The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-11
RECOVERING STOLEN GOLD.
Winters COnfesses His Crime and
Reveals His Hiding Place.
Bars to the VALUE Of 100000 Taken
Up From the Mud of the Bay Near
the Selby WOrks-A Golfer Dam to
He built to Secure the Remainder.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 10.-John Win
tiers, the man who without assistance
broke open the vault of the Selby Smelt-
ing and Lead Company on Monday night
and carried away $50. 900 in gold bullion,
last night confessed the crime and early
this morning showed where he had
dumped the treasure in the soft mud OF
the bay. The police have recovered sl3o.oOO
with little difficulty. while the remainder
stiu lies in the mud, and 1t will be neces-
sary to construct a Golfer dam to get It.
The prisoner, who was heralded as a
man of wonderful nerve and cunning
showed a lack of courage when accused,
and displayed absolutely no shrewdness
in hiding his plumber. President A. ]. Raj
ston. of the Selby Company, tells the fol-
lowing story:
"All attempts to get the facts rom
Winters failed until yesterday afternoon
After long hours of questioning had
somewhat broken his nerve, Superintend-
ent Won der Ropp. Of our company went
into the detectives room in the Hail OF
Justice Building. He went up to the
prisoner and, putting his hand on his
shoulder, said: See here, Winters, You
might just as well own up and tell us
where that gold is. We have evidence to
convict you and will send you up for
thirty wears. If you confess and return
the gold your chance will be much better.
If YOU desire to have a taste of Contra
Costa County justice. you can have your
way. Those farmers are aroused to in
tense anger at your crime, and If you are
taken back, as you must be, a rope awaits
you.
LAS he concluded Won der Ropp drew
his hand suggestively across his neck
The effect was instantaneous. Winters
nerve, weakened by the long strain. gave
way. He turned deadly pale, hesitated a
moment and said:
1 will tell you the whole truth and
show you where l put the gold
This was at i:30 yesterday afternoon.
An hour later the officers, Van der Ropp
and Winters. were on their way up the
bay on a tug"
1t was impossible to locate the gold in
the darkness last night, so the tug went
to Crockett and tied up. Sheriff Veale, of
Contra Costa County, learned that the
prisoner was there and demanded that
the police surrender him. 1t was a chal-
lenge for Il battle over the reward and
the sheriff finally won and was taken on
the tug.
At daylight the actual search for the
treasure began. Winters piloted the tug
70 a point near Vallejo ferry slip and OPP
pusite the coal bunkers. He practically
assumed charge of the operations and
showed where the gold was buried.
No worse hiding place could have been
chosen. The spot is within easy sight of
the smelter and much exposed to view OF
persons passing along the road Several
feet of water cover the mud at high tide
and the bottom is very soft. The officers
waited till low tide. Then they secured
small boats and began the search In the
black mud. which was four or five feet
deep.
Several bars, worth $4,000 in all, con-
tanned in five canvas sacks, were soon
recovered but the other bars had sunk
deep in the mud. After some hours work
500 600 more. a total of $4,000 was recov-
cred The spot was marked and coHer
dam will be built to recover the ]. main
ing bullion The gold was brought 20 this
CITY and stored in the Selby vault
Ii was reported this afternoon that Win
tcrs would not be prosecuted and would
receive the $4,000 reward for returning
the gold. but this report is not credited.
CAPTAIN Seymour said: Il think Winters
will plead guilty
When asked as to his punishment, he
smiled and said that remained TO be seen.