The San Francisco call., 1896-06-05
1t Is Believed That He Is in
the Vicinity of Hayes
Station.
MANY JOIN IN THE CHASE FOR
THE FUGITIVE.
Ladies of San Jose Aroused and They
Will Aid in Securing the
Reward Money.

SAN JOSE, CAL, June A tele-
phone message from Juan Edison at
/ Hayes station at 3:15 o'clock this
afternoon created much excitement
| on the streets and was accepted as
the most definite information regarding
| the whereabouts of James Dunham since
the message from Oscar Parker that Dun
| ham was at Smiths Creek. Edison is ac-
companied by H. F. Plummer aud George
| Sweigert. These three were sworn in as
deputy sheriffs several days ago and were
at once dispatched for the south toward
| Panoche by Sheriff Lyndon in hopes of
overtaking Dunham, who was supposed to
| DE making his way in that direction. This
posse was not heard from for some time
| previous to yesterday.
| Early this morning Edison endeavored
! to reach the Sheriff's Office from Mendoza
| by telephone, but Under Sheriff Benson
was out for few moments and Ecson de-
| clined to await his arrival. In the after
| noon he again telephoned TO the Sheriff's
| office from Hayes station, situated III the
| western foothills of Fresno County, and
about fourteen miles from Mendoza rail-
way station and fifteen miles east of Pam
| oche, stating that they had received posi-
| i've information that Dunham was in that
| eighborhood, and that they were hot on
! is trail. He stated that they had this
morning talked with reliable man who
described a pedestrian he had seen, and
that tthedescription suited Dunharn exactly
| in every particular. The man knew moth
| ing of Durham, but without being ques-
| Toned gave them ali the details regarding
| clothes, shoes and hat. From the descrip-
ton Edison expressed his belief that Dun
ham was wearing the same clothes in which
| Ae left on the night of the murder.
| 1t was claimed that Dunham passed that
| point at about u o'clock on Wednesday,
and therefore had but twenty-four hours
| start of the officers. AS Dunham was on
| foot and the officers mounted they thought
| they could overtake him before another
day had passed. A few minutes later
Under Sheriff Benson attempted to call up
! Hayes station again and converse with
Edison in regard to the locality of the place
and the route to be taken, but Edison and
posse had gone on the trail of Dunham
| firm in the belief that the murderer was
| only a short distance before them.
| This clew to the whereabouts of the
murderer harmonizes thoroughly with
those received by Sheriffs Lyndon, Hol-
brook and Ballou and that received by
Deputy Sheriff Gardner and posse, who
! found supposed tracks of Durham near
the Mountain House. Under Sheriff Ben
son at once telegraphed the information
to the Sheriffs of Fresno, Tulare King,
Kern and MADEIRA counties. He also sent
word to Panoche to have Sheriff Lyndon
and posse notified at once by courier.
At the Sheriff's office the information
| Il Il
| He is known to be man of cool judg-
ment in matters of this nature and his
acceptance of the evidence of the man who
claims to have seen Dunham is considered
significant that he is upon the right track.
1t is thought that Dunham is still sticking
to the foothills IS they offer him better
refuge than the plains. The employees of
every railroad station about that section
of the country have been notified and are
upon the watch for a man answering the
description of Dunham in case he should
apply for railroad transportation, in which
case it is thought he is sure to be captured
| in short time.
| The report of Under Sheriff Mansfield of
| San Mateo County and Deputy Sheriff
| Haeden of this county who returned to-
night from the south, strengthens the be-
| lief that the trail upon which Sheriffs
| Lyndon and Ballou and posse and Deputy
Sheriff Juan Edison and posse are working
| is correct. Under Sheriff Mansfield left on
| Sunday for Bells station and worked
northeast across the mountains as far as
San Joaquin County. They first struck
the trail of Dunham at the Mountain
House in Pacheco Pass, where he was
seen by vaqueros jumping out of a manger
at o'clock on Monday morning. They
next heard of him twenty five miles south
on the divide where he passed the same
evening about o'clock through a wheat
| field on the Drew ranch.
Here he robbed the garden patch of q
quantity of peas. About thirty five miles
below this point he was found to have
| taken supper at the Mercer ranch at the
head of the little Pinoche Valley. Mrs,
Mercer stated that the man took supper at
her house on Tuesday night. She offered
| him bed in the barn upon some hay for
| the night. but he declined the offer, and
went to the bed of the creek to pass the
night. She saw him emerge from the
creek early the next morning, but he did
not stop for breakfast, and went down the
creek bed.
When the officers showed Mrs. Mercer
| picture of Dunham she stated positively
| that he was the man who had stopped at
| her house for supper. She did not think.
however, that her visitor had any scratches
upon his face.
| The officers followed the gulch for about
twenty miles, but hearing nothing of the
murderer, returned by circuitous route.
They met Sheriff Lyndon and posse after