The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-05
SAN MATEO ROBBERY,
The County Overrun With
a Hard Lot of Thieving
TrampS.
ROBBED AT SEARSVILLE.
Two Men Bound to Trees and
Five Others Attacked in
Their Beds.
ONE GARROTED AT SAN MATEO.
Russell Rand, Dairy Foreman, Seized
by Pablo Gonzales and Relieved
of His Money.
ONE GARROTED AT SAN MATED.

REDWOOD CITY, CAL, Dec. 4.-Seven
people were robbed near Searsville last
night and one man was garroted at San
Mateo The robbery occurred at the old
Billy Stanton place, about five miles back
of Menlo Park, on the Searsville county
road. The Mayfeld and Searsville roads
form a junction near by, and there is a
cheap roadside house arranged with bar
and hunks for workingmen and a few
others who go over the road.
Last night at about 10 o'clock, after
everybody had retired. knock was heard
at the door. 1t was answered by Jim
Lacey, one of the occupants, who did not
wait to dress, but came to the door and
extended welcome to the supposed weary
stranger without. There is where Lacey
made mistake. He was suddenly pulled
outside and a gun poked at his face, and
he was politely requested to keep quiet
and come along. The strangers were a
tall man and short man. They had re-
volvers and knives, and wore masks made
out of handkerchiefs with holes cut for the
eyes. A third man, their confederate,
watched the road, he having rifle.
Lacey was taken to tree in the yard
and tied to it with ropes. He was suffer
ing from the cold night air and was given
a board to stand on. He thought they
might Kill him, and cried out for a man
who was sleeping in the stable near by to
come and help him. His cries were heard
and the man in the stable came out with a
revolver in his hand, but was Immediately
covered by the outlaws. His weapon was
taken and he was also tied so that he could
not move.
The robbers then went inside the house.
Five men were sleeping in the hunks.
With guns and pistols confronting them
they had to submit to being bound hand
and foot. All seven men were then robbed
of what money could be found, when the
robbers departed, after cautioning them to
be quiet and give no alarm. The six other
men held up were F. r. Crovello, A. L.
Strong, Antoine Crovello, Gus Olsen, John
Vasquez and Antoine Silva. No arrests
were made, as the county officers were
working on another matter-the garroting
case at San Mateo.
1t appears that one Pablo Gonzales, alias
Martinez, had been stopping for several
weeks with family at San Jose named
Lopez. Yesterday Gonzales went to work
at the San Mateo dairy. During the early
part of last evening the foreman of the
dairy, Russell Rand, was passing through
the yard when Gonzales sprang out from a
secluded SPOT and grabbed him by the
throat. Gonzales quickly relieved his vic
tim of some SIS in cash and made his way
to the railroad depot, where he caught the
1870 train going south. Gonzales came to
Redwood City, secured a buggy at Cronk's
stable and drove in the direction of Menlo
Park, where he said he wished to stop.
AS soon as the garroting of Rand became
known officers started in pursuit and
traced Gonzales to Trinidad Espinosa's
place at Dobe Creek, beyond Mayfield, and
the search is still being continued.
Constable w. 0. Booth of San Mateo re-
ports about seventy-five tramps coming
south over the road. They are SAID to be
hard lot.