The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-08-10
Think THEY HAVE
THE GOLD THIEF
Suspect at San Francisco Nav
be Smelter RObber.
EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM
POSSIBLE THAT HE MAY HAVE
DONE THE BIG JOB ALONE.

San Francisco. Cal. Aug. SIN the
opinion Of the police the mystery of
the theft Of S2S3, 900 from the Selby
smelling works at Vallejo Junction
has all but vanished. They are con-
WINGED that John Winters, or Buck
Taylor" as he is sometimes known.
who is now in custody, is the man who
planned and executed one of the most
remarkable crimes Of the century.
Some of the detectives also express the
opinion that Winters had no accom-
plices in the job.
While the evidence against the Dris-
Oner is thus far purely circumstantial,
the officials consider il overwhelming
and conclusive. The stolen bullion is
yet to be recovered. and this, it is
thought, viii be found buried near
Winters cabin, not far from the smelt-
ing works, or sunk in the shallow wat
ers of the bay near by.
Winters, who had been an employee
Of the smelling company, was missed
soon after the robbery, and on the door
of his cabin was found a notice, read
ing. ANY one who enters here will
be shot" A dark cOlOTed cloth was
drawn over the window, so that the
interior could not be seen. The detec-
tives watched the cabin all Tuesday
night, but Winters did not return.
On Wednesday morning they broke
into the house. Here they found many
articles tending TO connect him with
the crime. They included a small in
candescent lamp and battery, crusted
with mud similar to the earth in the
tunnel, a shovel, cloth, laths, peculiar
tacks and chalk, all Of these latter
things being similar to the articles
found in the excavation under the wall
Of the smelling works. No drill was
found in the cabin, but there was a
bolt cutter.
In the stove was found the ashes left
By some clothes that had been burned
and a buckle such as is worn at the
back of pair of trousers. Winters.
when questioned, admitted he had
burned his old trousers because he did
not want them lying around. A grind
stone found at the cabin had evidently
been used for sharpening the point
rather than the edge of some instru-
ment, for it was grOOVed all around in
the middle of its face Such a groove !
might be made by sharpening a drill.
Woman in the Case.
Sorne letters found in the cabin were |
addressed to young woman residing |
IN San Rafael. and at the hotel kept by /
her father. Winters was found and ar 4
rested while reading an account of the +
robbery. He had arrived Unexpectedly /
at san Rafael ana At once began talk /
ing about the crime. He has told a /
story Of his movements, in which the 4
detectives say there are many flaws.
Winters is a native OF Prussia. 81 /
years Of age, and has no relatives in
his country. He is man of some
education and reading. but from the
lay he landed in America has led a
rowing life, seldom staying more than
a few months in any city.
On the plains of Texas he was a va
.uerO, breaking brOnchOs for monthly
littance; in Los Angeles ne was a con
ractor in Dallas a conductor in Mem
his a car driver. in Chico, Cal, a
ancher. There is scarcely a business
which he has not attempted. Since he
rrived in Crockett. seven years ago,
e has lived a hermit's life. He rides
bicycle. and in the tunnel was found
n oiler such as is used by wheelmen.
But the fact that his cap was found
: the tunnel is considered one Of the
l0st damaging bits OF evidence against
i'm. He says he bought the electric