The San Francisco call., 1898-04-22
Deputy Sheriff Casner Had a Hand in the Gro
 Grande Hold-Up.
Arrested as an AccOmplice Of Jones and Bennington, the
 Train Robbers.
Was a Member of the Pursuing Posse and Constantly Discouraged
 the Man Hunters
Special Dispatch to The Call.

last night the capture of the alleged accomplice of Tolbert Jones in the Orc Grande hold-up was accomplished by posse under Sheriff Holcomb. He proved to be Clyde Bennington, and was the person whom the authorities suspected from the facts in their pos session. In the first place the train men on the freight that passed pre- yious to the overland reported they saw two men on horseback standing surveying the track near the place where the hold-up subsequently oc- cured. Also an employe of John Tur- ner, a rancher residing near the scene of the robbery, chanced to arise at day light on April 20, and noted one man riding on horseback down the valley, leading another horse.
 When the Sheriff and posse arrived they went immediately to the point where the man was seen and took up the trail which led to the pasture of the wounded robber, Jones. At the gate were the imprints of sharp pointed shoes. where some one had dismounted to open 1t. The trail was lost in the meadow. The footprints, however, proved an important clew, as 1t was known that Bennington was kind of dudish, and in a small town like Orc Grande was the only person wearing toothpickS. After a fruitless search In the woods and hills until nightfall, the posse rode into Orc Grande to Benning tons house and were told he had not been home since II o'clock the night be- fore. The officers then made a blind as if going back to Victor, but soon re- turned to the house. They were told the fellow had just returned; also that he had been informed that he was wanted by the officers, had decided to give himself up and was at the saloon waiting. When arrested he was taken to the County Jail.
 Arriving here Bennington refused to talk, and only said he had been out To- eating mining claim. He knew noth ing of the robbery. He did not deny owning the gun found by the train, but pleaded ignorance of how 1t got there. Since arrested he has slept all the time, showing he was worn out by the loss of sleep.
 This afternoon Santa Fe special left for Orc Grande with District Attorney Daley, Deputy United States Marshal Pourade and Special Officer King. re- turning this evening with two new prisoners, Albert Casner and D, T. Chil- son. The former is a SaloOn-keeper and Deputy Sheriff and also constable of Orc Grande and a nephew of Smith Halle of this city, a prominent man of the desert region. Chilson, until recent ly a member of the freighting firm of Richardson & Chilson, gave out last week he was going to Santa Ana to re- side. The feeling among the officers has been that others besides those first arrested were implicated. Jones, in or dering the engineer to back the train, said unconsciously, We have gone past the place." Later when shot he said, We were only out hunting cattle.' but the strongest proof was the action of CaSner, who was ade one of the Sher- ifs posse. He constantly discouraged the search, throwing cold water on the project and declaring it all mistake. When the special returned with the prisoners Bennington and Jones were placed aboard and all taken to Los Angeles, being Federal prisoners. Jones is still alive. but low. His condition Is not improved and his body is still para lyzed.
 The inquest over A. c. Clifford lasted all day The jury is composed of R. T. Blow, A. T. Cassin, T. G. Cappell, Ed Diehl, R. Milligan, John Mccall, J. A. Livingston. Coroner Heating presided with Assistant District Attorney Sprecher. A. c. Mott, the Wells-Fargo messenger, who shot Clifford and Jones, was first on the stand. He told the story as already published.
 C. F. Clark, one of the men in the cab; Fireman Hicks, Conductor Platner and Brakeman Thorne, all recited the events substantially the same as pub lished in yesterdays Call. While the last witness was on the stand Sprecher took Hicks and Thorne over the jail and they looked at Bennington. The witnesses said the man answered DOT fectly as to the form of the second rob- Der. The verdict was:
 We, the jury, find that Andrew Clifton Clifford, a native of Rochester, N. Y., 45 years of age and a resident of Los An geles, came to his death on the 2Oth day of April, 1898, near Orc Grande, from an unknown cause That not having had an opportunity to thoroughly examine the remains. we cannot determine wheth- CT death was caused by gunshot or by ac- cident. From the evidence produced we cannot duplicate A. c. Mott, and we eX- onerate him from all blame and commend him for the faithful performance of his duty.