The San Francisco call., 1898-03-25
CLEWS TO THE TRAIN-R Officers in the San JOa- Quin Valley Working
 in the Dark. Believe Bandits Stcle Dynamite to Wreck the Express Not Much Secured When They Took the Pouch of Registered
 Mail.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

FRESNO. March 24.-This morning Joe Foster, arrested on suspicion of complicity in the Cross Creek train rob- bery, was released. When put in jail on Wednesday night by Sheriff Jay Scott Foster was not booked on any charge, but merely detained until an investigation could be made. The Sheriff concluded this morning that the man had nothing to do with the loot ing of the train, nor knew anything about the robbery.
 The officers were busy to-day investi- gating clews and running down theo- ries It was ascertained that consid erable dynamite was bought at Kings burg before the hold-up, but 1t was afterward learned that it was bought by a woodchopper. No dynamite was purchased by strangers.
 The officers have been unable to find out who purchased large quantities of the explosive which were sold at several places in this city on Saturday and Monday. It has come to light that the powder house of Barrett, Hicks & Co. was broken into on Saturday night, and the officers are strongly of the opinion that the burglary was com mitted by train robbers to secure dyna- mite to be used in their work. They are pretty certain the burglars knew what was stored in the building, and it is not likely they would have selected that place to burglarize If they did not have use for the explosive. That they were ordinary burglars is not believed. The firm claims that none of the dyna- mite was stolen. They have taken an inventory and have missed none of 1t, but the officers think they may have been enough taken to serve the pur- pose of the robbers. The officers had not been able to secure trace of the burglars any more than they have been able to get sight of the bandits. There is strong reason why the robbers should prefer to obtain dynamite by theft, as then the chances of not being seen would be favorable, while, If they bought it, there would be more or less danger of a description being secured of them and of their Identification ar- ter arrest.
 the arrest and conviction of each of the train robbers. The State has a standing reward of $500; Wells, Fargo & Co.,, in conjunction with the South ern Pacific Company, adds $700 to their standing reward of $500, making 5000; while the Government of the United States offers a reward of 5000 on ac- count of the footing of the mail car and the plunder of the registered mat ter.
 Messrs H. F. Thrall and D. Coyne, postal inspectors, arrived here this morning on business connected with the robbery and posted notices of re- wards. MT. Thrall was questioned with reference to the amount of the haul which the robbers probably made in their loot of registered mall.
 "Of course it is only guess work" said the inspector, but I can say that it was very, very small. We are making inquiries by telegraph. We do not know how much was sent in drafts and money orders, but that doesn't count as the orders are not negotiable. Pay ment on them have been stopped. One registered letter came from New York and there were others from different Eastern places. The postoffice officials do not know what was sent, and will have to inquire of the senders. When that is done we will know just what the letters contained and exactly what was secured There was no coin at all and very little currency so far as we can ascertain. I can only say approxi- mately and for a rough guess that the amount would not exceed $200"