White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-06-11
Horse Thieves Csaght and Shot.

thieves, and after keeping up the chase
until next afternoon. cane upon them at
Plymouth. near the Nebraska line
Knowing that the thieves were armed, the
owners Of the horses stolen. armed hem
selves with double 5arrellcd shot guns,
well loaded with buck. shot. The chase
was kept mp some eight miles North of
the town. when the thieves, seeing their
chance of escape was a desperate one.
wheeled their horses, and as their pur-
suers advanced near them, fired :keir re-
volvers. but missed ;heir men. They
were Immediately irei upon in return,
and all brought to the ground. So jaded
were ihe horses stolen, they Immediately
stopped on losing their riders. They
were brought back by their owners, who
knowing that the country was infested
with horse thieves of the same gang. did
not stop to bury the robbers. The prompt
manner in which the pursuit was made,
md the sal and fearful termination of
the career of the thieves, will, we think.
have beneficial effect upon the thieving
portion of the community near Lecomp-
ton, and for the future prevent farther
depre lations. The great numbCr of horses
stolen. and the frsgte1sy Of the depre la
tions of the thieviis gentry, have psomp-
tel the citizens TO adopt more prompt
method Of melting ont justice to the cul-
prits. than the tar'ly arm of the law
Having no iails. and bnt Unite meaHS of
confning cnlprits for trial, the community
are hut poorly provided with the means of
defence; and while we cannot but regret
the necessity OF the ease, yet we cannot
disapprove Of the method Of punishment.
The desperate defence of these thieves, is
but another proof of their mur,lerous
character, and the sooner the country is
cleared of them the better, whether by
due process of Law, or the more prompt
action of Judge Lynch.-Lea. sn,Oorth
Journal
By the circulation Of such stuff as the
above, the people ofthe East are Mortified
BY awful stories of murder and Lynch
law in Kansas. We venture to say, that
nine-tenths of the Kansas blood-and-
thunder stories circulated abroad, are
inst about as truthful as the horrible part
of the allow. Now, Ge have the whole
story from a person who was present
when this catastrophe came off. The
horses were stolen, and the owners went
N pursuit. They came upon the thieves
at Plymouth. when our informant volun-
teere,l to assist them in recovering their
property. Several miles above the town,
the thieves were so closely pursued that
they abandoned their horses, and took to
a thicket. Our informant ran to the o2-
posite side of the thicket, to head the
thieves, in case they should attempt to
escape in that direction. expecting. of
course, that the owners of the horses
would push after the thieves. After
waiting FOR spme tims anil seeing roth
ing of thieves or purSnefS, he returned to
the place where he had left his two com
panions, and found them sitting outside
of the thicket, afraid to venture in
When he approached them, they made
the courageous obeervation--"I tell yon,
it would be mighty dangerous business
to go in there after those fellows p They
recovered their horses, AMI returning
home, no doubt told great tale Of their
own proves and daring deeds No
wonder they wouldn't stop to bury the
thieves 1t is indeed true. that Kansas
has been. and still is. infested with horse
thieves; and more Is the disgrace. when
we consider the guise in which they came
here. Taking advantage of an intense
political excitement. they came avoweily
for the purpose of fighting in defence Of
their several causes. but in reality, they
came for the purpose Of plumber. One
swarm followed LANE, urdcr the sacred
banner of Freedom and another horde
came with the Southern leaders. unler |
Pro Slavery colors. We do not say
that all who came, were on that errand
but it is an undeniable fact, that both
armies were infested with such vermin,
who disgraced the causes in which they
were seyerally enlisted, and carried on
their Notwithstanding not only
their enemies of the opposite party, but
practicing their outrages upon friends as
well as foes. We know some as good
Free State men as can be found in Kan
sss, who. being out unarmed. had their
horses stolen literally from under them,
by armed men, whom they had seen in
LANES camp, and knew them to belong
to his band. And we have heard of sim
liar acts committed by men Of the other
party. When political capital, North
and South, manufactured ont of proceed
ings in Kansas. ceases to be profitable.
people abroad viii. obtain an entirely
different view of matters out here.
DIR. EDDY.-Hon. NORMAN EDDY, Com.