The San Francisco call., 1896-07-30
Officials Erred in Claiming He
Was Theodore Winters
Stepson.
SHERIFF DOUGLASS BURIED
Citizens Will Contribute. to a Fund
for the Brave Mans
Widow.

NEVADA CITY, CAL, July 29.-The
dispatch sent out from here last night
stating that Meyers, the outlaw killed by
Sheriff Douglass, was stepson of Theo-
dore Winters, was decid edly erroneous. 1t
is probably case of mistaken identity. as
it appears that Mr.. Winters. never had a
stepson- His son, George Winters, is now
about 40 years of age, and has resided on a
ranch near Amadee, Larsen County, for
many years. He is highly spoken of by
all who are acquainted with HIM. If it is
not, as most persons here believe, case
of mistaken identity, the coupling of the
dead bandit with the name of Theodore
Winters is a most malicious proceeding.
Every effort is being made to clear away
the mystery and trace the story to Its
origin.
1t is possible that Meyers had been mas
querading as an adopted son of Theodore
Winters and that this led to the injustice
to George Winters.
2 Walter .L6velady and William Pascoe,
the latter brother of Under Sheriff Pas
coe, who went out in company to trail the
outlaw supposed to have been the accom-
plice OF Meyers, and who killed Sheriff
Douglass otter Meyers was shot, returned
" lAl6 OEtN 4dot AASAtf having DSCu OUT
since the finding of the bodies Monday
morning.
They had travelled over considerable ter
ritory during the past two days, and'Love-
lady, being an experienced trailer, had not
overlooked anything on his trip that
would assist in the search for the fugitive.
Fromoinquiries made of different persons
he came to- the conclusion that the dead
robber had a partner beyond all doubt and
'that the man. had been seen by several
persons before and since the tragedy.
The man suspected of being the criminal
is of. f..medium size, dark complexion, dark
hair, father dark mustache and slightly
stoop-shouldered.
City Marshall Getchel, while hunting for
the fugitive bandit yesterdays met Love-
lady and Pascoe about three miles frem
town. They had been over the country to
Cherokee and North San Juan in one direc-
tion and were coming home by another
route.
The three'men remained together for a
while, and then stationed themselves at
points of advantage and watched the sur
rounding country. They were rewarded
by seeing, passing through the woods, a
man who resem mbled the one they were
looking for. They trailed him for some
time, and became satisfied that he was
making for the spring near which the
bodies of Sheriff Douglass and the robber
Meyers.were found.
. III was late when they reached town.
Not slong afterward, Marshal Getchell
was informed that man answering the
description of the fugitive had been seen
passing through the outskirts of town
about 6 O'Clock that evening. He carried
a roll of blankets, and was evidently avoid
ing the business section. The Marshal at
':ohce telephoned to the officers at Grass
Valley and other points to be'on the look
out for this fellow.
1t was learned this morning that a
stranger, supposedly the same one, was
seen on the Sugar Loaf grade, not a mile
from the scene of the tragedy, between B
and O'Clock last evening. He was sitting
, by the roadside reading a newspaper, and
had bundle of blankets vita him, when
Constable Northup and Supervisor Woods
both OF North San Juan, drove along.
Northup was SO impressed with the idea
that the stranger was the other highway
man that be got out of the buggy and was
on the point OF going back to arrest him.
Woods urged him not TO do so. as he said
it was highly improbable that the outlaw
would remain so near town after the
crime. Northup then got into the buggy
and they drove on. At the bottom of the
grade Northup determined to go back
anyway and arrest the man. The team
was turned around and after proceeding a
short distance they met the man coming
tor o,rd An l.
back. This apparent indifference on the
part of the stranger caused the Constable
to conclude that ne was mistaken, and the
team was turned around again and driven
into town: 1t is supposed that the man
came down East Broad street until
Orchard street was reached, went up the
latter street to West Broad street and then
TO Spring street. down which he passed
when last seen. An honest stranger
would not take such round about way to
get out of town.
Marshal Getchell and others were ont
to-day looking for him. 1t is supposed
that he is making for Marvsville, or that
possibly he went toward Colfax or some
other point on the railroad.
Detective Thacker of Wells. Fargo Il
Co. and. Sheriff Conroy of Auburn are in
town. They came up to attend the
funeral of the late Sheriff Douglass. This
morning, accom- panied by Deputy Sheriff.
Neagle and Policeman Gibson of San
Francisco. they visited the spot where the
tragedy was enacted. The ground and the
premises were closely exam
ined for clews and for facts upon which to
base0a reliable theory. 1t is the opinion
of the officers that Douglass was killed by
a confederate of the dead robber, who was
in the brush, and, hearing the shots that
killed Meyers, came out and began shoot
ing at the Sheriff; that the officer fired at
the robber, and while his arm was ex-
tended received the wound IN his hand,
which caused him to drop his pistol.
Being disabled and unarmed, Douglass
turned to fee and was shot in the back
and kJled. This is plausible theory.
The funeral procession that this after
noon followed the remains of Sheriff
Douglass to their last resting place in Pine
Grove Cemetery was over half mile long.
More than 500 people were present from