The herald., 1897-01-12
BENT ON DEEDS OF BRAVERY
Al. Wright and Woodbury. Were Captured
Sure Enough
But They Were Not the Men Wanted by
the Police
And Now AL Wright Is Claiming Heavy
Damages in the Federal Court for
False Imprisonment and Injury
to Reputa ton.

In the early part of December last a
delightfully."- wild and woolly story, r.
Illustrating life in the far, far west-as It
is not-was given to the world by the
Times 1t purported to represent the
adventures by flood ard field of re-
porter, who while acting for the nonce
as deputy sheriff, succeeded, while in
company with another hybrid, q detec-
tive named Oliver. who also had been
permitted by Sheriff Burr to don the
star of a deputy, in capturing two des-
peradoes. one on the Colorado river and
one in Riverside county
The story was of the blood -curdlirg
order ard told how the two amateur
law officers went in pursuit, the viciss!-
tudes that beset them, and. in general
was very refreshing bit of self-eXalta-
ton. But now comes the aftermath
when at least one of the "desperadoes
stands ready to give his side of the story
AL p Wright and his companion, Eugene
Woodbury., were the desperate heroes of
the Times story, and yesterday the for
mer was seen in the law offices of F. F.
Davis whom he has retained as his az
torney in the suit he is about to file
against those whom he holds response
bic for his illegal arrest ard false i'm
prisonmert.
In speaking about the matter Wright
gave a resume of Woodbury's and his
own wanderings. and, while sometimes
speaking with a touch of bitterness, also
was moved by sense of humor when re-
lating how Messrs. Oliver and Payne
made the part of Bombastes t'urioso
modern and dual character.
I'm September last" he remarked, i
was temporarily acting as foreman IN
the St. Elmo mne at Randsburg, where
Woodbury. was working at that time. He
persuaded ne to take prospecting trip
through Riverside and Sap Diego coun-
ties, and we, after leaving camp, first
made for mine a Perris that Wood
bury wanted me to examine. From
there we went to the home of Wood
bury's mother. about four miles from
Chino. We QUILTED there, and after re-
naming with Mrs Hatch for about a
week or ten days, we started off on the
Sth of November and went to Riverside.
We transacted some business a the re-
cordsrs office, and then left for Warmers
Hot Springs, where we remained two
days Leaving there. we went to Ban
ner, a camp in San Diego county. where
We remained one Gay; then to Mason's
arC' the same length of time at Carriso
creek, the next point reached. At Cam
eron lake we spent two days duck shoot
ing, and when we reached Yuma We
passed two days there. Proceeding up
the Colorado river to Picacho, twenty
eight miles above Yuma, where Senator
Dorsey is operating. Woodbury. got dis
couraged. We hadn't struck anything
of consequence, and he wanted to re-
turn, and finally did make a start, say
ing that if he didn't get work at Hedges
or around InG;o. he would return 20
Randsburg. I. for my part determined
to remain. for l had the promise of a
position, as ] am a mill hand as we'll a.
able to Go underground work.
"Well. Woodbury. had about got to
Riverside county when Oliver and
Payne, carrying with them an arsenal
of weapons, overlook him and placed
him under arrest. They brought him
back to Yuma. where he was put in
jail. 1t was Oliver who came TO Plea
cho and served the warrant upon me.
In that precious document I was named
as John Doe Cook. and Woodbury. ard
myself were charged with murder and
robbery. We We're brought from Yuma
on the representation that we were 10
be taken to Chino for examination. but
at Cotton we We're intercepted at the
instance Of the district attorneys Office
and We're taken to San Berrardino to
await the action of the grand jury. That
was on the morning of December 3. l
was kept III jail until December 81,
when I was ordered discharged. aud
Woodbury. was also discharged last Fri
day on writ of habeas corpus.
Nov if it was rot such a serious
matter to me there would be something
funny about the developments in the
case. ]. Scott Oliver represents him
self as general manager Of the Interstate
Detective association. and yet he made
the arrest at Picacha as a deputy sher-
iff of Los Angeles county. ana displayed
his badge. Despite this. however he
made his return at San Bernardiro a
u private citizen, and this would seem
TO indicate that h then had discovered
that he had MADE a mistake. and was
attempting to relieve Sheriff Burr of
responsibility. Upon divers represen-
tations l was kept in Jail a San Ber-
narGlino for twe1ty-three days without
being allowed bail, although I was
charged with bailable offense, and
had bondsmen ready for any reasona bic
amount 1t is true ! had an avenue of
relief by habeas corpus but I couldn't
afford to avail my If Of il. as it would
have beer an admission. in ar Indirect
way. that there was truth in the charge
preferred against NE, and that ! was
seeking to eNaC5 the law on a techni-
cality.
"Oliver ard Payne went cunning
along the CooraGo for live game. and
now Al Wright is amusing himself with
legal ammunition in order TO have q
little sport himself, but ir court. and
not on the prairie, He Is shooting al a
higher mark than either Oliver or Fayue.
however for judgmeut against fnlm.
would not be worth powder or ehot but
Incidentally he propo. IS having Just a
little fun with them in the United state.
court, where he intcnGs bringing suit
for damages, he not being a citizen Of
this state