The San Francisco call., 1897-02-01
OUTLAW TAYLOR
CLOSELY GUARDED
Boasts That He Will Yet
Escape From Hanford's
Prison.
One ex.Missourian Who Visits
His Cell Not Positive as to
His Identity.
His Doubts Dispelled by a Frank
Admission Made by the Meeks
Murderer.

HANFORD. CAL, Jan. 31.-There seems
to be little doubt that the man captured
on Friday at sheep camp near Hanford
is George Taylor, cne of the murderers Of
the Meeks family. Lane the Missourian
who first met Taylor in this vicinity and
gave the officers the Information which
led 10 the apprehension of the outlaw, is
positive that the right man has been
taken. He knew the Tayiors well in Mis-
souri,, and although confnement@in jail
and rowing life following his escape has
somewhat altered the appearance of the
once prominent stock-raIser, Lane says
there can be no mistake as to his identity.
To-day another ex-Missourian, James
Sayers, who is now teaching school at
Goshen, was sent for and visited the Jail
to identity Taylor. He last saw the muir
derer of the MeeAs family in 1892, having
been then but slightly acquainted with
him. Sayers was not fully satisfied and
would not say positively that the man
now in the Kings County prison is the
one for whom Missouri officers have been
seeking for months past. He believed
George Taylor to have been taller man
with larger chin.
When he knew Taylor the latter always
wore Prince Albert coat. His hair was
dressed in the prevailing fashion and his
clothes were those of the city clubman.
The man who appeared before Sayers to-
day was rough and unkempt in appear
ance, and his hair had been innocent of
the touch OF the shears for many months
past. He was attlred in rude and ragged
garments that did not belle his own state
ment that he had been a passenger on
freightcar brakebeams over all the rail-
roads on the coast.
But II Sayers was not bile to positively
identity the prisoner Taylor himself gave
evidence that he had known the school
teacher before. As he came out from his
cell he was measured and found to be 3
feet 81 inches tall. Sheriff Duckner
raised the heavy shock of hair from his
forehead and temples, revealing features
intelligent in appearance. Taylor has u
high forehead, and the lines of his sun
Drowned face betoa ened learning, Sheriff
Buckner tod the prisoner that an old
friend of his wished to see him. AS Savers
stepped forward Taylor was asked if he
knew who the visitor was. Taylor looked
at Sayers and said, hesitatingly, that he
thought he had seen him before, and if
not CdgcTS ut DdU seen the latter DrOtler
or some one who looked like him.
did you know his brother 2" the Sheriff
asked.
81 never knew any good of him." was
the reply.
Savers brother helped to capture Taylor
in Missouri, and the prisoner s admission
is evidence that he knew both the visitor
to his cell and the latter's brotner. His
manner when he first looked upon Sayres
was proof also that he did not see him
for the first time.
Taylor has become very boastful. He
laughs at the supposed weakness of the
iron bars which imprison him, and says
he will wager that he can cut through
them within five minutes. He declares
that he will never be taken back to
Missouri. The outlaw will be closely
guarded until the Eastern officers arrive
with requisition papers. They realize
that they have no ordinary criminal to
deal with.