The record-union., 1898-04-24
OVER A THOUSAND CHICKENS
THEY WERE STOLEN WITHIN A
FEW MONTHS.
Ex-Convict Frank Pcderas and Ed
Ellsworth Under Arrest
Therefor.

Within the past five months ha1-
hundred chicken roosts ir the city,
and many along the Riverside road ana
other nearby sections in the country
have been robbed Yesterday Chief or
Police Dwyer and Officers Fisher and
Maley landed the thieves who have
been causing some of the trouble. Ihey
are Ed Ellsworth and Frank Pederas-
the latter an eX-convict who IN May
last was released from the San quentin
State Prison, where he had served
term for stealing horses in San OleSo
County Ellsworth is well known around
Folsom. where he formerly worked IN
the mines.
About two weeks go the proprietor
of a store in the southwestern part OF
the city notified Police Sergeant Nc
Manus that two suspicious-looking in
dfviduals were in the habit of Offering
chickens for sale at his place Of busi :
ness McManus requested him to notify
police headquarters when the suspects
next appeared. and to hold them there
on some pretext or other until officers
could arrive.
Early yesterday morning the mer-
chant rang up, as directed, and notified
McManus that the men were at his
place with a dozen plump barnyard
specimens. and that he would dicker
with them until the officers arrived.
Chief Dwyer, Maley and Fisher lost
no time in answering the call, and when
they arrived Ellsworth was still dicKer-
ing with the groceryman. The Chief
took a hand. and finally agreed TO take
all of Elsworth's stock in trade at -
cents per head. Ellsworth said he gUt
the chickens in the neighborhood
around Mayhem Station, on the Folsom
road
Frank Pederas. Elsworth's partner.
had left the store before the officers ar
rived. taking with him five chickens 10
peddle along the streets. and Whlle
Chief Dwyer took Ellsworth TO jail fisn-
err and MaIey laid for Pederas, who
shortly returned, having failed to dis
pose of his share of the spOils, and lie.
too. was landed in jail
Once behind the bars, the suspects
began telling crooked stories, eaeh try
ing to throw the responsibility on the
other. and when finally Pederas was ac-
cused of being an ex-cOnvict he weak
ened and told the whole story, which,
by the way throws light on much CT
the thieving that has been carried on
in Sacramento for the past five months.
Pederas told Chief Dwyer that for
months he and Ellsworth had been
working the henroOsts in and near the
city. and that they had gathered IN
nearly 1900 chickens, which they had
sold at hotels, restaurants and grocery
stores throughout the city
The ex-convict also accused Ellsworth
of having attended the wake" of Mrs.
Viva Guadalupe, who died about two
weeks ago. and of stealing, while there.
two rings, a pistol and pair of ear
rings. The latter were subsequently
found under the band Of Elsworth's hat
Pederas offered to go with the officers
and point out some of the places where
he and his partner had operated. and
did so. He pointed out nine henroostS
which he had assisted in robbinG with
in the past two weeks, part of the list
Z being as follows:
George ii. Da ShieE, Riverside road,
nine chickens stolen.
w. e Parker, Riverside road, three
dozen.
w. T. McAuister, 2G00 street, one
dozen.
Joseph Kerr, o street between
Fourth and Fifth, two dozen and one
half
Mrs. Rose Motroni, Second and T
streets. ten.
Pederas is known to the local police.
He lives in Boiler alley, just back of
what is known as Grace Cooks man
sion" near Front and streets. About
two weeks ago he assaulted woman
with whom he was living, laying open
with knife one side of her face. He
was arrested. but she declined to prose-
cute him, and the matter was dropped.
Pederas acknowledged that he and
Ellsworth had worked after night, and
had in many instances broken open the
henhouses, and they will be charged
with burglary The capture of the
thieves is conceded to have been a
clever piece of work.