The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-05-23
Rogues in Limbo-Success Of a Cincin-
natl Detective.

natl Detective.
For several months past the citizens of Ok
ford, Butler county, Ohio, and vicinity, have
been harrassed and annoyed by q gang Of
marauders and desperadoes, who have been
in the habit of setting fire to buildings, pass
ing counterfeit money, and committing vari-
GUS depredations, much to the bewilderment
and dismay of the quiet citizens of that local
ity- The rascals were so subtle and cautious
in their villainies as to defy detection from
the hands Of any Of the local officers, aud at
length recourse was had to Bill Rainey, of
our city, one of the sharpest and most skill
full rogue-catchers in the West.
Rainey at once took the matter in hand and
operated successfully as the result will show.
He secured the services of a young man named
Gardiner, who by his shrewdness and skill had
rendered himself serviceable to him on former
occasions. Gardiner, under an assumed name,
at once proceeded to Oxford and soon ingrati-
ated himself into the confidence of the sus-
pected parties and learned many Of their
secrets, which he communicated to Rainey
to strengthen their confidence Rainey caused
several letters to be written to Gardiner from
various points.
Among others, he had letter written from
st. Louis, purporting to come from Gardiner's
wife, in which it was stated that his house had
been lately searched, and that his wife had
come on as far as Indianapolis, but as St.
Louis officer had followed her she was afraid
to come further. These letters were shown to
the suspected parties, and from their tenor
they became convinced that Gardiner was suffi-
cientIy rogue to be entitled to their conf
dence, and at once took him into their
gang, and informed him of their nefarious
transactions, past and prospective.
They admitted to having destroyed by fire u
great deal of property in Oxford and vicinity
and to have committed many other deproda-
tions, the details Of which would transcend the
limits of our columns.
The ringleader Of the gang, who is farmer
and an extensive corn broom grower, Gardiner
was informed had procured a man for $50 to
set fire to warehouse which he occupied, by
| "h'Nh h0 iSNoNSIou lHbuTuDc6 OF Sl,UUU.
On another occasion he set fire to the VIM. Tell
coffee house, in Oxford, against the proprietor
OF which he had personal pique.
Gardiner, to all outward appearances, soon
became member of this gang, and was
present at the firing of several pieces of pro-
perty, but always managed to have the flames
e1tinguished before they had caused damages.
Once when the lire was applied to some very
valuable business property in Oxford he pre-
tended he heard some one coming, and
knocked the torch from the incendarie's hand.
They at length told him that 1t wss their
intention to burn the Miami University and
that Saturday night, Qast Saturday, was Sc
iected for the purpose. Rainey now concluded
that 1t was time to stop these desperadOes in
their career, and on Saturday last, caused the
whole party to be arrested. Two Of their
number, at least, as Gardiner has ample owl
denee, have been engaged in counterfeiting. e.
One Of the men arrested has expressed his will
lingness to turn States evidence.