Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-02-22
Horse Thief Caught Exciting Chase
Wingville Ahead

ON Friday, the 18th inst, about 1C
o'clock in the forenoon, our village
was considerably excited over the
arrival of q constable from Fenni
more Centre, driving at furious
pace, and in an excited manner arg
ing at the top Of their speed a pair
OF animals with elongated ears, seem.
ing IT, verify the slang phrase the
boys 1sed in the army in particular
cases Of Here's your mule" A
crowd Of listeners soon gathered
around Joe, who said he was in pur-
suit OF horse thief; had tracked him
here and gave description of man
and horse. Upon inquiry it was evil
dent that the thief had enjoyed the
Inequalities ofour friend, John Ste
vens, The landlord of tho Washington
House, ard had left but few hours
beforefor parts unknown. Ofcourse
pursuit was decided upon, as a re-
ward Of one hundred dollars was of
fered for the capture Of the thief
The chase now became exciting The
"game must be taken ere it reaches
cover the "longest pole knocks the
persimmons,' ergo, the fastest catch
es the thief and pockets the cool hun
bred. Away speeds the mules with
Joe violently pushing on the lines /;
hardly had he cleared the limits of
our city boundaries, when around
TO the front door of the hotel comes
he feet and prancing team of mine
host of the Washington House. Away
they speed carrying their owner, the
officer of the law, and a couple of
Johns with them. Soon they were
lost to view hardly, however, had
the clatter of their chargers feet
ceased to reverberate through the
air, when around comes the prancing
sorrel with Van and Jeems, "all sad
died and bridled and fit for the fight"
and following up the rear, they Join
the chasing party. One party took
the old GaIcua road and the others
divided to meet at Dodgville thence
to Mineral point, where one returned
to Belmont Station, the other on to
Darlington and Shullsburg. About
20 minutes after all had left, Mr.. II.
Livingstone arrived in the village
from his home on the meridian line
road who said he had met man on
horseback about three miles from
here who was evidently the man who
was wanted be Immediately started
in pursuit of the pursuors TO overtakc
and put them on the right course,
bat owing to their start and the feet
ness OF their teams be was unable to
DO so, and returned. About this
time Mr.. w. Middleton, quiet far
mer who lives about two miles ont,
came in TO trade, heard the news, and
said he guessed no would go and
catch the gentleman he did his
trading, drove home and saddled
horse and in little over 4 hours
rom the time he LETT the village,
came riding very coolIy into the
place with thief and stolen horse.
lie held MIN over night in the hotel
and next morning started for Viro-
qua with his prisoner 10 deliver him
up to the Sheriff. The horse was
beautiful gray stallion and valuable
the ownGr lives near Viroqua. The
thief is young man Of rather prepC-
sessing appearance but evidently OF
the rowdY, loafer style be was anx-
oas TO leave our place rs he said we
had bad reputation and was evil
IDENTIFY fearful of being lynohed by
our citizens. This is the third thiot
hat has been captured from our 10
,ality in y little over three months
Two burglars and ono horse thief.
We wish to give notice through the
OF your paper to the whole
fraternity, North, South,
East and West, that tho next one We
catch, to use a frontier term, che is
our meat;" and the next report Of
the county commissioners will con-
tain full bill of items for somebody's
''iuneral expenses" Yours Truly,
MINGVILIITE