The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-08-09

must have the evidence on which they are
predicated, before we give them currency
If they are well supported it viii be our
duty TO publish them.
The Detection OF gang OF Thieves.
In various places in the central and north |
ern portions of this State, extensive bands
of dangerous thieves and counterfeiters have
been discovered, the last year, among the
misunderstanding in some instances,
men Of fair character-whose operations
have been extended through adjoining
counties, and they have been upon whole
sale scale. The combinations of the num-
bers concerned have enabled them heretofore,
to carry on their depredations without de-
lection, or to escape punishment when arrest
ed. The numerous discoveries of such law
less associations among the resident popula-
ton has brought stigma upon the State,
which is exceedingly prejudicial to its char
acter and interests. All respectable and
honest immigrants will avoid regions infest-
ed by such scoLndrels. No person will en-
trust property within the range of their
depredations. Other gangs in other places
remain probably undetected let every ex-
ertion by the civil and popular authority be
made to ferret them out and break them up
at once, and let the State build another
State Prison to contain the rascals, whose
companions are now crowding the Jeffer-
sonville Penitentiary.
A Few nest of villains has just been dis
covered in Decatur county, whose citizens
and those of the adjoining counties have
been annoyed beyond endurance by gang
of thieves and counterfeiters, who plumber
cd as opportunity offered. About six weeks
ago Sheriff Jocelyn, of Decatur county went
TO Cincinnati and arranged plan of discov-
cry and arrest with the detectives of that
city, who sent up young man by the name
of Gardner, to act as pretended accomplice
with the rogues.
Gardner went to Greensburg, the head
quarters of the gang, and soon made him
self familiar with the parties suspected,
boarded, drank and slept with them, and by
representing himself as having lodged the
officers, while his partner was arrested and
incarcerated for counterfeiting, he soon
worked his way into their confidence. The
Cincinnati detectives wrote him letters from
that city, as though they were from a con-
federate in counterfeiting operations, and by
showing these to the gang, they became sat
isied that Gardner was indeed rascal, like
themselves They, therefore, took him into
"full communion" and exposed their vari-
Gus operations in counterfeit money, burgla-
ries and robberies. They related to him the
manner in which they had accomplished a
number of successful robberieS, and how
they disposed Of the plumber. They showed
him the mode of manufacturing base coin
and the manner Of putting it in circulation.
They planned a number of robberics in
which, it was agreed be should be partici-
pant; one of these was to be perpetrated
upon a hardware and jewelry store in
Greensburg. Gardner kept the detectives
informed Of his proceedings and told the
proprietors of The store of the design; il
was agreed that the thieves should be per-
mitted to commit the burglary in order to
gain positive testimony against them. Ac-
cordingly things in the store were arranged
so as to render the loss trivial, as Gardner
who was to act with the robbers would
know where the property taken would be
concealed. On the appointed night Gardner
proceeded with two or three Of the gang tc
the store, and a shutter was bored and un.
fastened and the store entered. To the great
DISCUS: of the robbers, the chief part of the
rich booty they expected, had been removed
and locked up in the safe. They swore thu
plumber left was not worth the trouble they
had taken. They however consoled them
selves by the discovery of what they though
from its weight was small box filled will
gold chains. The party finally loaded them
selves with knives, wristlets and lockets
and made their exit-taking a by-road
they made for the center of a piece Of woods
where they built fire, examined their plum
der, and slowed it away in hollow log
until such time as they could dispose of i
with safety. The contents of the paper box
however, which was so carefully protecte,
by Dugan, turned out to be nothing but fan
en- soaps, which were cast into the fire as O
no value. They then separated, and every
thing remained quiet until Monday morn
ing. Their operations in the store had bee
witnessed by several persons conceale
where they could see all that was done. o
Monday the Sheriff bounced upon FIVE
the gang and took them into custody. o
Tuesday last they were brought before th
Mayor for examination, when they blustere
and defed the officers, and laughed at ii
idea Of there being any testimony again