The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-10
WASSON BURGLARY AFFAIR.
DISPOSITION MADE OF THE
STOLEN PROPERTY.
Constable Alters Statement as to
His Connection With
the Matter.

During the Knights Templar Con-
elave, a short time ago, the house of A.
WATSON was entered by burglars while
the family was absent witnessing the
drill at the New Pavilion, and a watch
and chain, a 500 gold slug, a watch
chaln and a dagger We're stolenA
statement was published yesterday
in the evening paper that Mr.. WATSON
mad told Chief of Police Dwyer that the
day after the burglary Detective Henry
Alter went to his residence and asked
Mrs. WATSON what she would pay for
the return of the dagger, and that she
said she would not pay a penny that
he then drew the dagger from his
pocket and gave it to her, but not until
she had demanded to know who her Wis
itor was and why he took such an in
terest in her affairs; that he next
sought Mr. WATSON and told him about
recovering the dagger, and that he had
a good tip on who the burglars were
and where they could be found, and that
they We're ex-convicts named Tom Muir
ray and Lon Williams; that Williams
had agreed to steer him to the place in
San Francisco where the property had
been sold, and that it would take $50
also stated that WATSON would not
agree to that amount, but gave Alter
$50 to go and get the property and the
burglars, but that he did not get either.
and on his return offered the $40 to Mr..
" asson, but the latter would not accept
it. Mr.. WATSON had gone riding last
night, but Record Union represe MT
ative saw Alter and asked him what
"a tom !
ing the matter
There is not word of truth in it -
said Alter, except the statement that
Mrs WATSON said she did not want to
pay anything for the dagger.
Within day or two after the bur-
gary, Game Warden Kimber told me
OF the case and said Mr.. Wasson want
ed to engage me on it. and I went with
him to Wassons house, and he engaged
me. On my way met an ex-convict
name Lon Pierce, who told me that he
could tell me about the burglary. He
told me that Murray and he met in a
box car, and Murray showed him all the
stolen property, and afterwards buried
part of it along the track and the rest
in another place. Pierce asked me if
would give him some clothes if he would
help me to get the stuff, and l told him
l would. We went to the place where
part of it was buried and dug up the
dagger Pierce then told me he had
given Murray a note to a saloon-keeper
in San Francisco who would buy the
stuff from him
= went with Kimber and told Mr.
WATSON what I knew and asked him
what he would be willing to pay if I
recovered the dagger slug and other
things He said the dagger was his
wife's, and he did not know about that
part. Mrs. WATSON said she would be
glad to have the dagger back, and l
gave ii to her.
L went with WATSON to the District
Attorney and got a John Doe warrant
for Murray's arrest and it was given me
to serve. There was no effort at con-
cealmert
WATSON gave me a check for $50. and
said he would give me $50 more if I re-
covered the rest of the property. I could
not afford to go out of the county
hunting criminals and pay my own ex-
penses.e l sent Pierce to San Francisco
and he sent me a telegram to come
down. He took me to the saloon keeper.
but | found that Murray had sold the
watch to him for SO, and that he had
sold the works and melted down the
case. l told him that l had Murray I'M
der arrest and knew all about the mat
ter, and he said that as hef could not re-
turn the watch he would dig up money
to pay for it. He got $40 and gave it
me to pay to Mr.. WATSON. I came back
and reported the matter to WATSON and
told him that had told the saloon keep
er that if | caught Murray and needed
MIN as witness I would give him the
so back if he would come up and tes-
tify against him, and he agreed to do
So
L offered the money to Mr.. WATSON.
and told him he could take it, or l
would hold it. just as he wished and he
told me TO keep it for the present He
told me yesterday morning he was sat
isfied with what I had done. but
thought I should have held Pierce and
not let him get away from me- He
asked me to continue the case"
Alter showed the warrant. dated April
18th, and also statement signed by the
saloon-keeper that he had purchased
the watch and melted the cases, but as
he could not return it he had voluntar-
lily given Alter $50 for Mr.. WATSON.