The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-05-09

ASTOUNDING INTELLIGENCE
--ARREST OF A POWERFUL
GANG OF ROBBERS, !NCEN.
DIARIES, HORSE THIEVES,
&c, IN MICHIGAN.
The Detroit Daily Tribune. Of the
2lst ult., gives the following extraor-
binary intelligence. as teIegraphed
from that paper, to the Albany. N. w.
Evening Journal, from which we copy:
I'VE briefly announced on Satur-
day, the arrest Of a gang Of men, in
Jackson county. who were organized
for The most nefarious purposes that
depravi,y could invent. Our time did
moi then admit of details. Our read.
ers will remember that for the last
year or two the Central Railroad
Company have been constantly an
noyed 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. And so systematic
had the work Of destruction become,
that the Railroad Company were in.
duced 70 employ couple CT shrewd
persons, whose duty it should be TO
travel along the line, and detect the
offenders; but so we'll organized was
the band, that for eighteen months
they eluded the most persevcring ef-
forts for their detection.
Some four weeks ago. however, one
of,hese persons employed by the COM
pany, obtained an linking Of the or.
ganiza,i' n, and by adroit management
succeeded in worming himself into
the confidence of the initiated. But
before they could trust him TO any
considerable extent, it was required,
as PROOF Of his allegiance. that he
should fire the Depot at Niles on a
certain night, provided it was not pre-.
viously done BY an individual from
this city, who was 10 be sent on for
that purpose. The night came when
the burning was 10 be effected, and to
ward off suspicion of betrayal as well
as to secure the full confidence Of the
gang, the Depot was fired; all neces.
sary precautions, however. having
been made to avoid anv serious dam.
age TO the building. The news that
the Depot at Niles had been set on
fire, but fortunately discovered in time
to prevent its destruction, at once gave
to the new recruit the fullest conf.
dence Of the gang, and he was forth
with admitted to the most secret
councils Of the leading desperadoes.
Here was obtained the most startling
information ever concocted by banded
ruffians. No species of crime, no
ingenuity Of plan, no want of means
for their hellsh purpose were left
unknown. Counterfei,ing, horse. s.eal.'
ing, incendiarism, burglary, robbery,
and the smallest petit larceny, - say
nothing of other diabolical intentions,
were the sworn objects Of their mon
strous organization. And 80 lost TO
every conscientious feeling were these
associates. that one Of their recent
hellish designs was to burn up the
track and cars by an ingeniously con.
trived torpedo, which was so arrang.
ed as to be ignited by the locomotive
and explode while the passenger cars
should be over it. The informant
continued to act with them until he
had procured the names of some 30
or 40 Of the conspirators. and their
places Of residence, confined chiefly
to Leoni, Michigan, Center, Jackson
and this city.
Before plans, however, had been
matured for their arrest: the notorious
Joe Bows, who it is now said was the
general ofthe concern, was taken from
this city to Pittsburgh on the requisi.
ton of The Governor Of Pennsylvania,
and the management Of the gang de.
voIved upon fellow calling himself
]. d. Williams, then in this city,
resident Of the State of New York.
This person, il was ascertained. was
to leave Detroit for Buffalo on Thurs.
day night, and his arrest at that time
would be the signal for general dis.
persion of his accomplices, it was de.
termincd to let him proceed, while an
officer furnished with The requisite pa.
pers should accompany him and make
the arrest during the passage, thus
giving time to perfect the capture of
his companions in this State. That
arrest was made BY VIM. H. Good.
now, Of the Custom House, who was
acting as U. s. Marshall, and Will.
liams was brought back to Detroit on
Saturday night under escort Of that
officer. who deserves much praise for
the admirable manner in which he
conducted it. On his way up. Will.
Iiams requested officer Goodnow TO