Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-10

ever, was made in the bottom drawer
of a dressing case, and there, hidden
under a lot of dirty clothes, they found
two revolvers of large size, two black
masks, such as are used by highway
men, and a blackjack and slingshot.
In the drawer of a table was found
a pocket, evidently torn from coat,
and in this pocket was a letter mailed
in Los Angeles and addressed Frank
Horning, care of General Delivery, San
Diego, Cal.
The letter was signed by Sutherland
and had evidently been written and
mailed to his pal while he was in the
southern city.
The letter advised Horning to come
up at once as he (Sutherland) had
picked out two dandy cribs to crack,
in which there would be no trouble
whatever, and hundreds of dollars
worth of loot as a reward"
The letter stated that the two houses
picked out for robbing We're those of
Gilbert S. Wright. president of the
Wright & Calender company. at 3077
Wiltshire boulevard, and Fielding j.
Stilson, president of the Fielding j.
Stilson company, at 1044 West Kensing-
ton road.
The letter stated that Thursday night,
September 10, was the night he (Suther-
land) had chosen as the night for the
robberies, as on that night he had in
formation the families would be away
from home and there would be nobody
to encounter except probably a servant
or two, who could be easily settled.
Pocketing the letter which Horning
had evidently received at San Diego,
Capt Auble took the two reVolVers,
and removing the plates from them
with a small nail file in his pocket
knife cut down the dogs" so the ham,
mer would not rise in response to the
pull. of the trigger.
The reVolVers We're then placed in the
drawer from which they had been
taken, and the two officers departed,
leaving the two criminals as they
thought with useless weapons.
Had Other Guns
As was shown by the tragedy of yes
terday morning, however, the two men
were equipped with other and more
dangerous guns, for when their arrest
was attempted at Ninth street and
Grand avenue each was armed with a
heavy revolver in perfect working
order.
Leaving the room of the two men on
Georgia street the police officers re-
turned to the central station, and there
III the privacy OF lnelf once ldlke4
over the contemplated crime of the two
men and decided to prevent it instead
of allowing the robbery of the two
residences to be committed and run
chances Of arresting the guilty men
after they had looted the two homes.
In taking this stand the two officers
were probably more influenced by their
desire TO prevent & possible tragedy at
the Stilson and Wright homes than by
their duty as police officers to catch a
criminal red-handed.
In pursuance of this understanding
the two men met yesterday morning
shortly before 8 o'clock at the home of
Capt, Auble at 1917 South Hope street,
and from there they went to the house
at 937 South Georgia street, only to re-
ceive the information that the two men
had left the house before daybreak and
had not returned.
Believing that Sutherland and Horn
ing had become aware of the fact that
the police were on their trail and had
escaped them the two officers took an
eastbound Ninth street car to come up
town.
AS the car passed Hope street Capt.
Auble, who was sitting on the outside
of the seat, saw two men coming west
on the sidewalk whom he recognized at
once as Sutherland and Horning.
Calling Capt. Planners attention to
the two men Capt. Auble got the motor
man of the car to stop In the middle OF
the block, and the officers advanced to-
ward the two men on the sidewalk.
Evidently they became alarmed at
the anDroach of the officers for the