It was late in February when Leonard Hammond walked into the saloon of the Vignolo Hotel in Berenda. The spacious, two-story building was full and running over. The rooms were all occupied and the bartender was having a time keeping up with the requests for libations. Business in Berenda had been brisk throughout 1901; the town had become the hub of a lively trade that radiated out in all directions from the little railroad town north of Madera.
Hammond entró sin ser notado al salón, se acercó a la barra y pidió una bebida. Mientras tomaba el vaso con una mano, con la otra deslizó una pistola de debajo de su cinturón y la mantuvo oculta bajo su abrigo. En el momento justo, Hammond retrocedió de la barra y procedió a informar a sus compañeros parroquianos que los iba a despojar de sus objetos de valor.
The element of surprise was on the side of the young robber. All of the patrons did as they were told and lined up against the wall. Holding the crowd at gunpoint, Hammond collected his contraband of watches, jewelry, and cash. After forcing his victims to lie down on the floor, the thief beat a hasty retreat. One of the patrons was immediately dispatched to Madera to alert Sheriff W.B. Thurman. Thurman, in turn, assigned Constable Herman L. Crow to bring the fugitive to justice.