New-York tribune., 1901-08-11
STOLEN GOLD RECOVERED.
p1r1IIoN WORTH $4,000 FOUND IN SAN
FRANCISCO BAY.
THIEF CoNFEssEs AND GUIDES DETEc-
TTvEs TO THE PLACE WHERE HE
SUNK THE TREASURE.

SUNK THE TREASURE.
san Francisco, Aug, 1O.-"Jack- Winters. who
was arrested on suspicion in connection with the
selby Smelling Works robbery. has confessed
and $4,000 worth Of bullion has been recov-
cred from the bay. where he had sunk it,
For three days the detectives have tried all
sorts OF persuasion TO make Winters confess
hut apparently without effect Finally Winters
asked 70 see Superintendent Ropp. of the selbv
works. who he said, was the only friend he had
IN his conversation with Ropp winterss man
ner indicated that he knew where the gold had
been hidden. Ropp told Winters that they had
a 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 viii do you no good TO hide the gold We
know u is hidden in the water near the works
and win search every inch. You may be
sure The gold VIII be found before you get out
Of prison.
winters finally weakened and told Ropp that
he had taken the gold. and would guide him to
the spot where it was hidden. Winters. in com
pany with Superintendent Ropp and force OF
detectives started on a tug last night for Crock
EFT. There they waited all night for low tide
winters pointed out the place at the end OF the
railroad wharf. behind the coal bunkers. at the
head of the Vallejo ferry slip. At that point at
low tide the mud is about four feet deep. COW
cred by foot Of water.
When the rug first reached Crockett Winters
pninted out the spot in the water where he said
he had thrown the gold. Superintendent Ropp
marked the place the wharf and the tug
steamed away TO wait for low tide. This morn
Ing Winters got into the mud and water up TO
his neck and for hour and a half groped for
the missing bullion. Four bars Of fine gold were
ar last recovered Winters had put some Of the
bars in bags. He said one Of the bags had been
broken and some small bars had dropped out
i is now only q question Of careful search to
find the rest of the S2S0O0
Winters SAWS y did alone. saws
he made fourteen trips from the vault to the
wharf from which he dropped the gold.
The tug, with the detectives and the prisoner
returned 10 this city this afternoon.
HOW THE GOLD WAS FOUND.
Winters. when he had made up his mind to
tel what he knew about the crime,
cee5ingly willing to give all the information
necessary for the recovery of the bullion. He
practically assumed charge Of the operations,
and led Captain Seymour and Superintendent
Ropp 10 the dock He acted more like one Of
The detectives employed on the case than a
prisoner As soon as he arrived at the waters
edge he called the superintendent to his side
Vow watch what I an going to show you.
b careful that you get the locations right:
he picked up three stones, and pacing TOT,
ward tossed on Of them into the water II feIl
70 the south Of the spot where the prisoner stood
Another stone fell TO the east, ana the Ihlro
was thrown directly in front Of Winters.
That" said the prisoner, will mark the
water boundary Of the place where your gold is
hidden"
Stepping to the left. Winters drew nail from
his pocket and asked for a hammer he then
paced of a few yards TO the right and drove
another nail in the timber
these two nails, somewhere in line with the
spots marked by the stones just threw into
A small boat was secured. and into it Sheriff
Vale. Detective KimbaM Of the Ptnkerton
agency. and two laborers were taken Winters
assisted IN the search for the bricks. He talked
Elibly q u the while. The deep mud finally put
stop TO operations, and il was decided 10 build
q cofferdam before trying 70 recover the rest
OF the treasure.
STORY OF THE ROBBERY.
Winters told the officers that ae planned the
robbery long ago with minute detail. He had
been two or three months working on his little
tunnel IT had taken two nights labor TO cut
through the brick wall OF the snnelter. Most Of
the boring in the bottom Of the vault had been
done in the night when the gold was taken. He
carried the pIunder, which was very heavy, from
the vaults 10 the water, and deposited il where
the water was from three 10 six feet deep at
low tide The distance from the vault 10 the
cache was about quarter Of a mile, and he
made fourteen trips He was al work four
hours on Monday night. -Four small bars Of
refined gold he concealed among the stones Of
the TeakWater, al the further mouth OF the
railroad tunnel His purpose had been 10 use
this gold for present needs Winters, his
last trip had perceived that dawn break
ing Not daring 10 complete the trip. he laid on
the shore the two gold bricks which were found
on Tuesday morning at the point where the
robbers boat was supposed 10 have landed.
The trail Of red pepper ending at that point
had been a blind
in view Of the fact that promises Of clemency
We're made 10 Winters in consideration Of his
unearthing the gold. il is thought his punish
ueur viii be light.
Detective Gibson is quoted saying that II
was promised 10 Winters by President Ralston
Of The Selby Smelling Works that he should not
only be not prosecuted, but should receive
$4,000
winters cannot be prosecuted said Detec-
fE eHriGE inst
him. All that has been drawn from him was
secured by the detectives under promise that IL
WoulG not be used against him Under such
circumstances il would be extremely difficult TO
Secure a. conviction"