The morning call., 1894-03-31
THE ROSCOE ROBBERY
Beginning of the Examination of
johnson and Smith.
In a Revengeful Spirit Relatives of
the Rancher Testify Against
Him.

Los ANGELES, March 30.-Alva John
son and George Smith, arrested fey days
ago on u charge of having robbed the
Southern Pacific train at Roscoe on Feb
ruary 10, were examined in Justice Bar
thclemew's court this morning. tre-
mendous crowd was present and many
offered premium TO get into the court
room. Mrs. johnson. a pretty little
woman. sat unconcerned by the side of her
husband in the court. Smith appeared
very nervous.
Many witnesses against the men are
relatives Of Johnson, who had lawsuit
with him over water rights. and they were
in court. johnson paid very little atten-
tion to them. Nothing startling was de-
veloped this morning Express Messenger
Harry Edgar, the first witness, went over
the story of the hold-up of the train and
the robbery, which was substantially as
told before by him. Conductor Odell told
the same story OF the robbery. He said
he saw five men moving in STOPPING pos
ture toward the head of the train.
Pullman Conductor Fl. A. Graves was
asked to compare the size of the men with
the prisoners, but declin ed because he had
never seen accused standing on their feet.
Deadhead Fireman Ben La Grange testified
the first thing he knew was the engineer
shouted, "Boys. get down or you'll get
shot"
The robbers compelled him to 90 up to
the express-car with them. They had a
bomb in a small can and touched it off
with a match and then told witness to run.
which he did. He said both msn were
slim built, but one was taller than the
other. He only saw two men. Saw the
wagon and described it. Was such a
wagon as johnson was said to have been
using the day prior to the robbery.
The case is exciting great interest. as
Johnson is prominent citizen and has a
large ranch near Tejunga. where he lives.
The prosecution is confident of making a
case against them. A bomb similar to the
one found yesterday is said to have been
discovered near JohDson's farm. The
case will consume several days.
In response to questions as 10 the prob
able amount of money secured bv the TO b.
bers. Express Messenger Harry Edgar tes-
titled there was less than 500 in United
States currency. $40 of it being in gold.
Besides this the robbers carried away six
or seven sacks, each containing from 10O
to 300 Mexican dollars.
In the afternoon Daniel j. Haines, a
wood-hauler, said be examined the tracks
at the scene Of the robbery early the next
morning. He found that one Of the horses
driven by the robbers left the marks OF
cup-shaDed hoofs, similar to those of a
mule. He had since examined the foot
prints of one of Johnson's horses, and
found them very similar.
Cornelius and John johnson, brothers OF
one of the accused men. also testified that
they had seen the peculiar tracks at the
scene OF the robbery, and had traced them
to the ranch Of Alva Johnson. The testi-
mony of the two J0hnsOns. however,
was weak, and evidently given in a re.
vengeful spirit
John Hanernass, a Los Angeles saloon
keeper, stated that he had served Smith in
his saloon few days after the robbery,
and that the latter threw down 20-dollar
gold-piece, and said be had plenty of
money. He remarked that this was
strange. as he knew that Smith was work
ing for his board at Alva Johnson's ranch.