The record-union., 1899-09-01
the charge, and waived time for SEN

the CHdISt, anu waived llIIle lOI SCH
tence.
Judge Hughes wasted no time on the
case. Whether or not he had been in
formed of Stephan's action in turning
States evidence on Van Norman, did
not appear. but the fact remains that
the Judge was merciful. Without any
extended preliminary remarks he SEN
fenced Stephan to five years impris-
onment at the Folsom Prison, and the
first of the prisoners was disposed of.
THE EVIDENCE FOUND.
After Stephans case was heard and
settled, Officer M. p. Fisher and Dep
uty Sheriff Hinters. accompanied by
Gestner, and with a search warrant
authorizing them to rurnmage through
Van Norman's store. walked UP / street
to the latter's place of business, and
found William A. Norman in charge.
Norman had been in the employ of Van
Norman for some time and proved to
be of considerable assistance. He rec
ognlzed GeStner as a man who on sew
eral occasions he had seen bring in
brasseS and sell them to Van Norman
he had seen Van Norman weigh the
brass when delivered by Gestner. He
also recollected having seen two other
men come in with similar loads OF
plunder.
Then Gestner showed his know ledge
of the premises. He walked TO the
rear of the store and there showed the
officers where he had dumped his loads
of brass, etc.
very little search showed that Van
Norman had not made a clean sweep
in sending his brass castings, ETC., to
distant market. In five minutes they
gathered brasses which had been torn
from railroad cars, engines and other
paraphernalia besides a number or
steam gauges, knuckles, unions and
garden hose sprays Several Of these
Gestner positively identified as having
been stolen, and one large union,
weighing several pounds, he said he
had chopped from a gold crusher at
Alder Creek with an ak furnished by
Van Norman for the purpose. One
| piece he recognized as having been
taken by him from an engine belonging
to Daniel Flint, on the latters hop
ranch.
And in the back yard the officers un-
| earthed from beneath a. quantity or
rubbish two sacks filled with electric
withstanding Van Normans statement
to the contrary, he had dealt in that
article.
ANOTHER WITNESS.
And here William A. Norman, Van
Norman's roustabout, was useful. He
said that Van Norman himself had
burned the insulation from the wire.
In another corner the officers discov-
cred a great slab of Babbitt metal.
which Gestner at once recognized as
having been stolen from a car by him.
! Gestner subsequently said to Rec
ord-Union" reporter that he knew moth
| ing about securing Babbitt metal until
| Van Norman suggested to him that he
go after it, and taught him how to get
| it. by melting.
/ The officers were somewhat elated by
| their find and carried it with them for
evidence, landing both it and Gestner
once again in the County Jail.
WHY HE "SQUEALED."
| Gestner, after the officers had re-
| turned from their search. was seen by
a Record Union reporter, and told
his story in a straightforward manner
He frankly stated that he would never
latter had treated him right. He said
/ that Van Norman had not done the
right thing when he was in court and
that he (Gestner) intended that mas
much as part of the story had been
told to tell the truth of it ALL He said
| that Van Norman had been the leading
spirit, and had mapped out the work
he, Stephan and the other man were
to do. Van Norman, he said, had told
| him that he would be perfectly safe
that he (Van Norman) belonged to n
couple Of lodges and had influence. He
| further said that Van Norman had told
him that if ever he ran short of funds
and would write or telegraph to him
he would advance money, as he did not
| intend that any of his men should
want.
| Gestner handled the articles recovered
by the officers, and pointed out those
which he said had been stolen by him
self
Gestner said that he had stolen and
sold to Van Norman number OF gar
den hose with their nozZles and one OF
the latter he recognized, it having had
the name of the maker filed off.
A BOY, TOO.
| While searching the store the officers
picked up a ten-year-old boy who, when
questioned, admitted that he and three
other lads had, upon request Of Van
| Norman, stolen faucets which they sold
| to him for nickel apiece.
At this point Gestner spoke up and
said that Van Norman had told him
! that he made considerable off the work
| of the little fellows. as they had no
| idea of values and were satisfied if they
! got a nickel or q dime for faucets and
other things they would bring in.
| While the officers feel that they have
| a clear case, and that they will have
no trouble in proving it, they deplore
| the fact that under the State law a
!. man convicted of receiving stolen prop
erty can be given only five years IN
| the States Prison. They expect, how
ever, to get two convictions on the in
/ dictments, one to commence to run
| rpon the conclusion of the other.
1
Articles OF Incorporation.
The following articles of incorpora-
ton were yesterday filed at the office
of the Secretary of State:
Bakersfield and Fresno Oil Company,
Fresno. To deal in and mine for oil.
| Directors-V l. Willis. G. l.. Hoxie,