The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-11
[F,om Ne 1nennn .Lou,1,nL MN 21st
CONFEDERACG OF ROBBERS IN MICHIGA
-BREAklNG UP OF \ SUBORDINAT
InnGE

CONFEDERACI OF ROBBERS IN MICHIGAN
-BREAklNG UP OF 4 SUBORDINATE
LODGE.
Since our last, important discoveries have been
made by the Vigilance Committee of Otsego and
clue found to the robbers of the safe from Mr.
Fitch'S store on Friday evening week.
suspicious were first rested on Otto as one of the
perpetrators of the robbery. Accordingly, the
Vigilance Committee arrested him on Sunday
morning week, at Mr.. Fitchs store, where he was
loungng about and making inquiries into the safe
robbery, rs IT he did not know anything about it.
This, from the very conspicuous position of the
sale to all who visited the store excited suspicion
toward Otto, and he was seized by the people who,
with Benj. Fagcn at their head, put a rope round
MS neck, took him to tree, and, after throwing
one end over a limb, charged him with knowledge
OF the robbery, and told him if he had ANYTHING to
say to speak at once, or he would be dead man in
hVe minutes. Otto at once begged for life, and pro-
missed complete confession, which he made as fol-
lows
He said that "A thorough organization existed in
that vicinity of a number Of men; that they were
bound together by an oath, the penalty for the VIC
latlon of which was death; that Edgar Brundage
was captain of the banditt, assisted by himself
Henry Newton, James Crssney, jonathan Wasson
and Mr.. Taylor that they put the safe in the riv
Gr, ana were waiting an opportunity to murder Mr..
Fitch and get the key to the safe, which he carried
IN his pocket; that they intended soon to murder
Albert Foster, for money, and Benjamin Eager, for
a gold watch, also that they stole the money lost
from Mr.. Fosters store about year ago. He sta
NAY hSchiN hicetiHSS were nPiu Oi liis Danu
where they formed plans in old log house in the
woods. On going to the river the safe was found
as he described.
1t was taken out and unloaded, but had not been
disturbed. Subsequent to these proceedings on the
same day, esd inst, } before the Vigilance Commit
tee, complaint was made by ii. c. Stoughton and
James Fitch, before Justice Edsell, against William
Taylor, Edgar Brundage, Charles Otto, Edgar
Barto and Henry Newton, as the parties who com
mitted the burglary and larceny upon Mr.. Fitch's
grocery on the 3lst inst This complaint was made
on the strength of the affidavit of William TAYLOR
one OF the prisoners acknowledging his guilt and
completely with the gang, from which we CLEAN the
information that the prisoners We're secretly banded
together INTO secret association known as the
"Sons of Equalty"-the Otsego Association was
numbered Give
Further, their principal object was to gain live
llhood by robbing, plunderng cts even at the cost
OF ie 1t was their iutention to form like oroaniza-
lions in every town and county in the State, and
asplred to power sufficient to enable them to over
throw the civil government. The chief or captain
kept record of proceedings etc., which has not
yet been brought to light. The rendezvous of the
band was in an old log house, some three miles
north of Otsego, in dense forest
The breaking up of this gang has produced great
excitement in OtsegO and it is said that other ar
rests are yet to be made. This is supposed to be a
branch OF the notorious horse thief and robbcr asso
Citations of Indiana, which have recently been bro
Ken up by the citizens of that State Branches of
the association said to exist in Pine Grove town
| ship, Van Buren, county; Watson and Martin, in
Allegan county, and Vaudeville, Barry county,
which are affiliated with the parent association in
! Indiana.