The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-04-30
A Gang of Villains Broken M.
The Detroit Tribune, of the 2is

contains the following:
We briefly announced on Saturday
the arrest Of gang Of men in Jackson
County, who were organized for the
most nefarious purposes that depravity
could suggest. Our leaders will remem-
her tina, for the last two years the Central
Railroad Company have been constantly
ANNOYED along their line. by persons
whose sole occupation seemed to be in
placing distractions ON the Road. and
otherwise destroying the property Of the
Company. AT one time, SO systematic
had their work Of destruction become,
tina. the Railroad Company were induced
to employ a couple of sbrewd persons,
whose duty il should be to travel along
the line and detect The offenders, but so
well organized were the banc that for 10
months they deIuded the most persever-
ing inquiries. Some iour weeks ago
one OF the persons employed by the Com.
pany obtained an inkling Of The organi.
za,ion, and by adroit management sue.
ceeded in worming himself into the con-
fidence Of the initiated but before they
would trust him TO any considerable ex>
tent. it was required as a proof Of his
allegiance. that he should fire the Depot
at Niles on certain night. provided il
was no, previously done by an individual
from this city, who was to be sent on for
that purpose. The night came and to
ward off suspicion or betrayal, as well as
to secure full confidence Of the gang, The
Depot was hred--all necessary precau>
lions. however, having been made to
avert any serious damage to buildings.
The news that TIE Depot at Niles had
been set on FIRE, but fortunately d,scov-
cred in time 10 prevent its destruction,
al once gave to the new recruit the fullest
confidence Of the gang, and he was
forthwith admitted to the most secret
counsels Of the leading desperadoes.
Counterfeiting, horse stealing, incendia-
rism. burglary, robbery, and the smallest
petty larceny. were the sworn objects of
this monstrous organization. One Of
their designs was to blow up the track
and cars by an ingeniously contrived tor
pedo, so arranged as to be fred by the
locomotive, and explode while the pas
seDger cars should be over il. The in.
formant continued TO act with them until
he had procured the names Of thirty or
forty Of the conspirators. and their places
Of residence. confined principally to LIE.
ona, Center, Jackson. Michigan. and to
this City.
Before p..ans had been matured for
their arrest, the notorious Joe Bows
who, it is said, was ihe general OF the
was taken from this city to
OH requisition Of the Cow
ernof Of Pennsylvania. and the manage
meni of the gang devolved upon fellow
calling himself o. ID. Williams. then in
this city, but a resident Of the State Of
New York. This person. il is ascer-
tanned. was to leave Deiroi, for Buffalo
on Thursday night; and as bis arrest a,
that time would be the signal for gen.
eral dispersion Of his accomplices, !, was
TO let him proceed. while an
officer furnished with requisite. papers
should accompany him. aud make The
arrest during the passage. thus giving
time to perfect capture of his comPan-
ions in this State. That arrest was made
BY WIN. II. Goodnow, of the Custom
House. who was acting as United States
and Williams vas brough back
TO Detroit on Saturday night. under es-
cort Of that officer. On his way up,
Williams requested officer Goodnow TO
o.u e., hin, n latte, N, na,,o;t NJ soon