Arizona republican., 1909-06-20
HONEST BLACKSMITH
 CAUGHT IN THE TOLLS
Arrested With Joe Roberts For Steal.
 ing Grain.

and companion, low Roberts, whose reputation has not been very good. were caught on their return from the third of series of incursians among the grain sacks of farmers southwest of the city.
 On Friday morning Isom Phy, who lives on the south side of the lower Yuma road, discovered that thirty sacks of barley had been stolen from a field near his house, where it had been lately threshed About the same time the discovry was made that twenty sacks had been stolen from a large pile of sacks on the ranch of Frank Parkes about a mile west of Phys.
 Shortly before midnight of Friday word was received at the office of the sheriff that two grain thieves were on the Yuma road. It was not known who they were. The only description of them that could be given was that they were travelling in a twO-horse wagon and that they probably had grain in it.
 Deputy Sheriff Adams went to in tercept them and met two men west of town. It was so dark that he could not make an investigation there and he followed them into the city and stopped them under an electric light. They were Velarde and Roberts. The wagon contained nine sacks of barley and a bale of hay. When they were searched later a siX-shooter was found. The men were taken to jail and the deputy went back to Phys place after evidence With the aid of lantern he found lots of it and all of it except Velard's implicitly in the crime was was corroborated by that individual yesterday.
 The men had gone west on the upper Yuma road to a point considerably west of Phys place. They turned south to the lower road and then went east to Phys. but didn't go quite to the pile of grain sacks, when for some reason which has not yet been explained they turned back and went to Parker's piace where they took on a cargo of nine sacks and bale of hay.
 There were several hundred sacks there, but they evidently changed their minds for they had to carry the grain a long way to the wagon. It was much nearer the road at Phys and they went there Their laziness was fatal for Phy that evening had deputized a Mexican to watch the grain and he gave him as a companion to while away the lonely hours of the night, pump gun.
 When the thieves came to Phys place Velarde stayed with the wagon and Roberts went after a bag of grain He never saw the Mexican until he came upon him, when with an oath he turned and fled. The Mexican did not understand the gun and jamed a cartride; otherwise there would have been business for the coroner. Roberts jumped into the wagon, which was driven toward town. It was then that a telephone message was sent to the office of the sheriff.
 Yesterday morning tn Q officers went to Velardes place and asked where her husband was. She replied that he had gone down the road about fifteen minutes before. Then they asked where the Gringo. Roberts. She had not seen him for three days. She was informed that her husband had not gone down the road so recently. for he had been in jail since midnight. Later the officers found that Velarde and Roberts had sold within the last three days forty-six sacks of barley to Arviso, who runs a small store in the southern part of town. Nine sacks were captured with the thieves and two are missing and unaccounted for. There was also found at Velarde's place a shock of barley which had been stolen from Phys.
 Velarde became quite communica- tive regarding the criminality of Rob erts. He said he knew nothing about the affair except that for the last three night Roberts had been hiring the team and wagon representing that he owned all that part of the country lying southwest of town with the grain thereon. He wanted to bring it to market. On the last night Velarde said that he went along It did not strike him as strange that this extensive landowner should select the night time for the hauling in of grain and that he should throw so much secrecy about the business. Velarde has known Roberts for years. The latter had worked for him awhile and was known to have no property.
 Velarde thinks. he says. that Rob erts did not treat him right by neg lecting to inform him that they were engaged in thieving operations.
 Roberts was told what Velarde had revealed and he was asked what he had to say about it. He replied that he would likely make a statement to- day. but he would give out the ad- vanced information that he did not think that Velarde was treating him right by shouldering all the blame up on him.
 Notwithstanding the amount of the grain stolen is in value above the amount necessary for one to steal in order to become eligible for the peni- tentiary, on account of the installment plan of the theft, the men have com mitted no more than a misdemeanOr They probably did not steal as much as S30 worth on any one night. Vel arde was released Saturday afternoon on a $100 bond for his appearance on Tuesday.
 Velarde when not engaged in his trade has been known in this commu nity as a sort of publicist. He has been interested in propaganda for the moral and material improvement