The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-11-14
Surprise and Capture OF tho Warren
County, Iowa, Family Of Burglars.

Surprise and Capture OF tho Warren
County, Iowa, Family Of Burglars.
| uron tie Dss Moinss Qowa) Register, Oct. SOL
Our reaeiers viii recollect the account
published In the Register a few days ago
Of extensive burglaries being committed
at Carlisle and Hartford, in Warren Co.,
on Friday and Monday nights last. Sus-
picion having rested or . certain family
by the name of Lee, residing near Car
iisle, the Vigilence Committee compos-
ed Of some eighty members, who are all
farmers residing on the scope of territory
between the western line of Bloomfield
Township and line at or beyond Hart
ford-got on their track on Tuesday even
ing, and surprised the family about dark,
arrestng three brothers by the name of
Lee, two of their sisters, a niece, and an
old gentleman, name unknown. Upon
searching the house, nearly all the goods
which had been missed, were found, a
portion being secreted in the upper story
of the building and the remainder in q
milk-house near by. The women also
refunded the money which had been
stolen. The prisoners were then taken
TO Carlisle, placed in the school house,
and guard placed over them. During
the night the prisoners were gently pur-
suaded to confess their guilt, apd peach"
upon their oonfreres. They acknowledge
ed their guilt and also confessed their
%itted at Newton WSoa sss enosp sH%
all the prisoners cleared the old gentle
man.
In the morning the whole "kit and toll
lie, with the exception of the old man,
%,rrv I'D 10 = he osn1
ties of Warren County. The preliminary
examination was held before Justice
Crane, of Carlisle, and it resulted in their
being committed to jail at Indianola
They were found to be we'll provided
with all the convenient furniture that
burglars, use-breakers and rowing vii
lains generally have-pistols by the doz-
en-, knives in profusion, keys by the
bushel, files, saws, etc. Their most dan
gerous instrument was burglars saw,
keen tempered instrument that will cut
bar OF iron in two very readily and
speedily.
The brothers are named William Willis
and James Lee, and are described as stall
wart and burly fellows, ranging from %
to 80 years of age Seeing that they
were outnumbered, they were very pas
dom was presented to them, they let their
tongues tell their guilt without reserve,
and apparently without evasion or reser-
walton. The women were more defiant
than the men, and took the whole affair
with stolid indifference They are all
newcomers in that neighborhood. Their
confessions were somewhat contradictory,
and they mentioned several places as
their former residence. Some said Iowa
County, others Hardin, and some Della
ware and Jasper. 1t is thought, now
ever, that they are from Iowa County
The Vigilance Committee who took
this matter promptly in hand and ferret
ed it out are entitled to much credit.
Such intelligent safeguards are the best
protection against that daring and secret
lawlessness which winks at officials and
detectives. The citizens of Carlisle are
also deserving Of praise for the out-hand-
ed manner in which they treated the
committee during their stay there. Houses
were thrown open and general cheer dis
pensed without stint. -" a.
LATER.
Since writing the above we have learn
ed some additional particulars in regard
to the prisoners under arrest, and in re-
gard to the nabbing of some more of the
gang. On the night of the oath, the
people Of Carlisle got wind of the fact
that some more of the band would pass
through that evening Some twenty five
or thirty armed men guarded the ap-
proaches to the town. Finally the look
ed-for band approached in sight Instant
ly twenty-five or thirty guns were leveled
at them, and ringing demand for sur
render sung out. They gave up without
a struggle, and disgorged a fine collection
Of pistols, knives, etc. They proved to
be the old man Lee, another one of the
boys, and chap named Peniker At
our last accounts these prisoners were in
custody at Hartford.