The herald., 1898-11-05
The CATTLE STfALfRS
DETAILS OF THEIR ARREST BY A
sHERIFF'S POSSE
BLO0DSHED BARELY AvERTED
Shrewd Work of the Hawkshaws
Which Resulted in the Capture
at San Gabriel

Further details regarding the arrest OF
Romualdo Lopez and Ramon Alditra, the
Mexican cattle thieves, are related by OH
GERS Lugo, Woodward and Davis, who made
the arrest. Going to the house of Lopez on
Thursday, shortly after noon,, they found
an old Mexican woman there but she sad
she lived in another house at distance away
and had merely come up to iced the cattle
there. This was thought to be a trick to in
duce the sheriff. posse to leave and care
full search of the premises was made. -,
In the yard was rough shelter OF willow
poles, lashed together with tules and rooted
over, making comfortable summer kitchen
like those in common use by the MeXlcans.
The door to this building was locked and 1t
was found impossible to effect an entrance
without breaking the door down or forcing
through the walls of the cabin This 1t was
not desired to do if no one was inside and it
was difficult TO find an APERTURE. through
which to view the interior A large cat
could be seen within, but no trace OF human
occupancy other than the dishes on the ta-
BILE, the pots and kettles, with which the
room was Uttered, and long strings OF
"chiles" and strips of bacon hanging on the
walls.
Lugo and Woodward had turned away
when Davis CHANGED to see faint trail OF
smoke reaching out toward the middle, of
the room. Quickly calling back his brother
officers, he communicated his discovery to
smoke came from cigarette, which doubt
less some one was smoking in the cabin.
The theory was plausible and the old wo-
man, when confronted by the officers, I'm
ally admitted that Romualdo was inside,
adding in picturesque Spanish, "but please
don't shoot him"
Going to the door the posse demanded ad-
nittance, but getting no response, the Off
GERS prevailed upon the old woman to open
the door. Lugo had taken up position out
side with Winchester rife, from which he
could command the open space around it,
and Davis and Woodward entered the
house.
There was no one in the room so far as
could be seen, but rough sideboard across
the corner of the kitchen, suggested pos
sble hiding place. Moving cautiously up,
for the officers knew that Lopez had a. re
volver and would shoot if he got haf a
chance, they prepared TO investigate the
shelter. Lopez was there, his double bar
relied shotgun in one hand and huge Colts
revolver loaded to the muzzl e with slugs in
the other Tracked to his last retreat he
was prepared to repay with interest the
shot that had left jagged wound in his
right side when Lugo shot hii1 few days
before. Backed up in the corner, opposite
to Davis, he was ready to fire upon him the
instant he pushed his head inside, but he
had not reckoned on Woodward. The latter
had gone to the other side of the obstruction
and, catching glimpse of Lopez's shoulder,
behind the cupboard. he dropped his revol
yer upon him and ordered him to come out
The first order was unheeded. but when he
had twice repeated it, with the added prom
Use that he would shoot if not Immediately
obeyed, the Mexican came out and surren-
dered.
1t was a ticklsh piece of business Moth
ing but good management prevented blood
shed. The Mexican was wounded, careless
of the consequences and thirsting for re-
vengc. He was waiting only for mark at
which to shoot, but he was trapped before
anything came in range.
After his surrender, with the indifference
of a stole, he told the officers that his com
panion in crime Alditra, was chopping
wood about three miles farther up the river
Going up the San Gabriel, the officers found
him and brought both prisoners to the city,
where Lopez signed written confession of
the cattle stealing agreement he had with
Flournoy. the Pasadena butcher as pub
lished in The Herald yesterday.
Lopez and Alditra were brought before
Justice Young yesterday, arraigned for
grand larceny and their bonds fixed at $4,000
and $500, respectively. Lopez was also ar
raigned on the charge of petit larceny, being
also accused of having stolen four hogs from
ID. NJ. Nelar, the Laguna ranch owner. On
that charge his bail was fixed at $500.
Regarding the two otfenses, Lopez says he
would not have stolen the stock had he
known it belonged to Neiar. He thought +.
j. Greenlng, another rancher on the Laguna,
owned the hogs and cattle, and having no
use for Greening he drove them away
1t is expected that two more members of
the gang will be corralled by Deputy Sheriff
Lugo, who is out at Old Mission following up
their trail, and that the cattle stealing bust
ness will not hereafter be made an adjunct of
Flournoys 5 butcherlng at Pasadena