Washington telegraph., 1851-05-14
ARREST OF A DEsrEsArE GANG OF OUrLAws-

ARREST OF DESPERATE GANG OF OUTLAWS
lhe Detroit Daily Tribune, of the 22d inst, con-
tans the announcement of the arrest Of notor-
| Gus gang of desPeradoes, who have for a year or
more invested jackson county, Michigan, and by
their lawlessness rendered themselves a terror 10
al. We briefly announced on Saturday, says the
tribune, the arrest of gang of men in jackson
county, who were organized for the most farions
purposes that depravity could suggest. For the
last year or two the Central Railroad Company
nave been constantly annoyed along the line by
persons whose sole occupation seemed to be the
Piaclng OF distractions on the road, and otherwise
destroying the property of the company. Some
four weeks ago, however, one of the persons en-
Ployed by the company obtained an linking of the
organization, and by adrOt management succeeded
in working hmselfnto the Confidence of the Initial
ed. But before they would trust him to any con-
siderable extent, it was required, as proof of his
allegiance, that he should fire the depot at Miles,
on certain night.
The night came, to ward off suspicion or be-
trayal, as well as to the full confidence of
the gang, the depot was fired, all necessary pre-
cautions having been made to avert any serious
damage to the buildings. The news that the de-
pot at Niles had been set OH fire, but fortunately
discovered in time to prevent its destruction, at
once gave to the new recruit the fullest confidence
of the gang, and he was forthwith admitted to the
most secret councils of the leading desperadoe
Counterieiting, horse-steaing, imcendiarism, bur-
glary, robbery, and the smallest petty larcenes
were sworn objects OF this monstrous organization.
One of their designs was to blow up the track and
cars by all nginlously contrived torpedo, so ar
ranged as to be fired by the locomotive and to ex-
plode while the passenger cars should be it.
The informant continued to act with them until he
had procured the names of 80 40 Of the con-
spirators, their places of residence, &c, which
were principally in Leona, Centre, jackson and
Detroit.
Before plans had been matursd for his arrest,
the notorious Joe Downs, who, it is said, was the
general of the gang, taken from Detroit to
Pennsylvania, and the command Of the gang fell
upon one o. d. Williams, then in this city, but
resident Of the State of New York.
The arrest of Williams made by VIM. H Good
now, of the custom house, who acting
United States marshal and Williams brought
back to Detroit on Saturday night.
On Friday night, the time it had been agreed
upon to make the arrests in the interior, extra
train of cars was sent out from this city, with
large number OF officers and assistants, and such
were the arrangements carried out by leaving
squadrons along the line, that at Leona, Michigan,
Centre and Jackson, 80 men were arrested stimuli
taneousy, about day break on Saturday morning,
and BROUGHT in and lodged in Jail.
Among the prisoners three justices of the
peace, five physicians, one judge and four consta-
bes, the latter belonging to the township of Leona,
not officer of which, from supervisor down to
postmaster, but is said to be implicated. Z.
The arrests were made on writ from the Uni
ted States Court for stopping the ma lis, and for
counterfeitIng United States coin. The prisoners
will probably be detained until the next session of
the District Court.