The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-12-14
An Old Wood-Ch Choppers
Sad Experience
A TRUSTED HIRED MAN
RELIEVES HIM OF TWO HUNDRED
AND FIFTY DOLLARS
And Three Men Get the Remaining
Four Hundred-Sheriff's Depu-
ties to Hunt the Robbers

ties to Hunt the Robbers
The sheriff's Office was notified by tel
ephone about 4:30 o'clock yesterday at
ternoon by Constable Smith of Alham-
bra that man had been held up on the
El Monte road a mile and half south.
east Of the San Gabriel mission and
robbed Of $500 by three highwaymen
No particulars were given.
Four officers were at once dispatched
to the scene. Under Sheriff Clements
and Deputy Davis took a buggy and
drove out by way of the county hospital
and Deputies Manahan and Woodward
went around by the adobe road, in or
der to intercept the robbers II they
should attempt to get into the city eth
err way
When the officers arrived upon the
scene they found an old woodcutter by
the name Of John @. A. Smith. who lives
out in the Cajon pass. camped by the
roadside. His two horses were tethered
little way from his rickety old buck
board. Smith gave the particulars of
the robbery In substance as follows:
He had come to Los Angeles last
Thursday morning to receive payment
on some wood which he had shipped out
to Arizona and to purchase some sup
plies for his camp. After all his bust
ness had been transacted he put his
money, amounting to $780, into little
leather pouch which he wore suspended
to belt around his waist.
Yesterday morning he left for home.
At noon he drove to the side Of the road
and fed his horses and ate his luncheon
After he had finished he decided to
change his clothes and put on new suit
which he had purchased. He took off
his old clothes and also the belt and
money pouch. He laid these down care
fully and spread paper over 1t, in order
that anyone passing might not notice It,
While he was making the Change in
clothing three young men drove up'in a
light wagon and called to him to ask II
he didn't want to buy some bacon. Their
wagon contained two boxes of bacon and
ham. Smith replied that he did not
want anything Of the kind as he was
already supplied. At this two of the
men jumped out of the wagon and walk
ed over to Smiths blackboard. They said
that they wanted to see his bacon, as
they believed that the meat which they
were selling was better than his. The
old man went through his packages and
allowed his visitors to inspect his bacon.
They seemed satisfied, and saying that
they would have to be going, left the old
man and drove rapidly away.
They were out Of sight before he no.
ticed that the paper covering his money
had been removed and that the pouch
was gone. He at once concluded that the
two men who had come over to his buck
board to inspect his bacon had stolen
the money. He hitched up his horses
as quickly as possible and started down
the road in pursuit, but after going a
couple of miles without coming in sight
Of them gave up the chase and drove
over to San Gabriel, where he notified
Constable Smith of the theft.
The old man was unable to give any
clear description Of the three fellows, as
he had not paid particular attention to
them. He could tell nothing of their
appearance beyond the fact that the two
who did the talking were of sandy com
plexion and that one of them was in his
shirt sleeves. They drove light wagon
and an old brown horse. Smith Is blind
in one eye, and remembered that one of
the fellows kept on the blind side Of him
all the time he was talking about the
bacon.
The officers secured the neighborhood
but returned late last night without
having found the fugitives. Two people
were found, however, who had seen three
men riding in light wagon drawn by an
old brown horse. George Montfort saw
the rig pass along the road at San Ga
briel during the afternoon, and Mrs.
Wilson. wife Of Justice of the Peace Will
son. saw 1t later at Alhambra. It is be-
lieved that the men succeeded in getting
into the city before the officers were
notified Of the robbery. The sheriff's
deputies will go out on the search again
today.
This Is the old woodcutter's second ex-
perience at being robbed within week,
and 1t Is thought that the first robbery
may lead to the identity of the thieves
who committed the second one.
Smith started for Los Angeles last
Wednesday. He was accompanied by
a yOuu6 Ildu udIIlcu JOu1lSOIl, WHO udO
worked for him since last June. johnson
had come to the woodcutter's place
tramp and been given employment. He
proved handy around the camp and was
kept from month to month. Smith took
the young fellow completely into his
and told him all about his
money matters. When they started to
Los Angeles Johnson knew how much
money the old man had and how much
he was to receive here.
Wednesday night the two camped by
the roadside not far from the Cajon pass.
Thursday morning the woodcutter
awakened to find his trusted hand gone
and what money he had with him,
to $3.50. also gone. He drove
to the nearest railroad station and
that man fitting Johnson's
had boarded train for Los
Angeles several hours earlier. He then
to Sheriff Burr to stop John
son, but gave no description of the man.
The message was not sent until two
hours after the train had arrived, and
without a description Of the thief it was
to do anything. It Ia be-
lieved that johnson was in some way
connected with the second robbery. The
sheriff's Officers have good description
of him and will make every effort to
find him.
The Fate Of a Pickpocket
. victorlano Sala, very dark. middle