Amador ledger., 1903-08-21
SHERIFF NORMAN
AND THE C0NVICTS
The True History of How the Anna
dor Posse Figured in the Chase
of the Outlaws.

The true account of the part played
| by the Amador county posse, headed
by Sheriff Norman and deputy sheriff
Jackson, has never been given TO the
public. The daily papers, through
their special correspondents, sent
garbled accounts of the movements
from day to day. These reports were
mainly drawn from their own imagina
tion, or obtained from any one met
with who might volunteer information,
picked up from doubtful sources on the
road. Sheriff Norman made it a point,
during the whole time he aud his men
were out, to keep his own counsel; to
tell nothing about his movements, or
his plan of operations, or anything in
fact that might be of advantage to the
outlaws if communicated to them. For
this reason he was not favorite with
the special reporters representing the
daily press. They were on the hunt
for news, and did not care how they
obtained it, or what effect the publica.
tion thereof might have--favOrable to
the fugitives, or unfavorable to the
pursuers. On the other hand, Norman
and his men were man-hunting, and
did not propose to subordinate their
perilous business TO news-gathers hunt
ing scoop. This diversity of interest
explains much of what has appeared in
print tending to place NOrman's efforts
in false light before the public.
On August l the sheriff on receiving
information that escaped convicts were
headed toward Amador county, started
for Plymouth with deputies jackson
and Kay for Bucks bar in Ell Dorado
county. Reaching Plymouth Sheriff
Bosquit of Ell Dorado was telephoned
to and that official asked the Amador
officers to proceed to Bucks bar, and
that officers from El Dorado would
meet them there the next day. The
Amador men reached that point on the
I'd and stayed there that and the fol-
lowing day, and no one appeared from
the Ell Dorado side. Tt was there re-
ported to Norman that the convicts
| had broken into and robbed the cabin
of Heasley, and they struck out for
that point on foot-one mile distance.
The officers went over the ground of
battle at Grand Victory mine.
On the 4th instant they returned to
Jackson and made arrangements for
systematic hunt Of the outlaws. Two
wagons were secured, both with three
seats, affording room to take II men,
which was the number comprising the
posse, we'll stocked with provisions,
blankets, etc.; also two saddle horses
for the use of scouts. who during the
expedition were sent ahead to trace
the convicts. They were unarmed and
dressed as cattlemen on the lookout for
stock. This was adopted for the safety
of these men, as the escapes were not
| likely to shoot unarmed men. If they
were attacked they we're instructed to
surrender A white handkerchief tied
around the neck was the badge used to
distinguish the members of the ANA
dor posse. The expedition reached
Plymouth on the evening of the 4th.
Here was the first misunderstanding
with the newspaper men. A reporter
for the Examiner wanted the men to
pose for snap shot with his camera.
Norman told him they had no time to
waste over such matters; that when
they came back they could accom-
modate these artists. The drivers
were told to drive on, which they did,
making Lockwood's station the same
night, arriving there between II and l
o'clock.
August 5-Arrived at Wiley's station.
Six men were sent across to the north
fork of the Cosumnes river on foot.
Another part of the posse was stationed
at the shingle mill, about mile from
Wiley's station. The men remained at
these points until night, guarding these
entrances to Amador territory.
August 6-Nothing being heard of
the convicts, it was determined to break
camp at that point, and transfer the
base of operations into Ell Dorado coun-
| ty. There were three reporters at
Wiley 's-one each for the Examiner,
Call and Chronicle. These men were
told by Mr.. Norman that it was nee
essary to keep his movements secret;
that they could not be allowed to ac-
company the posse or the wagons. If
anything important occurred, he would
dispatch courier to Wiley's to keep
them posted, but he would not permit
them in the camp. One newspaper
man was inclined to follow notwith-
standing this injunction, whereupon he
was told that if he persisted he would
clap the handouts upon him if nee
essary. This settled the matter, and
the reporters stayed behind, and picked
up news, trustworthy or otherwise, as
they best could. The teams were
| hitched up and driven across the coun-
try to Pi Pi, distance of nine miles
across the Ell Dorado line. The route
was over the roughest kind of country
no road at all. Trees, rocks, brush,
and gulches were encountered, the
members of the posse, except the two
drivers, travelling the entire distance
on foot Arriving at Pi Pi, pretty we'll