The age-herald., 1901-08-19
RoBs TO BUILD AIRsHIP.
John Winters Tells Why He Stole the
 Vallejo Gold.

San Francisco, Cal.-John Winters, who robbed the Selby Shelter at Vallejo of ssSS.oOo in gold bullion, declares he stole the money in order to build an airship. He says he has the model of the airship and that it will fly. Besides he claims he will get enough out of the robbery to held him carry out his plans. He Is in- tensely interested In Santos-Dumont at- tempts to fly, and says the Brazilian Is on the right line to success.
 It is certain that Winters will be re- warded for returning stolen gold. While the story that he would be given $25. .00t is denied absolutely, ex-Chief of Police Lees admits that certain concessions were made. He said:
 "We made him no offers He made cer- tain demands and certain concessions were made to him. We kept law in view and nothing was done that has not been done before"
 It is generally believed Winters will plead guilty and escape with light pun ishment Detective Seymour speaks in sighting terms of Winters keenness. He said
 Up to the time he secured the gold he acted with wonderful clearness and nerve. The moment he fastened his hands On the DuillOU ne dCLeu ilhe dn luOI. Inere is something radically wrong with that have done the entire job unaided. be- lieve that Is true. We cannot make use of his confession in court"
 Winter Tales of Robbery.
 Winters told his story of the Selby rob- bery today. His story is as follows:
 q committed the greatest robbery of 4l.A nI a1n stories about my having committed other small robberies are false. When plan a job plan big one.
 "On Monday evening, when took the bullion out of the vault at the smelter, did the hardest nights work of my life It took me the entire night to finish drill ing through the bottom of the safe and to carry away the gold. If there had been more time I would have taken $13O, 900 I left behind. Daylight came too soon When I saw that I would have to quit dropped two bars on the beach. pre- ferred to lose them rather than to risk losing a quarter of a million. It took me six weeks to dig the tunnel under the vault and two nights to get through the brick foundation. I did a large part of the drilling the last night and forced through the bottom of the vault. Then climbed up into the vault and threw down about nalf the gold. 1 caTTieu tHe gold to the outer end of the tunnel and went back and threw down the rest. Then began to carry off the gold.
 "I made fourteen trips from my tunnel to the wharf where I lowered the bullion into the bay made mark on the wharf opposite where I dropped each bar. so that I could find them when was ready. planned the robbery well. but spoiled 1t all by leaving my pistol and the pack age of tacks in my cabin. It is too bad, but it can't be helped now. The detec- tives did not have dope on me. The shovel used threw into the bay. If the fools had looked they would have seen that 1t was burned out and would not make light I used little patent bicycle gas lamp to light the tunnel.
 The fact that I burned my clothes did not appeal to me as strange. because had been for years in the habit of burn ing my old clothes. The shovel they found in my cabin had been there for several years, and I did not use 1t in digging the tunnel. The marks which they said were made by my spade were made by another implement which threw into the water.
 Plans to Dispose of Gold.
 T planned how I would get rid of the bullion without bringing suspicion on