The herald., 1896-02-13
When Brady and Browning
Robbed the Express
DUTCH CHARLIE, THE HOBO,
Watched the Robbers as They Hid Theis
Swag
And the Tramp Promptly BIossomed lnto
Duds-whils lie Had Money ~ -
Hp Burned It
Associated Press Special Wire,

Associat ted Press Special Wire.
SACRAMENTO, Feb. 12.-Tonight there 10
locked up behind the bars of the county
jail in this city a man who had a romantic
experience, somewhat of the order of the
count of Monte Cristo or a Coal Oil
Johnny. The prisoners name is John 4.
Harmens. He is a native of Germany,
aged about so years. A few months ago
he was recognized as tramp, and people
who had slight acquaintance with him
called him Dutch Charlie. In summer he
worked on ranches in Sacramento and
Yolo counties. In the winter he made his
abode in a clump of willows not far from
this city, in Yolo county, and sheltered
himself under rude hut made of canvass
and tree branches.
One night, over year ago, two masked
men held up the east-bound express train
near Sheep Camp, a couple of miles from
this city, and after blowing open the ex-
press car they secured over $50 900. After
taking out few hundred dollars to pay
for their immediate needs the robbers car
RED the remainder of the treasure into
the brush near the scene of the robbery
and buried it. Then they fled. The
shrewdest detectives of the express com.
pany and the railroad company were put
upon the case, and, lured on by promises
OF great reward, other officers joined in tho
uuiit lOT tile QarItlR crlInlQalS.
But all of them we're baff1ed. Several
months after that the Oregon express train
was held up near Marysville, when one of
the robbers was killed by Sheriff Bogard Of
Iehama county, passenger, but he also
lost his life in the battle with the bandits.
1t was soon ascertained that the dead rob-
Der was named Browning, and then il
came to light that he had partner named
Jack Brady. After many weeks of hunt
ing and gun fighting Brady was caught by
Sheriff johnson of this county and is now
serving a life sentence at Folsom. He
made u confession. and through his assist
ance the sum of $4,000 was unearthed in
the Yolo willow patch. John P. Harmens,
the German tramp referred to above, evil
IDENTIFY saw the robbers, from his camp,
bury their booty. At any rate he lost no
time in securing $50, 900 of it. Since then
he has led the widest sort of life. He
literally burned his money. He conveyed
it to cheap hotel in this city, where he
kept it for some time before taking it TO
San Francisco.
In making an investigation as to the
character of the men who camped out in
the willows, Detective John Thacker of the
Wells. Fargo Express company heard tho
name of ''Dutch Charlie" mentioned fre-
quently and then he found the tramp's
camp near the spot where Brady said he
and Browning buried their money. Thacker
has been looking for 'Dutch Charlie' ever
Sllce anu on IaSt triCay IN Dan francisco
he took him into custody. Saturday night
he brought him to Sacramento. At first
Harmens was rather stubborn and refused
10 talk much, but he has since admitted
that he got many thousands of dollars.
First he said that he had found but 81 900
but afterwards admitted that it was $2O,-
600, but there is no doubt that he got over
$4,000. The prisoner has turned
over to Detective Thacker $1,000 which
he had in the German Savings bank in
San Francisco. So 800 in securities and a
valuable diamond pin and a diamond coli
lar button. The German had loaned
money to responsible business men in San
Francisco. To one, n liquor dealer he
offered $4,000. but the merchant only
borrowed $4,000. Another merchant
took $1,000. HarInens bought baskets of
wine Tor sporting women in San Francisco
and advanced them large sums of money.
For himself he bought the most elegant
clothes, making trip to New York for the
purpose, and the Yolo tramp was trans
formed into a regular fashion plate.
This afternoon he was quietly arraigned
in the Office of Justice Henry en- a charge
OF grand larceny, and at his own request
the examination was continued until next
Tuesday. He wants to hire lawyer.