The record-union., 1898-03-13
kRODBERS' SCHEME Fooled.
HOW A PERSONAL---VERY. PLOT
WAS DEFEATED.
Why Several Discharged Conv7cts
Were Gathered in on Charges
OF Vagrancy.

The scheme to burglariZe the street
railway company's receiving office, near
the Southern Pacific Company's depot,
did not come off as per schedule, oWlhs
20 a subsequent scheme concocted ana
pushed to a successful termination py
Chief of Police Dwyer.
About three weeks ago q young man
belonging to the fraternity who ton
not neither do they spin. told Chiei
Dwyer of a conversation he had over
heard in K-street saloon between TWO
ex-convicts, which related 10 plan
formulated by convicts IN the foisom
prison TO crack the safe at the receiving
office as soon as their terms of impfisoh-
ment should eXoire-
With the information in hand Chief
Dryer followed up the lead. lie found
that it was correct, and that Chick
Frost. Frank Anderson, Mark Kelly
(alias MansfeldD Kid Thomas and
Tom Hausensacker We're in the plot.
After satisfying himself that the
burglary had been planned to take place
as soon as the convicts interested should
all arrive in the city, Chief DWyer set
his plans for heading them off. He in
formed Frank A. Ross. Superintendent
OF the Street Railway Company, of the
contemplated raid and the latter de-
termined to have a man and a shotgun
on the battlefield, in case the gang
should gather before Chief Dwyer could
round them up.
Mr. Ross asked the Chief to recon-
mend q nervy man for the Job, and the
latter named j. NJ. Harlow, who has had
considerable experience as an olhcel,
and who was considered equal 10 the
task OF judiciously distributing buck
shot into the carcasses of the rlfffaE
from the States prison pen
A Southern Pacific Company SWITCH
mans box adjoins the receiving offlce,
and in this Harlow was cached away
every night while the danger existed. A
Peep hole was sawed out so that from
the switchman's box he could get
good view Of the interior Of the oftlce
and safe and with extra heavy charges
III his towing piece he awaited a de-
nouement which Chief Dwyer was de-
te1mined to prevent if possible.
Chick" Frcst's term expired about
ten days ago, and as soon as his face
became familiar object en- the street,
and lust about the time the rest of the
ox-convicts were due to arrive and test
the efficiency Of Harlow's buckshot,
and in lieu of anything more convenient
he was charged with vagrancy.
The next day Anderson was given
suit of gray clothes, a free pass over
the railroad and a So gold piece and
walked out of the penitentiary Tree
man. He took the train for Sacramento
and was met at the depot by q deieSa-
lion of police who took good care OF him.
n
charge of vagrancy being set opposite
his name.
Then Hausensacker came in. and was
followed by Kelly, or Mansfield" down
from Marysville. to take his part. and
last Of all came kid" Thomas. and tbs
Quintet were all in the city-jail.
Not only that, but every man knew
What it was for. Chief Dwyer did not
want to convict them Of Nagrancy and
keep them in the city, his object being
Ia have them move on and this they
all promised TO do. They realized fully
j that the jig was up. SO far as the street
railway receiving office safe was con-
eerned. and were ot.slow in concluding
that Sacramento, as d field Of operations
for them, was not bed of roses nor q
free ride to prosperity
Justice Davis. ostensibiy given six
months vacation on the country rock
cushing plant. and then were admon-
ished in smooth, even tones, which car
lied a world of meaning with them, to
feat" out
And they "noated" Harlow hung ur
his shotgun. and the city Is well ria o.
five as hard mugs" as are outside OF
slr I'm, 8 ODD
some time preceding the date set for the
burglary. considerable money had been
left over night in the safe at the re-
ceiving office. but Chief Dwyef is stu
unable to account for the manner II
which the ex-convicts became POSSE IS &c
OF the facts.
While the people were loud in then
praise Of the new Chief of Police for rid
ding the city OF ex-conyicts. not half
dozen persons knew the story at the bot
tom Of it.