The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-24
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
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ALMOST INCREDIBLE NARRATIVE.
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Most Extraordinary Criminal Ofyani-
ZatiOn at the West.
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Arrest Of an Extensive Gang Of
Desperate Men in Michigan.
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oyer Thirty Justices Of the Peace, Doctors, Judges
COnstables, and others, in Prison,
&c., &c., &c.

DETROIT, April %, 1851
The Detroit Tribune Of the 2lst contains the following
extraordinary narrative IL is almost too strange be-
lieve
We briefly announced on Saturday the arrest of
gang Of in Jackson eounty who organized for
the most pearous purposes that depaty could suggest
Our readers will remember that for the last year
the Central Railroad Company have been constantly
noyed along their line by persons whose sole occupation
seemed to be placing distractions the road, aud
otherwise destroying the property OF the company At
time, systematic had their work Of destruction
become that the Railroad Company induced to
employ couple of shrewd persons whose duty should
be to travel along to line, and detect the offenders but
well organized the band that for eighteen months
they eluded the most perseverng nqnirics Some four
weeks ago however, Of the persons employed by the
company, obtained an inking Of the organization and
by adroit management succeeded In worming himself
into the confidence Of the initiated but before they
would trust him any considers extent il
quired proof Of his allegiance that ne should FIRE
the depot at Niles on certain night, provided not
previously done by individual from this city, who
to be sent for that purpose The night came and
ward of suspicion betraya al well to secure full
confidence OF the gang, the depot 6red-au
sary precautions however having been made to avort
any serious damage to buildings
but fortunately discovered in time prevent It's des-
tructon at gave to the recruit the fullest
confidence Of the gang, and he forthwith admitted
10 the most counss Of the leading peradoes
Counterfeiting horse stealing, ncendiarsm, burglary.
robbery. and the smallest petty larceny the
objects of this monstrous organization. One of their
designs 20 blow up the track and by inge-
nously contrved torpedo arranged to be fired by
the locomotive, and explode while the passenger
should be over IT, The informant continued to with
them until he had procured the Of thirty forty
of the conspiraors and their places of residence
fined principally to Leona. Centre Jackson Michigan,
and TO this city Before plans had been matured for
their arrest the notorious Joe Dows Who it is said
the general Of the taken from this city to
Pittsburgh, requiston of the Governor OF Penn
syivania and the management Of the gang devolved
npcn fellow calling himself o ID Williams, then in this
city but resident Of the State OF New York This per-
SON II is ascerained to leave Detroit for Buffalo
Thursday night AMI his arrest at that tne would be
the signal for general dispersion of his acaompces 1t
determined to let him proceed while omcer,
pSh, with the requisite papers should accompany him,
and make the arrest during the passage, thus giving
time perfect capture Of his companions in this State
That arrest made by VIM. H. Goodnow, Of the Gus
tom House, who acting as United States Marshal
and Williams brought back TO Detroit on Saturday
night. under escort Of that officer
ON his way ur. Williams requested offrer Goodnow TO
mail for him letter at Detroit he should get
there. This when they got to the prison, Mr. a.
sented to do but received reply that !. not then
ecs.sIy the gentleman to whom he had written had
also become inmate under the roof On Friday
night the time it had been agreed on to make the
rests in the interior extra train Of
from this city with large number Of officers and assist
ants engaged for the occasion and such the
rangements made and carried out, by leaving squads
along the line that at Leona Michigan, Centre, and
Jackson thirty three arrested simultaneously
about daybreak Saturday morni ng. and brought in
and lodged in Jail Saturday afternoon. Among the
prisoners arrested are three Justices Of the peace Eve
called doctors judge and tour eonstabes-the
latter belonging the township of Leona-no officer
Of which from supervisor down to postmaster but is said
TO be implicated The following list Of the persons
arrested
pr rilch, 4 L. Motion, James Champn,
Alone Holmes, arecnson Fillen, l.. u, Long
sTr, r. wsse%nn Ebsncser %Ssn Saot aysos
afssgs Chapman, a Il lisrret, wmn wm crorwn, r,
Henry mn sis%s. Hiram FAY. Vim. Warner.
Weleem Bili. John Y. Lockwood. Lester penneld
John Palmer, Y. Rice. Minor stone
Daniel Myers.
In this city Washington Gay and Erasius Smith were
arrested Saturday and In the house q the former
were found variety of implements for burning buildings,
and 20 constructed as burn hour three days.
before setting FIRE 10 the building by Of these
chimes Il has been discovered that the depot Of this city
was fred Inst fa which resulted in the loss Of hun
drcd thousand dollars worth of property.
The arrests we're made writ from the United ststcs
Court stopping he mail and for councrting United
coin and the prisoners will probably be detained
until the next session a the District Court.