The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-08-20
TUNNEL To
STEAL GOLD
SelbyStrons Room
Is Robbed Of
Thousands.

SAN FRANCISCO. August io-Ou
Tuesday morning last when the strcng
room of the Selby Smelling Company
plant, near Crockett. was opened II was
discovered that bullion Ia the value OF
] $3.50 600 had been stolen during the
night. and "A hole in the steel tloortns
of the vault showed plainly how the
| precious metal had been removed \
| search disclosed the fact that the rob
/ Der or robbers had dug tunnel from
"a point Just alongside the wall down
underneath the vault and upwards to
the floor. The robber had then bored
about $50 holes to within hair :
breadth of the surface and then when
every thing was in readiness To carry
of the plumber, carefully cut away
the remaining shell and gained access
TO the bullion room. Everything show
ed the most painstaking 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 to this
city and force of detectives commenc-
ed work on the case. At first they we're
completely at loss, but soon evidence
began to pile upNand the bullion was
traced from the vault to the bay shore.
about 300 feet from the works, a trail
OF red pepper leading the way. On the
bay shore was found two gold bricks
of $25.OO0 value. and this was taken az
evidence that the robber or robbers had
escaped in boat. Further search re-
realed facts which pointed to one man,
Jack Winters. 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
was found in his cabin, a lonely little
anair, situated on a hill near the
works. Winters had been an employe
of the works for seven years and quit
his job six weeks ago, on account of
il-health, he says. He was arrested in
San Rafael and brought to this city.
where he was put through a most thor
ough examination, but he stoutly main
tanned his innocence, and although in
terrogated for two days he gave the
officers no great satisfaction, though.
from his conflicting statements. they
were positive that he knew all about
the crime. Late yesterday afternoon
he showed signs of weakening and at
last asked to see Superintendent Ropp.
his only friend, ne said and to him he
made a full confession. "a
SAN FRANCISCO, August 10.-The
gold bars, amounting to $3.50. 900 stolen
from the strong room OF the Selby
Smelling Works during Monday night
last, have been located and over $40 900
worth Of the precious metal has been
recovered and the balance will be taken
from it's hiding place within few
hours. The detectives worked on the
suspect. Jack Winters. all yesterday
afternoon and the greater part OF last
night, with the result that he confessed
his crime and at an early hour this
morning took the detectives to the spot
where he hid the gold. The spot chosen
by him was poor one for the secreting
OF so much treasure. 1t being at the
end of the railroad wharf. but short
distance from the company's plant
SAN FRANCISCO, August 1O.-Jack
winters, who was arrested for the Sell
by Smelling Works robbery. has con-
fessed his crime, and so far $50 900
worth of bullion has been recovered
from the bay, where he had sunk It,
For three days the detectives have tried
all sorts of intimidation to make Win
tiers confess but their threats apparent
ly had no effect upon him. Finally ne
asked 20 see Supt Ropp of the work..
who, hf said, was the only friend he
had. In, his conversation with Ropp,
Winters manner indicated that he
knew whore the gold had been hidden.
Ropp told him that they had strong
case against him and that he would he
sent to prison for thirty years He
said, you will be an old man when vo.I
get out and it will do you no good ,n
hide the gold. We know IL IL hiddey.
in the water near the works and we
will search every inch. You may b,
sure that ,the gold will be found before
you get out of prison" .. a.
Winters finally weakened and told
Ropp that he had taken the gold and
would take him to the spot where it
had been hidden. The criminal. in
company with Superintendent Ropp and
a force of detectives went on a tug last
night 20 Crockett, 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
beginning OF the Vallejo ferry slip. At
that point, at low tide. the mud is
about four feet deep. covered by foot
OF water. When the tug first reached
Crockett, Winters pointed out the spot
in the water where he said he had
thrown the gold. Superintendent Ropp
marked the place on the wharf and
steamed away to walt for low tide.
TINS morning Winters himself got into
the mud and water up to his neck and
Tor an hour and half CROPPED for the
missing bullion. Up TO 10 o'clock $3.50 900
worth had been recovered. This in
cludes the four bars of fine gold Win
Of Al