The record-union., 1895-02-18
TALK OF GETTING BLOODHOUNDS.
Sheriff Johnson Wants Them to Run
Down Criminals.
They Beat the Average Detective, fo1
They Don't Have to Look About
Them for CIews.

Sheriff Johnson has placed request
before the Board of Supervisors for them
to purchase two thoroughbred blood
hounds to be used to assist the officers Of
the law in tracking and capturing GRIM
lnais. He has also made inquiries as to
their cost and utility.
The natural attributes of these man
hunting animals have been known and
used with success for years, and nearly
all Sheritts of counties in the southern
portion Of the State maintain a pair of
these dogs to assist them in running
down criminals
letter that was addressed to ], L.
Mathews, Sheriff of Monterey County,
on the subject of bloodhounds as GRIM
inal-hunters elected the following an
swer:
81 have pair of bloodhound pups that
am Wiling to dispose OF. They are the
offspring OF pair OF dogs 1 purchas cd
from the convict farm at Carroll Prairie,
Hopkins County, Texas.
Inc pups are as yet not two months
Old, but they will readily pick up and
follow trail. If they are required will
retain them until they are tour months
OLD, give than q thorough course OF train
ing, by running them with their parents,
ana Will dispose of them for the sum of
500, delivered on the cars at this place.
nave caught men who have had
eight hours start Of any posse with the
parents OF these pups, and they have in
Varlably picked out the right men, even
IN crowd OF fifty persons, although thew
had never seen the parties before, and
had only the scent to 90 by.
Il have also followed a criminal over
tnlrty-hYe miles when his trail was
eighteen hours old and the thermometer
stood at los degrees in the shade, and if
the dogs had not been overcome by the
heat they would have captured him with
in an hour from the time [ was COM
PEELED to abandon the chase.
Il refer IL this case to the murderer of
Conductor Haynes at Santa Margarita,
San Luis Oblspo County. L caught the
man day or two later, and he told me
the dogs were close alter him.
There is no doubt but that the fact of
the possession OF pair OF bIoodhounds
In any community will deter many from
committing crimes, and, if man should
cominlt any crime and attempt to hide,
either IN the tules or underbrush, the
dogs viii surely lind him. l sold a pair
OF these animals to Sheriff Allen of So
noma county, and they are giving great
satisfaction"
In conversation with one of the officials
OF this city on the su biect. lie said:
II only one-haIf OF the stories related
IN bygone slavery days OF the sagacity
displayed by these animals in trailing
ana running TO earth persons whom they
are set to follow be true, they will prove
valuable acquisition to the law officers
OF Sacramento County, and will aid them
III the crusade they are actively prosecut-
ing against the criminal classes.
Il sincerely believe that If Sacramento
Gity had been III possession Of pair of
bIoodhounds at the time of the Weber
murder the red-handed assassins would
have been soon arrested, for the reason
that the dogs would have traced
the guilty parties to any portion OF the
city. Or, if they left town, the officers
would nave known by what route, and in
this way gain trace of the:murderers."