The morning call., 1893-06-16

VIsALIA, June 15.-The first celebrated
criminal trial that the new county of Kings
will have will be the case of the People VS..
Stokes and Gibson for the robbery of the
railroad station at Armona. The case was
set for trial IN this county on Juno 10.
Legal opinion was that the case would
have to be tried in Kings County.
This morning the case was called in the
Superior Court of this county and on mo-
tion Of the District Attorney was dis
missed. The prisoners were discharged,
but were Immediately arrested by Con-
stable Goodrich of Hanford, Kings County,
on warrant charging them with robbing
the Armona railroad station. Goodrich
had team ready and Detective Win
Smith accompanied the party. The pris-
oners were arraigued and the examina-
tiOn is set for Monday, June 10, before
Justice of the Peace Randall at Hanford.
the county seat of Kings County. Their
bonds were placed at $4,000. and the same
not being given the prisoners were brought
to Tulare County Jail for safety.
The gang consisted of Edward PLACER
(ehief) Frank Gibson. Elite Stokes and
Billy Demasters. The leader. PLACER, is an
Englishman, and is cool. cautious man,
and does not drink or gamble. He is at
large and will be hard man to tackle.
List of robberies: April 16, 1893, two
Chinese gardeners at Farmersville robbed
of S94; January 26. Goshen station held up
by three men, loss S206; February 10, G. S.
Sweet. merchant and Postmaster at Auck-
land, held up by two men and robbed Of
$50, S15 of which belonged to the Govern.
ment; February "a, two men attempted to
rob L. Lucier's store at dudley, but Lucier
opened fire and the robbers responded with
about fifteen shots. but left no damage
March 2. Armona station, held up by two
men. loss $3.50; March II, horse and cart
stolen from c. W. Clark at Cross Creek.
On the evening of March a CALL re.
porter was told that there would be a
hold-up on the Southern Pacific road On
arriving at Goshen he found that McPhee.
the agent. had been held up by two men.
The robbers made him open the safe and
strong box and got S21S for their work,
and warned the agent and his friend not to
move on pain of death. Tie robbers left
in a cart.
On the morning of March Will Smith
arrived in Visalia and reported to the
Sheriff that from the description furnished
him he thought Frank Gibson was his
man. George Witty was detailed to 90
with Smith. The officers went to Elite
Stokes house, about -four miles from
Visalia. in a buggy, but Elite and Gibson
were not at home. They then drove over
TO Thomas Stokes house, and on approach
ing the house saw Gibson and Elite behind
small clubhouse. Smith. getting out of
the buggy, started around the house, and
when in view of the two men was ordered
to throw up his hands. Instead be opened
fire and general fusillade followed. Witty
then ran the robbers from the other side
and opened fire on them. They weakened
and fed across a field where there was a
pluw team. Taking one of the horses out
Of the team Stokes and Gibson rode home.
Smith and Witty followed in their buggy.
In the retreat Elite Stokes was shot in
the back near the shoulder-blade. Think.
ing he was shot through the lungs he came
out of the house with his hands up. accom-.
panied by his wife, and surrendered. Glib
son also gave himself up Immediately
after A messenger soon brought news to
the Sheriff's office that battle was going
on, and a posse was quickly formed. On
the way nut The officers and prisoners were
met on their way to Visalia. The news
was soon out and the entrance to the jail
was almost impossible. The men have
been closely watched and their cells are
examined daily.