The San Francisco call., 1896-01-16
The Lone Highwayman Enforced
His Demands With Two
RevolverS.
HE SECURED THE TREASURE BOX
Then Caused the Driver to Get Down
and Submit to Thorough
Search.

year at Calpella, or near that place.
Hardly had Johnson returned to his
office before word was brought to him by a
man named Spaulding, from Round Val
ley, that he had met the northbound
stage short distance above Calpella and
had been commissioned by the driver,
Spud Howard, to notify the officers that
he had been stood up.
This last robbery took place in a narrow
pass about two miles north of Calpella,
and known as Robbers Pass, the stages
having been held up there several times
before.
The stage held up was one of line of
stages that run from this place overland to
Harris, about ninety miles from here. and
close to the Humboldt line, passing
through Willis and several towns of
minor importance en- route.
Howard, whose real name is Theodore
Howard, but who is more Familiarity
known as "Spud" Howard, had just got to
down through the Robbers Pass, when
he heard gruff voice in the brush on the
right size of the road commanding him
to throw out Wells-Fargo's express box,
this command being enforced by brace
of revolvers in the hands of masked man
and leyeled at the drivers head.
Howard complied with the demand and
was about to drive on when the highway
man ordered him TO dismount, which the
driver did after securing his horses, and
then the robber proceeded to thoroughly
search Howard.
The robber is supposed to have been led
to do this by the knowledge that after the
last robbery of Howard and lis stage the
fact that the driver carried large amount
OF valuabies about his person was devel-
cped.
Nothing, however, was secured in the
search, and, cursing Howard, the bandit
ordered him to resume his seat on the
stage. Just as he did so buggy drove up
behind the stage, the occupant of which
the robber ordered to bring up close to the
side of the stage, to which the occupant
gave ready compliance, as this request, as
well as the previous one to the stage
driver, was enforced by brace ofihealthv-
looking revolvers in the hands of the
bandit.
When the buggy was brought close to
the stage it was ascertained that the occu-
pant was Theodore Fulwider, prominent
O4Ia4lI O4 w Al44to1 -lhO Ilil6S
north of here.
Fulwider was searched by the robber
and nothing but some small change and
a silver-mounted pistol were found in
his possession and these the robber
promptly conhscated.
After all this had been done both How
ard and Fulwider were told to go on their
journey. There were no passengers on the
stage and the mail was not molested.
The stage left here on time to-day, about
1;30 o'clock, and was bound north. Full
wider left short time after the stage, and
was going TO his home at Willis.
After the robbery the stage proceeded on
its journey, and short distance beyond
Justice of the Peace H. R. Spaulding of
Covelo was met, who was Ell route to
Ukiah, and to him was entrusted the mes
sage to the officers that the robbery had
taken place.
Officers are now out, but trailing is al
most impossible, as it has been raining for
twenty-four hours past and is still raining
heavily. Bloodhounds cannot be used,
ana the tracks will, no doubt, be oblit-
Grated by the time officers arrive at the
scene of the hold-up.
shortly after the news reached town. and
Sheriff J. r. Johnson followed closely
after. The robber has a start of about
three hours, and, taking into consfdera-
ton the fact that heavy rain is falling,
this may lead to his ultimate escape.
The same stage, driven by Howard, was
robbed at this place about three weeks
ago. and no arrests have been made for
that crime, but several parties are held
under suspicion.
The latest reports confirm the theory
h ED by Sheriff Johnson that the robberies
were committed by an organized gang
who reside in the immediate vicinity OF
the scene of the hold-up.
This is the theory advanced by THE
CALL at the time of the previous robbery,
and seems to be borne out by all that has
since developed.
A cursory observation of the scene of
the robbery by your correspondent re-
the crime upon any one.
The officers are thoroughly worked up,
and are determined that the guilty party
shall not escape. There is no doubt that
the robber in this case is one of the same
gang as that to which the former robbery
was ascribed The movements Of the
of this gang have been under
close surveillance for some time, and ar
rests will probably be made shortly.
The scene of the last robbery is about
seven miles north of Ukiah ana short
distance from where the previous robbery
took place.
On that occasion the stage was stopped
on the southbound trip on the north side
Of the river. and to-day it was stopped
going north on the south side of the
river
The amount of treasure stolen and con-
tained in the treasure box cannot be
learned tonight, but from all reports it
was very small.
No developments from the scene of the
robbery are expected before morning.
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Prussian Landta0 Opened.