The herald., 1894-03-27
before or 8 O'Clock on the morning OF
the 10th.
MALICE CROPS our.

before 2 or O'Clock on the morning oI
the 10th.
MALICE CROPS OUT.
On the morning following the robbery
old man Johnson and John, father and
brott or OF the accused, came into the
city and told the officers that Ava WAS
one of the robbers, and that thew h ID
some very good circumstantial evi anss
to chow that they were correct.
1t looked rather strange that brother
should give another away when he knew
that conviction meant death, so Sheriff
Cline, on questioning the informant
very closely, ELECTED the fact that the
father and brother chad it inn for Alya
because he won the fight in the water
dispute. The brother is said to have re-
marked that "Alva should not use anv
OF the stolen money against him in the
water contest" 1t was easily to be seen
that bad feeling must have been the mo-
tive which prompted the father and
brother to thus accuse Alva Johnson.
However, the officers, Including De-
tectives John Thscker of Wells, Fargo &
CO.. EXPRESS, Will Smith and NJ. L.
Bowler ofthe Southern Pacific company,
A. W. Marsh of the sherifHs Office, Sher-
it Cline, Detectives Insley, Lawson,
Auhle, Benson and United States Mar
shal Gard, followed up the clue, and
alter hard and careful work gave it up.
Unless Constable Rogers has secured
evidence which these officers overlooked
Alva johnson and George Smith are in
nocent men.
The day Detective Thacker left the
city he was closeted three hours with
Mr.. Johnson, and he came to the con.
nlr hak i
the train robbers, aa he satisfactorily
explained his movements from the time
he left the city on the afternoon of the
18th until he reached home. There are,
however, other bits of evidence which
were secured by the arresting officer.
THE ARREST MADE.
Constable Rogers has been actively
engaged on the case for about six weeks.
Had he been able to apprehsnd Thomp-
son, the third man, the arrest would
have been made over a week ago.
Constable Rogers had Deputy La
Monte and E. B. Beecher employed on
the case from the start. Beecher went
out to Johneon's ranch and made John
sons acquaintance. Just what he found
out is not known.
The three drove out to the ranch Sun
day afternoon and placed johnson and
Smith under arrest. No resistance was
made, and the prisoners we're accorded
all accommodations possible under the
circumstances. They were not taken to
the county jail, nor were they guarded
until yesterday morning after they had
been srraigned.
When they were taken into court
they appeared with their attorneys,
O. @. Stephens and d. X. Trask.
A deputy district attorney represented
the people. They were each placed
under $4,000 bail and examination set
for next Friday.
THE PRISONERS INTERVIEWED.
By courtesy of the jail officials, Mr..
johnson was seen by HERALD reporter
at 6 O'Clock last evening. He had been
cautioned by his attorneys to not say
anything about the case. 7-~sf
"All have to say is that am entirely
innocent, and when the time comes can
easily prove it. l am greatly worried
on account OF the disgrace of being
placed in this condition, but more go on
account of my family. My baby is and
has been seriously i'll. and the shock to
my wife may prove its death. As to tho
part my brother played in getting me
into the trouble. have nothing to say.
There ia much back of it which will be
made public at the proper time. 1t Is a
fact that left the city ON the
afternoon of the robbery, but got
home about 10 O'Clock that night. l
am sorry that l can't give you any fur
ther news OF the case, but you can easily
realize my position"
Mr.. Johnson, when rpeaking of his
wife and children, WAS visibly affected,
and more than once tears filed his
eyes.
Mr.. Smith refused to talk. All he
would say was that he was innocent of
the crime and that he would talk at the
proper time.
THE TRAIN ROBBERY.
The crime with which the men are
charged is the murder of Fireman Mag
ters and Arthur Daley by the wrecking of
the Southern Pacific train, and the rob-
berry of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express. at
Roscoe, on the night of February 18th.
The train was ditched by masked men
and robbed OF large amount of money.
The public is familiar with the details
OF the story.
LETTER BAG.