The record-union., 1898-03-05
STATE REWARD WITHDRAWN
THE $500 OFFERED FOR MIL
LARD'S SLAYER.
It Was Asked for After the Man
Was in Custody in San
Bernardino.

Nobody seemed to doubt that the OH
Ger who captured William Sullivan, VINO
on April II, 1897. is alleged to nave
murdered Spence Gillard at the Jumper
mine, near Stent, Tuolumne County. dld
a neat piece of detective work, and was
justly entitled to the $1,000 reward
hung up by the proprietors Of the mine
for the capture of the alleged criminal
But. on the other hand, nobody ex-
pected that there would be any at
tempt made to beat the State out OF
$500. or any other sum, because of that
same piece of detective work.
On Sunday morning last, February
9th. Deputy Sheriff H. c. Mcclure OF
Los Angeles arrived in this city. and
informed a Record Union" reporter, in
the presence OF Sheriff Johnson. that on
the Thursday preceding (Fe5ruary
24th) Sullivan had been captured IN San
Bernardino by an officer who had been
camping on his trail for over two
months Mcclure described the man
captured. even down to a coal-mark
below his left eye, and turning to his
prison records Sheriff Johnson wrote
the word Captured" under Sullivan :
description.
The following paragraph appeared in
the Record Union" of Monday. Feb
ruary 2Sth:
Word was received in this city yes
terday that William Sullivan, who muir
dered Spencer Gillard at the Jumper
mine, near Stent, Tuolumne County.
on April IL. 1897, had been captured
at San Bernardino. The propretors
of the Jumper mine had a standing re-
ward of 81 eco for the apprehension or
Sullivan who, it is said, murdered his
fellow-workman without prOvocation.
On Wednesday last the following let
ter of recommendation was received 1T
Governor Budd's office:
Sonora. Feb 26, !S9S.
ITO His Excellency, Hon. James u.
Budd, Governor Of California-Dedr Sir:
l am requested to write to you 10 ask
you to offer a reward for the arrest
and conviction of William Sullivan for
the murder of Spencer Gillard in this
county on the 18th of April. 1897. He
has been at large ever since the mur-
der
1T was a cold -blooded affair. as Sui
livan shot Gillard in the nighttime,
through the window, when Gillard was
in the engineers room at the Jumper
mine in this county. Yours truly.
IF. P. OTIS. District Attorney"
Acting on the recommendation Of Dis
trict Attorney Otis, Governor Budd yes
terday caused to issue an offer Of 500
reward for the capture of Sullivan. The
offer of reward had been filled in, signed
and transmitted to the office of the
Secretary of State to receive the i'm
print Of the great seal of the State.
when Record Union" reporter called
at the Governors office and explained
to Private Secretary Shields tha, the
man for whom the reward was issued
had been in limbo for two days prior
to the date of District Attorney Otis
letter for six days prior to the receipt
of said letter al the Governors office,
and for eight days prior TO the issu-
ance of the Governors offer of reward
for his capture.
The result of the matter was that
the offer of reward was withdraw n
from the office of the Secretary Of State,
and the $500 will remain in the ereas-
ury vaults and not be paid out as a
stimulus to officers to practice such
methods.
Il is but justice 10 District Alto. nev
Otis TO state that the feeling prevails
that he was unwittingly made u cats
paw With which TO rake the $500 cnest-
nut out of the fire. and that he had not,
at the time his letter to the Governor
was written. been informed of the cap
ture of Sullivan.