The San Francisco call., 1898-04-04
POSSES ARE
 WORKING IN
 THE DARK Have Lost Trace Of Began and His
 Companions. Believe They Are Still Heading for Fresno Two Noted Man Hunters Join in the Pursuit of the
 Pair. 
 REGAIN SEEN IN MERGED. :.
 Visits Dance Hall, but Leaves .. When Law Officer Appears
Two Noted Man Hunters Join in the Pursuit of the
 Pair.
REGAIN SEEN IN MERGED.
Visits Dance Hall, but Leaves When Law Officer
 Appears.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

MERGED, April 3.-The peace off, cers of nearly every county in the San Joaquin Valley are doing their utmost to establish the identity of the myste- rious confederate Cf Cliff Began, the Cross Creek train-robber. The move ments of every known ex-convict, crim- inal or suspicious character within fifty miles of where the crime was commit ted are being traced, and unless Re gan's companion is unknown to the peace officers of this vicinity the Sher- ifs and their assistants hope soon to be able to tell who the mysterious robber is. The identity of the man would help the officers in their effort to capture the pair.
 .- The posses on the trail of the bandits to-day gained no further information of the whereabouts of the pursued men, It is thought. however, that they are still in the vicinity of Schultz Mountain, but that they are travelling slowly dur ing the nights toward Fresno Flats, where Began has many friends who, the officers believe, would be disposed to befriend them and assist them to es- cape the law. Many of the residents of that district have no love for the South .ern Pacific Railroad and a person who
  ~erty and gains few dollars by theft at the same time is considered little short of a hero.
 F. T. Griffith and James Collins, two experienced man-hunters, joined in the chase after the robbers to-day. Grif- filth is the crack rife and wing shot of : the San Joaquin Valley and he is eager :. for the opportunity to draw a bead on either or both of the hiding men. Grif- E-l- o<l !. hI %@ shoot quickly and with accuracy.
 Began has no fear of bullets while he holds a weapon and has a ghost of a show of winning a fight The first time he ran foul of the criminal law he gave battle to the arresting officers and quit only when he had emptied one pis- .o and the other was shot from his hand. He was then only lad of Is years. He has gained in courage and criminal skill since then, and the pur- suing officers expect that some of their number will be sent across the divide before the outlaws are caught.
 The Sorrel horse that the robbers had when they were seen a few hours before the hold-up by Supervisor Ellis of Tu- hare has been found. It strayed into a ranch barnyard about twelve miles south of Fresno the second day after :. he robbery, tired and having the ap- . ::way and at fast gait
 = Began was in Merced on the night of the fourth day after the robbery. He was seen by Mrs. Joseph Tucker, the : wife of the keeper of a dancehall, who knew the robber. He entered the place at about midnight when the barroom was deserted and walked up to the :.counter He had hardly got into the place when another man, stranger :. to Began. entered the room. Began walked away from the bar to the wal :> and watched closely every move of the : stranger, with his hands deep in his : overcoat pocket. A few minutes later a town constable entered the barroom AS soon as Began saw the officer he pulled the rim of his hat down over his face and slunk away. Began was not :: generally suspected of being one of the ;: train-robbers at the time, though the officers wanted him for numerous :. crimes.
 :: Mrs. Tucker mentioned the fact oi Regan's visit to the dancehall to hel : husband that night, but until to-day
 he officers were kept in ignorance of it