Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-12
Confsderscy Of Robbers In Michigan

Confederscy Of Robbers In Michigan.
Since our last, important discoveries hays
been made by the Vigilance Committee Of
Otsego, and clue i0uud to the robbers Of r..
safe from Mr.. Fitch's store on Friday even.
ing week.
Suspicious were first rested on Otto as ona
OF the perpetrators of the robbery Accord.
ingly, the Vigilance Committee arrested h;r,
on Sunday morning week, at Mr.. Fitch.
store, where he was loung.ng about and ma
kiog Inquiries into toe sale robbery, az if be-
did not know anything about it. This from,
the very conspicuous position of the safe =,
all who visited the store, excited sus picion f..
ward O:tO and he was seized BY the p.an,e
who, with Benz. Fagen at their head. put a
rope round bis neck, took him to a tree ard
alter throwing one end of the roue over a
limb, charged him with knowledge Il rho
robbery and told il be had anything to saw
to speak at once, or be would be a de al msH
in five minutes. Otto ct once begged FIR
life and promised complete Confession
which be made as follows:
ole said that thorough organization o..
listed in that vicinity OF number Of non.
| that they were bound together By an oath thu
penalty for the violation Of which was deatb.
that Edgar Brundage was captain of tn,
banditti, assisted by himself Henry Newton
James Crissncy, Jonathan Wa,s0u, ard !,
Mr.. Taylor; that they put the safe 10 toe rIy
err and were waiting an opportunity 10 muir
der Mr.. Fitch, and get the KEY to the .afe
which he carried 10 his pocket: that ley in.
| tended soou to murder Albert Foster, for mo-
ney, and Benjamin Eager. for a gold watch
also that they stole the money lost from Mr..
Fosters store about a year ago. lie stated
that weekly meetings were held of this band
where they formed plans IN an old lss house.
10 the woods. On going TO the river the safe
was found as hs described
1t was taken out aud unloaded but had
not been disturbed. Subsequent 10 these
proceedings on the same day, l22t lust, be.
fore the Vigilance Committee, cJmpiantwss
made by ii. G. StoughtOn and James Fitch,
before Justice Edsel against William Tay.
lor, Edgar Brundage, Charles Otto, Edgar
Bsrto and Henry Newton, as the parties alo
committed the burglary and larceny upon
MIR. Fitch's grocery on the 3lst ult This
complaint was made on the strength OF the
affidavit Of William Taylor, one Of the prison
ers acknowledging his guilt and simplicity
with the gang, frOn which We CLEAN the in-
formation that the prisoners we're secretly
banded together into secret association
known as the Sons Of Equality" O;se-
20 Association was nun bered Five"
Further, their principal object was to gain
a livelihood by robbing, plunderIng, etc,
even at the cost Of life. IL was their niel-
lion to form like organizations in every town
and county in the State, and aspircd to pow.
er sufficient to enable them 10 overthrow the
civil government. Toe chief or cap:ain kept
record of proceedings. etc, which has not
yet been brought to light. The rendezvous
Of the band was 10 an old log house, -2me
three miles north Of Orsego, 10 dense forest.
The breaking up of this gang ha, produced
great excitement in Oisego, and 1t is said
tbat other arrests are yet to be made. This
is supposed to be branch of the notorious
horse thief and robber associations OF India
ns, which have recently been broken up by
the citizens of that State. Branches OF the
association are said to exis; in Pine Grove
township, Van Buren, county: Watson and
Martin, in AIlegany county, and MddIeVII.s,
Barry county. which are affiliated with tho
parent association in Indiana