The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-08-11
GOLD MAY ALL
Be RECOVERED
Police Expect to Clean Up Bullion
Robbery,
WINTERS HAS CONFESSED
The BuIIlea, Which Is Enclosed 10 Heavy
Leather Sacks, Is Hidden 10 the
Bsy-ENaet Location Is Yet
Unknown.

SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. lO-The
mystery OF the great bullion robbery at
the Selby Smelling Works will probao-
ly be eatirely cleared up before night
and the missing gold may all be recov-
cred. II is believed that John Winters
the suspect now in custody. has made
a full confession and has declared that
the treasure Is lysng in the shallow wat
er OF CarQuinsz Straits.
The confession is said to have keen
made in the office Of Captain Of De;ec-
tives Seymour after the prisoner had
been examined at great length by ex-
Chief II Police Lees and Superintendent
Sayers Of the Pinkerton agency. The
officials then chartered a tug and TAX
ing Winters whit them went up the
bay to the smelling works. Here sew
veral detectives were taken on board
and the tug proceeded to Crockett,
where It was proposed to spend the
night.
Here trouble occurred between the
San Francisco officers and Sheriff Veale
Of Contra Costa county, in which the
robbery was committed. The sheriff de-
manded the custody Of the prisoner and
this being refused. procured a search
warrant. A truce was arranged, how
ever. and early this morning the entire
party boarded the tug and started for
Martinez, the county seat.
Winters was handcuffed and guarded
with the utmost vigilance. Sheriff Veale
stated that he understood that com
plete confession had been made. and
Superintendent Won der ROpp said:
Thank God our anxiety is over. We
will soon have the gold back"
No more definite statements have
been made. but a gasoline launch has
been over 10 Crockett and the tug is
provided with graphing apparatus which
it is understood will be put in usa to-
day.
The two bars OF gold found on the
beach lay on the rocks just beyond the
end Of the railway tunnel farthest
from the smelling works. To prevent
the tide from washing into its roadway,
the Southern Pacific had dumped hun
dreds Of tons Of boulders along the
beach as a breakwatar. The bars Of
gold were found on these rocks and in
the bay Just of this point Is where he
gold is believed 10 have been hidden.
The water is shallow and as the bul-
lion is packed In heavy leather sacks
which would easily resist the force Of
the tide and could not be carried into
the channel. the recovery Of the gold
It is though; will not be a Difficult; IN
der;aking and especially as Wialers is
expected to point out its exact locality.
It is still mootel question whether
the robbery was the work Of one man
or Of several. Many circumstances that
have come 10 light seem 10 indicate the
completely OF someone within the works
and the manner in which the opening
was drilled in the floor Of the safe IS
thought 10 show such a knowledge Of
interior arrangement as could not have
been acquired by Winters.
Henry windall, proprietor Of the
boarding house near the selby works,
IS confident that there were pickets al
both ends Of the railroad tunnel. One
night about two weeks ago he was r.
turning from Crockett in company with
his wife and as they approached the
railway tunnel two pistol shots were
fired. He also says he mas heard
whistle in the night that his boarders
have also spoken OF hearing shots AMI
whistles