The herald., 1894-03-27
CHARGED WITH TRAIN ROBBERY,
Arrest of Two Suspected Ros-
cOe Bandits.
Alva johnson and George Smith Are
Locked Up.
They We're Arrested by Constable Rogers
aud Are Held for Examination
With Bonds Fixed
at $4,000.

known IN This city, are locked In the
county jail on a charge of robbing the
Southern Pacific overland train at Ros-
coe, on February 10Th, and killing Fire
man Arthur Masters and Arthur Daley
of this city. A conviction means either
life imprisonment or death.
The men were arrested by Constable
L. D. Rogers Sunday afternoon at the
ranch of Alva Johnson, in the Big Te-
iuuga valley, about 25 miles north of
the city. They were brought to the city
yesterday morning. end after being ar
raigned in Justice Bartholomew court
were committed to the county jail. They
were held for examination, with bail
fixed at $40, 900, the examination being
set for next Friday morning at 9:30
O'Clock.
The general belief is that the men are
innocent of the crime, and that they
were arrested through evidtn fur
nished by John j. Johnson and his
brother. The remarkable part OF it. is
that these persons are brother and
father, respectively, of Alvs johnson.
one of the accused. The family have had
trouble for years over water rights
n the Teiunga cafion where Alva john
son resides. A decision was recently
rendered in the superior court in favor
of Alva Johnson and against his father
and brother. This, it is said, led to the
arrest.
HISTORY OF THE MEN.
Alva johnson, until recently, con-
Quoted the feed stable at 226 Franklin
street, near Broadway. He has lived in
this section for 10 years. About three
years ago he married the widow Of old
mRu Phillip, German who settled in
the Tejunga canon 16 years ago. Phillip
amassed small fortune in cash and
property. He died about four years
ago. At the time OF his death Johnson
was employed by Phillip and had been
for some time.
Not long after his marriage to Mrs.
Phillip johnson got into trouble with
his father and younger brother over the
possession OF the water rights in the
caf1on. The matter was fought out in
the courts and resulted in favor OF the
accused. Mr.. johnson claims there is
more behind his arrest which will be
shown when the time comes.
George Smith is known as an old
time "sport" about the city, and is ia
miliarly called dad" He is gray
headed, gray-beardsd, and is about 55
years of age. He at one time worked
in an East First street saloon as ten-pin
boy. Several months ago he was en-.
gagged to work for johnson on his ranch
in the Tejungs canon. He has been
employed by johnson ever since.
THE THIRD MAN SKIPPED.
Constable Rogers claims there is q
third man connected with Johnson and
Smith in the robbery. His name is
claimed to be William Thompson. He
also worked for Johnson on his ranch,
but some weeks ago left the city, sup
posedly with the unemployed. At any
rate Rogers has failed to find him,
although he has been looking for him
for six weeks, or ever since ne began to
run down the clew upon which he
arrested the two men in Jail.
EVIDENCE AGAINST THEM.
There has been much speculation as
to what evidence WAS secured upon
which the men were arrested. The
complaint was sworn to by E. B.
Beecher, who was employed to aid in
the case by Constable Rogers. and q
warrant issued after the facts had been
laid bsfore District Attorney Dillon. The
most damaging evidence against the
men is an affidavit sworn to by John j.
Johnson, charging that his brother Alva
passed his (John's) house early in the
morning after the rain in a spring
wagon; that the tracks of the horses
and wagon are those OF his brothers.
horses and wagon, and that the de-
scription of the robbers answers that of
his brother. Other allegations not yet
made public are said TO have been made.
1t is claimed that johnson and Smith
have cape overcoats and rifles, and that
the giant-powder bomb exploded
by the robbers might possibly have
been made from material owned by
them. Other circumstantial evidence
is said to be in the possession of the ar
resting officer. He claims he tracked
the men from the place where the last
paper tag from the stolen money was
thrown out back to Johnson's ranch,
The route WAS most circuitous, and led
off from Roscoe in exactly an opposite
direction to that in which Johnson re-
eides.
John johnson and his father reside at
Verdugo, seven or eight miles from the
Big Tejunga canon. Alva johnson lives
almost north of Roscoe. According to
Coastable Rogers the men we're tracked
nearly to the Cahuenga pass, then back
to Glendale. thence to Verdugo cafion,
past John Johnson's house and thence
to Alva Johnson's.
Another point OF evidence is Rogers
claim that Smith, who was seldom known
to have money, came to the city night
or two after the robbery and changed q
$40 gold piece in assloon, and afterward
spent the night in q disreputable house
on Alameda street and "blew in" con-
siderable money. On the other hand,
Johnson claims that he paid Smith the
money for work done.
OTHER CIRcUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
On the day the robbery occurred, at
night johnson left his feed yard for his
home in the Big Teiunga. He started
from the yard in his wagon at O'Clock
in the afternoon. He was alone. He
drove around the city for perhaps an
hour, and then drove out. He claims
that ne got home that night by 10
o'clock. and that he has several witnesses
10 substRntiate his statement. Accord
| ing to the affidavit of John Johnson, he
esuld not possibly have arrived home