The San Francisco call., 1905-08-09
TRACING CRIMES
To BOY BANDITS
Sheriff Barnet Gathering
Evidence on 0ffenSes Now
Charged to Young Thugs
NAY HAVE SHOT BROWN
Idea Is Formed That Jim
Crow Gang" Members
Killed Intrepid Policeman

OAKLAND, Aug. S-Sherif Barnet has
been working carefully in his investiga-
ton Of the offenses charged against the
Jim Grow gang" Some are being proved
against the youngsters, who are now in
his custody. BlakeT, Schneider and Penn
broke viii be arraigned before Justice
Ceary in East Oakland to-day To-day
James Crowhurst was charged With rob
berry fer the hold-up of Ed Stanley in
East Oakland. Elmer Crowhurst, the
younger Of the two Crowhurst boys and
the youngest Of the gang. has not yet
been charged and Sheriff Barnet is going
20 try 10 have him sent to reform
school instead Of blasting his life with a
States prison record.
Sheriff Barnet has been working upon
q theory that these boys shot Policeman
George Brown last winter. He has ques-
toned the boys upon this point, but has
been met with denials up 10 the present
This shooting occurred at the very time
the boys admit that they were operating
nearly every night in and around Oak
land Sheriff Barnet beiieves that che or
more Of the members of the gang were
held up by Brown. and when they
thought that they were about 70 be ar
rested with booty upon them they shot
rather than be captured, having as few
c0mpunctfons of conscience over po-
Hceman as they did over young Cook.
WE'RE AFTER PRATHER.
It is thought that the boys had planned
70 hold up Thomas Prather, president of
the Union National Bank. This is caused
by statements Of the younger Crowhurst
and Pembroke. The last named was
working on Mr.. Prather's house and tried
70 get Crowhurst a job repairing a lawn
mower. Crowhurst came 10 the house
and was refused the work. He then told
Crowhurst that he wanted help in a few
nights holding up a banker who had a
benk on the corner Of Twelfth street ana
broadway. This would apply TO Mr.
Prather. whose bank is on that corner.
The elder Crowhurst makes denial OF
this. the denial, however, not being be-
ueved BY Sheriff Barnet.
Pembroke and Crowhurst each say that
Rleler told them he had once killed a
Chinaman by throwing rock at him and
fracturing his skull. There is no record
of any such a killing, and Sheriff Barnet
believes that Blaker merely wished TO
pose before the others as a bad man,
and told this story 10 increase his hold
on the others
SUSPECTED OF HOLDUPS.
The two Crowhurst boys once followed
Justice Geary. before whom they will
have to appear tomorrow, and tried TO
fnd an opportunity TO hold him up. Later
Justice Geary employed the younger
Crowhurst. who is d good musician, 70
plav the piano for an evenings entertain
rnent for him. The younger CroWhurst
IS authority for this story.
There is a multitude Of small hold-ups
that it is believed could be traced TO
these boys AT the time they were oper-
atfng last winter dozens of small rob-
berries took place, all Of the same general
character as those already confessed to
by the boys, and it is practical GER
tsfnty that they did the majority OF
them.
Sheriff Barnet has done excellent work
on this case and in two weeks has land
ed most Of the members of the gang, Sc
cured full confessions from them, recoV-
cred the money and secured enough eYi-
dence TO absolutely convict the three who
participated in the murder.
James Crowharst tonight confessed
70 having robbed, d year ago last June
the store Of the man they afterwaro
murdered. Crowhurst says that Blaker
Pembroke and himself entered tht
store and got a little over IS in colr
and groceries worth $3.50.