The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-08-17
WINTERS has CONFESSED all
uHAlpED AND ALONE \ UNIQUE
CRIME WAS COM
MITTEo.
story Of Theft Reads Like a Romance
-oheers Secure Portion Of Booty
From Bottom of San Francisco
Bay.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Aug. H.
On Tuesday morning last, when the
strong-room of the Selby Smelling
Company's plant, near Crockett, was
opened it was discovered that bullion
TO the value Of s2S0.000 had been stol-
en- during the night, and hole IN
the steel flooring of the vault showed
plainly how the precious metal nad
been removed. A search disclosed the
fact that the robber or robbers had
dug a tunnel from point just along
side the wall. down underneath the
vault and upwards to the floor. The
robber had then bored about 150 holes
to within a hairs-breadth Of the sur
face and then when everything was in
readiness to carry Of the plunder and
carefully cut away the remaining shell
and gain access to the bullion room.
Everything showed the most pain
stalking accuracy and care and 1t is
thought that the work OF excavation
and the cutting Of the flooring must
have taken weeks
Word was Immediately sent 20 this
city and a force Of detectives COM
menced work on the case. At first
they we're completely at a loss. but
soon evidences began to pile up and
the bullion was traced from the vault
TO the bay shore. about 800 feet from
the works, a trail OF red pepper lead
ing the way. On the bay shore was
found two gold bricks of $25.000 value.
and this was taken as evidence that
the robber or robbers had escaped in
a boat. Further search revealed facts
which pointed to one man, Jack Win
/ ters. as the leader of the gang and
| the detectives went to work with the
/ result that indisputable evidence that
he was connected with the robbery af
/ found in his cabin, a lonely little ar
| fair. situated on a hill near the
works Winters had been an employe
| II the works for seven years and quit
| his Job six weeks ago. on account o.
! III health, be says. He was arrested
N San Rafael and brought to thie
-ity where he was put through mos
thorough examination, but he stoutl-
maintained his innocence and al
though interrogated for two days he
cave the officers no great satisfaction
! though. from his conflicting state
ments. they were positive that he
knew all about the crime. Late yes
terday afternoon he showed signs OF
weakening and at last asked to see
Supt Ropp. his only friend. he said,
and to him he made full confession
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. Aug. To-
Jack Winters. who was arrested for
the Selby Smelling Works robbery
has confessed the crime and so far
$3.50. 900 worth of bullion has been re
covered from the bay where he had
sunk it. For three days the detectives
have tried all sorts of intimidation
to make Winters confess but Their
threats apparently had no effect upon
him Finally he asked 20 see Supt-
Ropp Of the works. who. he said was
the only friend he had In his conver
sation with Ropp. Winters manner in
| dIcated that he knew where the gold
had been hidden. Ropp told him that
they had q strong case against him
and that he would be sent TO prison
for thirty years. He said: You viii
be an old man when you get out and il
will do you no good to hide the gold
We know it is hidden IN the water
near the works and we win search
every inch. You may be sure that the
gold viii be found before you get oui
OF prison
Winters finally weakened and told
Ropp that he had taken the gold and
would take him TO the spot where i
had been hidden The criminal. II
company with Supt Ropp and forcs
of detectives. went on q tug last nigh
10 Crockett There they waited al
night for low tide Winters polntes
out the place at the end OF the Failroas
: wharf. behind the coal bunkers AT tn
beginning Of the Vallejo ferry slip
AT that point, at low tide. the mud
: about four feet deep. covered by /
! foot OF water
5 When the tug aEst reached Croeket
Z Winters pointed out the spot ia IN
E water where he said he had throEi
J the geld Supt Ropr marked tn
z place on the wharf and the tug steam
: ed away 20 wait for low tide Thi
z morning Winters himself got into IN
e mud and water up 20 his neck and "a
5 an hour and half groped for th
2 missing bullion Up TO I o'clock s13a
e etfo worth had been recovered. Thi
: includes the four bars Of fne gois
! Winters had put some or The bars Z
hags He said that one of the has
had broken and some small bars Ia
dropped cut He threw the large bar
a into the water without covering. |
Is now only question Of carefE