The record-union., 1898-06-22
GOOD WORK BY A DETECTIVE.
THE CAREER OF A BOLD THIEF
SHOWN UP.
Deputy Sheriff M. p. Fisher Recov-
ers Goods Stolen by Bur-
gIar Frank Davis.

On the night of April Nth TWO black
smith shops near Florin, in this county
We're entered by burglars and from each
place an anvil was taken. They We're
the shops of Peter Stubs and John
Davies A peculiar footprint pointed
toward the wagon road, and there the
tracks of light vehicle We're visible.
Deputy Sheriff Warren of Brighton
followed this wagon track, leading to-
ward Stockton, and some distance this
side of Elk Grove he came across an
outfit drawn by a gray horse, and neal
1t he found the anvils stolen from John
Davies and Peter Stubs. Presently a
medium-sized, middle-aged man hove
in sight and Warren noticed that the
peculiar footprints at the blacksmith
shops were identical with those made
by this man.
The fellow was placed under arrest,
and finally he admitted to several per-
sons having stolen both anvils, saying
that he had just arrived from San
Bernardino County, and was on his way
to the Klondike. He gave the name OF
Frank Davis.
He was held to answer by Justice
Foster of Brighton, and being arraigned
in the Superior Court on charge of
burglary, on Saturday last, he entered
a plea of mot guilty" and announced
that he had engaged R. NJ. Clarken
to defend him.
For several months prior to Davis
arrest Sheriff Johnson received many
complaints from residents Of this
county, particularly from the south
eastern portion, that numerous ranch
blacksmith shops had been robbed and
many barns despoiled Of harnesses, etc.
With Davis arrest no further trouble
was reported, and District Attorney
Ryan and Sheriff johnson came to the
conclusion that Davis was the man who
had committed the many burglaries re-
ported. That their judgment was cor
rect is now proven, for County Detec-
tive Max p. Fisher, who has been as
Sidiously at work on the matter, has
now obtained absolute proof that Davis
not only committed many burglaries in
this county, but also in San Joaquin,
Stanislaus, MERGED and Kern, and that
goods stolen in this county by him We're
disposed of in Stockton, and goods OBJ
tanned in counties south of here We're
sent to Sam Francisco, generally ON the
steamer Mary Garrett, on which boat
Davis had a friend among the crew.
Every effort of Sheriff Johnson or
Detective Fisher to learn from Davis
anything regarding his past lift, or
about the many Jobs" in which he
had been implicated, proved utterly
fruitless. He insisted that Frank Davis
was his right name, and that his home
was in San Bernardino County. When
asked if he was acquainted in Stock
ton, he said he had only been there a
few hours, just long enough to rest his
horse.
Sheriff Johnson, however, was con-
WINGED that Davis was lying, and
plainly told him so. The prisoner defied
the Sheriff TO produce proof thereof,
but now he is as meek as a lamb, for
County Detective Fisher has at last I'M
raveled the mystery surrounding the
burglars identity. The detective has
found that Davis has five different
aliases: Henry Thomas. Frank Scott,
Fred Hale and Henry Davis, and that
his right name is w. H. Sassen.
Sassen went to Stockton, he having
signed the latter name in many differ
emit junk stores, about two years ago
and bought a lot at Homestead, a sub
urb of that city, and built a coy little
house upon it, doing his own work. TIE
then procured a horse and wagon and
has been making trips into the country.
ostensibly buying junk. He kept aloof
from his neighbors, the only one he as
ISOLATED with being Walter Reed alias
The Black Angel" Reed is the negro
who burglarized many stores and hem
houses in this city and county. Reed,
who lived close by Sassen, was finally
driven from San Joaquin County.
About nine months ago, as Davis was
driving toward Stockton on the Cop
peropolis road, just at dusk, two la
dies who were driving behind him
called to him to stop, mistaking him
for another man. For some reason.
then unexplained, Davis whipped up
his horse and drove ahead at a rapid
pace. The ladies followed close be-
hind, when suddenly Davis pulled out
revolver and shot in their direction.
and then escaped in the darkness. He
was arrested a week later by Constable
Heron and charged with assault with
a deadly weapon. The ladies, disliking
court notoriety, declined to prosecute
him, and Davis pleaded guilty TO sim
pie assault, and was fined $50 by
Justice Van Detten.
To many people his strange act was
then mystery, but now it Is clear to
all that Davis had committed a theft,
was taking the plumber home, and
hearing the voices behind him calling
upon him to stop, he believed that
either officers or the owner of the goods
were after him, and he fired the shots
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