New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-21
A Family of Thieves.
THE INFLUENCE THEY EXERT.
From a New York Letter.l

u
There is a family residing in Oneida county, in
this State who, according to common fame, have
followed the profession of thieving for nearly
twenty years They have grown rich by
their unlawful practice. Their children are edu-
Gated in the best and most expensive semnares.
They dress genteelly, their manners are somewhat
polished and they appear toletaby well in society.
Their operations are carried on through the coun-
ties of Oneida, Oswego, Otsego, Madison; Chehan-
go. Schoharie, Delaware and sullivan Ihey nave
numerous well-traned confaderates in all these
counties, who are ready by day or by night, at
moments warning, to ride of in any direction Tor
protection of associates who are in danger of fall
ing into the meshes of the law. These men have
| been indicted times without number In the above
| mentioned counties, but none OF them nave oeen
convicted, nor have any of them ever been in jail
| for a longer time than was sufficient for bonds
man to arrive at the prison. 1t is generally be-
| lieved that there are far more, who while appa-
rently respectable belong to the gang, and share
in its profits Whether this be so or not it is GER
tain that whenever bail is needed, any number of
substantial farmers will come forward and sign
their bonds without regard to the amount OF the
penalty. These men, as might be supposed, exert
great political influence, and it is well under
stood that they are always ready to reward Their
friend aud punish their enemies, both IN primary
conventions and at the polls. Although, as has
been said they have been repeatedly indicted, ye
the number of their indictments bears but small
ratio to the number of their depredauons. |
usually happens that any one who IS particularly
| active in bringing any of the gang to justice, ha
| his barn or dwelling soon after burned, or hi
horses are missing from the stable, or his sheep o
t cattle from the pasture These things have hap
5 pened so often, that people are careful how the,
intermeddle in the matter of seeking to bring then
i to Justice If person so intermeddng happen
to have mortgage on his property, it is apt to b
It very soon forecl0sed. If he has political aspira
n tions, thousands of unseen obstacles interpose
prevent the fulfllment of his hopes If he is
. trader his custom falls off. If he is physical
malpractice is imputed to him, or other maliciou
stories are circulated to his discredit; and atengt
matters come to such pass that his only recours
l is to leave the country. All who make themselye
conspicuous in opposing this family Of thieves al
d in some way made to feel the effects of thousan
J. blighting and maiign Influences which paraly2
I. their efforts and blasts their hopes of success
Although the law has been powerless when eXertt
d against the gang, they have been in the habit
W using It's energies with great effect against tho
k who stood in their path; and instances are mum
rous in the history of the local litigations whe
ut the forms of law have been use to punish inn
cence and shield robbery under the sktu mai
to pulations of this gang of Williams Such are Il
lg facts respecting crime and its professors in son
ut of the finest counties in the Empire State, and
to doubt not nnumerable similar gangs are organic
ur and at work constantly in this city.