The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-15
'HO CARRIED A BIG GRIP.
And Are Supposed to Be the
Train Robbers.
LIVELY CHASE FROM WOODLAND
One OF the Men Was Wounded and
Both Acted in Suspicious
Manner.

SACRAMENTO. Oct. 14.-The detectives
are apparently as much at sea as other
people concerning the identity of the men
who robbed the overland train between
Davisville and this city on Thursday night.
If they know any particulars of the affair
they are keeping silent and awaiting de-
velopments. No arrests have been made
in this vicinity as yet, which is a good in
dication that the officers have received no
satisfactory clew.
Nothing further is known OF the two
men seen south Of Washington last Friday
with valises and making toward the river.
1t is likely they were hunters returning
from day in the tules west of Washing
ton, as no one could have gone down along
the river without having been seen, and if
the men referred to were the robbers they
would not have come up in this direc-
tlon as they would have to pass many
farmhouses.
Detective Kildon Of San Francisco
claims to have discovered evidence that
the robbers had intended to wreck the
train, but changed their minds after en-
countering and capturing the trackwalker.
He found claw bar near the scene Of thu
robbery and thinks 1t was to have been
used in removing the rail. On Saturday
one of the officers found shovel in the
tules, near Washington. which may have
been used in burying the stolen money.
The report circulated on Saturday that
Inman. alias Carpenter, the whilom
colonel of the Industrial army, who was
released from Jail here a week ago, had
been arrested in Woodland On suspicion of
being one of the robbers was without
foundation. He was in that town at the
time the train was held up.
There was great excitement in Yolo to-
day growing out of the suspicious actions
of two strangers who appeared in Wood
land and left that town in great haste.
The latest story of the robbery from
Woodland is as follows:
Just before 8 A. NJ two well-dressed
men, who were strangers. entered the bar
room of the Byrnes Hotel through the
side entrance. One was short, the other
very tall They carried large black grip,
which they placed on the counter before
them. Both were freshly shaven, They
at once called for and had drinks One of
them had cut or similar injury on one of
bis hands. and asked the barkeeper if be
would supply him with cloth to bind it
up. The latter replied that he could, and
turned into small room near the bar to
get the the cloth. There is but thin par
ti,ion. and the barkeeper was only few
feet away while in the room. While he
| was getting the cloth be heard one of the
men say to his companion. ''We had bet
ter get out of here pretty quick or we'll
get nailed"
When the barkeeper returned he brought
cloth aud arnica and the wounded man
hastily tied up his hand. The two men
then asked for bottle of whisky, paid for
it and left.
The barkeeper, having his suspicious
arc used. went to the door and watched
them. lie saw them go from the hotel in
southeasterly direction. When a little
way off they turned and saw the bar
keeper watching them, wbereupon they
broke into a run. The barkeeper had in
the meantime telephoned to the officers.
The two strangers went over an open
space between the Baptist and the Chris
tian Church and on reaching the railroad
track got into q single buggy and drove
re- pidiY away in the direction of Merritt's
station. In the meantime officers were
after them.
Shortly afterward Len Merritt of Mer-
ritt's station, some miles distant, while
coming to Woodland, met two men in the
buggy. One was tall, the other short.
| They were driving fast. and as they turned
off the grade nearly tipped over in their
| haste Presently Merritt met Deputy
Sheriff Wyckoff, brother of the Sheriff,
driving after the men. He told the deputy
what he had seen, ana the officer pushed
on as rapidly as possible.
| In the meanwhile Constable Rhoades
| and District Attorney Head drove out in
southwes:erly direction and Marshal
Irwin went toward Cacheville. four miles
| north.
Sheriff Wykoff. accompanied by the bar
keeper OF the Byrnes Hotel, went in
another direction and were next heard of
at Davsville. which locality they were
searching closely.
| Marshal Irwin returned 10 the afternoon
| to Woodland. He thinks the men were
guilty of some crime or other than the
train robbery. which accounts for their
| strange actions. and that they had no hand
/ in the hold-up. Others expressed the
| opinion that the whole thing was practi-
| cal joke. gotten up 10 fool the officers.
while others firmly believe the two strang-
| ers to be the men who held up the train
and that they have buried the $4,000
/ S omew here in the tules.
|