The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-08-01

Circular to the shsrifs Of the DidsEeet Counties.
+ s,.1x OF xAssAs, E.rcuIsyr DrSsxn1rr. 1.
IS Topeka, July 18th, lS0. 4
The condition of Kansas u oe relpecs
to be deplored.. l mean ito prevssenJ5
Of robberies and the too great disregard Of
Law. This condition results, as believe,
not from, any, want of poeer to enforce the
civil law, but from what may term central
sources Of ofinformation, and concerted action.
The paramount evil which oppresses our
people. and seriously affects the industrial
and agricultural interests. is the insecurity
of what may be termed chattle property.
The stealing Of horses and other stock,
though not SO universally prevalent as for.
meilY, is, regret to say, stin common in
nearly all parts of the State and, what is
more unfortunate, the difficulty Of detect.
ing the robberies and arresting and subject.
ing the thieves to punishment, is equally
common.
This may be accounted for, in part, by
the fact that, in sparsely settled commuoi-
ties, horse thieves may perpetrate what
would seem the most daring acts, and enjoy
comparative immunity from punishment,
because they have concert among themselves
while the losers and local authorities have
no such concert. ~
/ am, to great extent, powerless yet
| it seems to me that this serious difficulty
might be obviated, partially at least, both
| in the sparsely and more densely populated
counties of the State. Suppose robbery
| were committed on the Big Blue or che
Marmaton, how long would it be before
information of that robbery would be com.
munication to the local authorities of the
markets where the thieves are supposed to
centre? Weeks would elapse, and then the
I information would come unoficially, either
by vague letters or through obscure para.
graphs in the weekly paper Of the county
in which the robbery was committed.
Every County has its Sheriff. Suppose
it were made the duty of such Sheriff tc
furnish detailed..information of the robbery
so made (thas is, if horses, their size, color
&C., and so of cattle or other property to
the Sherifs and local authorities of the
central points, by the most speedy means
of conveyance, mail or otherwise. Were
this done, it is easy to perceive that rob.
berries would become less frequent, as the
detection and punishment of the robbers
became more certain. A concert Of action
like this on the part of the Sherifs Of the
different counties, aided by those who suf
fer, would 60 far, in my judgment, towards
correcting the evil under which Kansas now
suffers. This would make Sberiffs and
those who lose property actiye detectives in
ferreting out and securing the thieves; for
after ali, it is celerity of detection and Ger
tainty of punishment which checks villainy
Of all kinds, and most thoroughly puts an
end to the kind of thieving which now
causes so much mischief to the people Of
Kansas, and which SO greatly retards the
settlement of the State.
Were the Legislature in session l should
most earnestly recommend to that body the
passage of law making it the duty of the
Sheriffs of the different counties to furnish
such information, with q suitable reward
for such service. The effect of this would
be to secure what we now so much need
concert of action against there's and rob
bers. As it is, would earnestly arye the
Sheriffs and the people of the several coun
ties to adopt and enforce this policy as alike
essential to private interest and the public
good. THOS. CARNEY.