The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-04
EVENTS. ar s4cRAMEN.TIo.
A Detectire,s Worls in breaking Up i
Tramp Secret society.

A Detectire,s York IN breaking Up a
Tramp; Secret Society:
! SACRAMENTO, CAL, April 3.--For
some time it has been known to the Off
cials of the Southern Pacific Company that
certain portion:of the tough tramp ele-
ment of the State had banded themselves
together into a fraternity for the purpose
of robbing freightcars. = :; -: -.
This fraternity had regular passwords,
grips and signals, and have subscribed to
an iron bound oath to: aid each other
should member. fall into the: clutches Of
the authorities.
So numerous and successful became the
burglarious* operations of this gang. that
the company detailed Detective S. B.
Priest to break up the organization and
arrest such members as proof could bepro-
duced against. -: =ss.. =:
After considerable labor, the -oficerdis-
covered that a one-legged man, Charles
Harrison, alias Johnson, was the leader OF
the society: This man, who, despite his
crippled condition, is conceded to be the
best train-jumper in the State, was. dis
covered and arrested by Detective Priest in
San Mateo.
After conining him for several weeks, he
consented, to reveal what he knew, and
was. then brought to Sacramento to an.
swer to a charge of burglary, in having
been concerned in the robbery of "a freight
car. in: the Sacramento yard on. December
90 last. =. = : :; :
In the mean time. the fraternity dis
covered that Priest was on. their trail and
that he had captursd their leader. They
Immediately swore vengeance against him
: and were careful to let. information reach
his ears of their intention to-. kill him,
thinking to frighten him into abandoning
his object: " :. =
The band also discovered that it was
Priest intention to bring his :prisonerto
Sacramento; and Daniel Walters and John
Williams were dispatched from Los Ange-
les to this city to attempt the. rescue of
their conrade, and possibly to put the off,
Ger out Of theway should an opportunity
present itself. -. .. - .... -"
These men arrived in Sacramento two
days ago, and since that time have been
continually on the:wateh: at the arrival of
all trains from the@south.. Their peculiar
actions aroused: the suspicion of the rail
road officer stationed at the depot and*he
ordered them away.
This. evening Priest arrived with his
prisoner and conveyed him: to the City
Prison, .where4he was probably followed: by.
these men, as shortly after his prisoner had
been placed.in a cell Policemen Douglas.
on his way to the police station, saw
two. men, one standing on the Others
shoulders at one of. the iron barred win.
dows Of the structure, who were evidently
attempting to. force an exit for their COM
rade. - :. -. =. =
Douglas ran rapidly across the street,
and the men on his:apDroacIr attempted to.
effect their escape, but finding this impos-.
sible they turned to make. ain attack .on.tbe
officer, who drew his revolver, forced -tbern
TO throw up their hands and march i,1to
the.staUion, where they were locked: nm.
Detective Priest was sent for and in
stantly recognized the two men as LEADING
members of the band: The officer declares
that he has no fear of the fraternity and
intends to jail the whole outfit before he
.: stops. :. -. -.
He,also says that if they get the best Of
:. him, they will be welcome to:do so. The
arrests made tonight will probably. re.
sultin the breaking-up of the. dangerous
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