From the Library of Congress. The Rogue River Courier, November 29, 1918.visitors can't see pics , please
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loginIn reference to the above death notice, this, from the May 12, 1918 Rogue River Courier:ONE ROBBER OF BULLION IS CAPTURED
Robert W. DeWitt, on of the robbers who held up R. Boswell and his son Robert Jr. at their placer mine near Holland May 2, has been captured and is now confined in the Josephine county jail awaiting examination. DeWitt was apprehended on Thursday at a mine about halfway between Yreka and Happy Camp, where he had stopped to retain work. From descriptions of the robbers which had been broadcast from the sheriff's office, men working at the mine suspected DeWitt and went to Yreka, 40 miles, in order to telephone to Sheriff Lewis for further details. The sheriff was positive they had the right man and gave instructions to arrest him without delay.
Sheriff Lewis and Deputy Sheriff Lister, with Robert Boswell Jr., left Thursday night for Yreka and returned Friday night with the prisoner, who when arrested had a 30 30 automatic rifle and an automatic pistol.
From the story of DeWitt, who admits the crime, a story of duplicity and treachery is revealed, as well as the details of a well planned holdup, which resulted in the theft of $6.000 in gold bullion.
According to the story, DeWitt and his partner went to Waldo for the express purpose of robbing the Esterly mine. They camped in the hills overlooking the mine for a few days, and for a day his partner watched operations at the mine through a glass, but decided that the plan was not practical.
DeWitt says that after a time he became worn out and also suffered from poison oak and he proposed that they make camp and rest. The partner mentioned that it was too close to the trail but that he would go over to a nearby flat and make camp, build a fire and have supper ready. He offered to carry DeWitt's blankets and his bundle in which the gold was carried. The offer was accepted and when DeWitt, who carried only the two guns, came to the camping place he found that no camp had been made. This was the last he had seen of his partner. Being broke, hungry and cold, DeWitt made for a mine and secured work, putting in one day, for which he
received board and $2.75.
At the Yreka jail DeWitt's troubles again started when he was up before a kangaroo court composed of 15 or 30 prisoners and was fined $2.75. Then he was broke again.
Young Boswell who picked out DeWitt from a group of miners as the man who had robbed the mine, paid to Sheriff Charles H. Howard, of Siskiyou county, the $250.00 reward, which will be paid over to I. F. McCoy and John R. Johnston, the deputy sheriff and the miner who arrested DeWitt.
Sheriff Lewis is certain that they will be able to apprehend DeWitt's partner and has hope of securing the greater part of the bullion.
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