The record-union., 1896-07-20

a large pasteboard, folded up and hid
den away in a corner was found Up
on it are pasted, in cabinet sizes, the
portraits of Chris Evans, Grafton Dali
ton, Charles Dalton, John Sonntag,
George Sonntag, alias Contant, Bill Dai-
ton and Bob Dalton. They are all
artistically arranged, with Chris Ev-
ans in the center, and one place is re-
served, evidently intended for the por-
trait of Callendine, after he had sue
ceeded in making a name for himself.
THE TRAIN ROBBERY PLOT.
Readers of the Record Union" Will
remember that a year ago last May
Sheriff Johnson received a tip that four
men-L. L. Callendine, Harry Baker.
Jack Harris and Edwin Ray (alias
"Swipes' Ray had formed plot to
hold-up and rob a Southern Paclfic
train near Florin, in this county. The
plan was for Ray to go to Stockton on
the morning train and buy ticket from
the latter place to Florin. The over
land train, which was ait that time
running by way of Stockton on account
of the ferryboat Solano being laid up,
would not stop at small stations unless
to cause this stop to be made Ray was
selected to become passenger and
thus to afford the opportunity.
Instantly the rest of the gang was to
board the train, every detail, such as
dynamite, guns and ammunition, hav
ing been attended to the day before by
the leader in the plot, L. L. Callendine.
Before going out there the other three
n1embers-HarTis, Calendine and Ba
ker-were to remain around town in
places where they could easily prove an
alibi Callendine was to be the last one
to go, and he was to make the trip on a
bicycle, while Baker and Harris were to
go in a cart. The plunder was to be Sc
creted in a vault on Bakers premises
at 1925 E street.
Thirteen days before Callendine had
sent Townsend up to his brother
| Georges place in El Dorado County near
| Pilot Hill, for a quantity of dynamite
which he had cached there for that pur-
pose, having traded two loads of wood
| to Jones, a limekiln proprietor near Pi-
| lot Hill, for seven sticks of the explo-
| sive. Townsend was entirely uncon-
| scious of what the package, marked
| Fragile contained, and was not let
into the plot, not being considered as
possessing enough courage to become an
| assistant in job that requires nerve
and presence of mind.
RAY SPOILED THE JOB.
| On Saturday morning, May 3, 1895,
everything was in readiness for the plot
to be carried out that night, and Ray
was given some money by Callendine,
while Baker was present in a rear room
| of a saloon near Third and X streets,
with which to make the trip to Stockton
and return. He was to leave on the
1925 train, but before leaving was to
make application in various places for
employment. He called on Charles APP
| pea, then local manager of the California
Fruit Transportation Company, and
other fruit shipping firms, SO that in
case he would ever be suspected, he
could make a showing of having applied
| for honest work. He induced a we'll
known down town politician to
go with him to certain
place asking for employment, and
succeeded in borrowing q half-dol-
| lar from that individual in front of
| Jake Zemansky's cigar store on Second
! street.
Just before train time Ray proceeded
| to inbibe freely, and was seen by Call
| Iendine in close conversation with a po-
| lice officer near the Mint Restaurant at
Second and X streets. He missed the
| train and before noon was sound asleep
in a chair in an L-street saloon.
Callendine and the rest of his gang be-
came suspicious and concluded rot to
undertake the hold-up that night.
AS it happened, William Ahearn, the
well-known railroad detective, on that
day learned of the scheme, and armed
guards We're placed on all trains, and
the robbers would have received a warm
| welcome. Sheriff Johnson in the mean
time kept a close shadow on the gang.
and detailed Max P. Fisher to keep a
| lookout over their movements.
THE GANG AT WORK.
| Late in the fall a series of street car
robberies and house burglaries were
| committed, and Sheriff Johnson used
every effort to catch the culprits. L. L..
| Callendine however, was an unusually
| cunning criminal, and gave the Sheriff
and his vigilant deputies no opening.
| After the bold robbery of the street
car barn on last Christmas eve, the de-
scription Of the robbers as given by the
robbed employees, together with the
nerve and coolness the small leader dis
played, satisfied Sheriff Johnson and
| Deputy Fisher that the robbers were
none others than the men they had
shadowed for eight months previously,
Callendine and Baker. The description
o. the third man, who stood on the out
side in the dark was, however, very
| imperfect.
| The Sheriff soon became convinced of
the correctness of his theory, but did
not deem it advisable to make any ar
rests at that time. Knowing that when
| thieves fall out honest men are the
| gamers, he worked on the lines of the
| cid adage, and as soon as a favorable
opportunity presented itself a scoop of
the whole gang was made.
THE BICYCLE INCIDENT.
| In the meantime Officer Martin PEN
nish struck a clew to the man who at