Wyckof used a 3S-caliber Hop
kins 81 Allen revolver.
If Ruggles had not been under the in
~ of nn of liS
capture, it is probable that he might have
killed the Deputy Sheriff, as he was not
disabled, and is dangerous man and an
expert in the use OF firearms.
A great many papers were found in the
pockets of Ruggles. Among them was
long letter evidently written for publica-
ton in the event OF his death, for as he
expressed it, he had determined never to
be taken alive. The purpose of the letter
seems to have been to clear his younger
brother of the crime OF the murder of
Montgomery. Senator Sprague, who
represented the District Attorney, re-
quested reporters to suppress q portion OF
the letter. a few extracts from the let
ter viii be of interest. After giving the
details that led up TO the shooting, he
continued:
a LITERARY BANDIT.
AS finished shooting and run for the ak
saw Door brother reeiing and struggling down
the hill to the gulch, still holding his gun in
his left hand. AS L jumped down the bank
with the ak in hand Charlie pulled of mis- dis
guise and with the bloody handkerchief in his
right hand he pointed toward the id boxes
and waved me away from them and pointed
away across the hills and mumbled some
thing like, ''Go, you nave got me done for"
but Not much,' l said. sit viii take some
thing more than one mans death TO keep me
from getting inside OF the boxes" 50 1
grabbed the big box in my right hand and
had the AK and "a little boX-handle in my LETT
hand and run after Charlie into the guich
about 100 feet behind. he reeled around
awful and as he got clear 10 The bottom of the
gulch he let go his gun and stumbled and
rolled down into the water with his face down
and his right arm under him.
THOUGHT HIS BROTHER WOULD DIE.
got to him just second after he hit the
wafer and dropped the boxes in the water
lit was only few inches deep, grabbed him
and turned him over on his back and looked
AT him, and Oh, what an awful sight. His
head literally shot full OF holes and the blood
just running all over his clothes and making
puddles around him. l don't know all | said
10 him. took on awful. leave IL TO him II
Charlie floundered around and started to get
up, fell sideways with his LETT arm cramped
under him. l grabbed him again and laid
him out easy, with his head on some hand
ReIchiefs. L asked him what could do for
him, and he pointed toward the water and
mumble6 water" took up hat in nv
hand and washed out his mouth anc his face
and laid him back easy like His head was
up high enough so he could see me as busted
L
large Hour Sack except the waybook. Here
break occurs in the copy. downward from
his body, and then grabbed his hand and
said, "Good-by, darling brother Charles: ri
have an awful revenge for this" l held his
hand, and OH, how still and awful ne looked
his eyes rolled back and the life blood run
ming IRON a dozen holes in his poor frame. /
locked at him and looked around and listened
il any one were coming, and drew one of my
guns, by way of being ready, and, as my head
was aching and burning with fever, wet nv
head and stopped TO think what to do. / said
TO myself: Il must take all my evidence in
his pockets away, and as the holes in his face
Will swell, he Will never be recognized and
IN 60 pack to Tulare and keep my gsecret and
say he has gone to Montana" l GOT all but his
pocket knife; overlooked it. be had all tee
money that we had when we got at Kidding
(S2 0ol L got his key and took the gun ana
ReepSakeS. l threw the gun under a bush
and climbed the hills with the Stuf thrown
over my shoulder and cooked "A in my
right hand. 1t rained all night. | got lost
and found myself in a mans back yard in
Shasta at $3.50 in the morning. Hell's bells
but DIDN'T get out OF that lively. l run
into an old hydraulic washout, ana stirred up
3 goodszed bear. He was about eight feet
long, and perhaps weighed 500 pounds.
l cropped the gold in the sack keplunk On
the ground, and drew my other Al with M Y
left hand. The bear had not seen me, and mad
run thirty feet from his nest and stopped
with his head from me, looking to the Leland
right, but not behind him, whore I was
standing with both guns dead in line on him
When saw that he had not seen me put up
my left gun and picked up the sack and with
my right Al ready TOR business / mozied
along over the hills and far away. There were
two men watching a trail for me, and taey
W ere about sixty yards OF the trail. I
seen them raise up and look no the
fiat before l started Gown the trail. Don't
you know, felt so desperate and indepeud-
ent that after saw them there I Just Qrew
both guns, tied the sacks around my shCul-
ders, and Just marched down that trail with
my eyes right On the bush where they were
Well. may l never live another minute. If
those brave, bearded men didn't get up when
l got In seyenty-five yards of them, and
neither looked any way but in front of them
rs they marched OF, trailing their shotguns
hid the stuff except the coin, in the water
with float that comes up within about q foot
o. the top OF the water, and I'll risk any one
getting it,
HE CATECHISEs Mr.. HUME.
There was S731 l5 in coin and notes. Now
Mr.. Hume, why didn't you mention those
notes? Hou are mistaken if you think m
ever try TO pass them. / learnt better than
That in the "Pen.n l wouldn't take any ones
1eWeIry or Watches, as they are coaVlcting
evidence, II found on one. No one ira Yelling
need feel alarmed about their jewelry in case
should ever again try to hang 'eIn on the noz-
zle OF q gun.
am trying to get out of the nited States.
and in a week or two will be on my way 10
Africa leave all of my affairs for nay rela-
IlVeS 10 settle up to the best advantage to nv
daughters interest, as she shall have all OF IN Y
property after paying of ali the indebted
ness. nope my creditors will be as lenient
as possible and not take advantage of the sit
uation TO rob my little girl Stella as now she
owns all that Is left of my almost rdined for
tunes. OF course, might threaten and all
that, but won't. I'll bide my time.
Charley said he would rather be shot than
10 XIII any one, but knew ! would have to
shoot. Fate took me TOR better or for worse.
Only the Judgment book above Will tell US
in the mysterious court beyond the crave
Which believe we viii all see some time and
be judged according to our deeds here below.
1 VIEWED MY PAST LIFE
Many times since this trick was done and also
in days gone by and will hay no regrets at
ali things canSidPrad. / WAS hnrn frn.a 4 IL,