The New York herald., 1870-07-30
DAADIrTI IN TEX as.
Depredat ions i'm DIataGorda C0unty-rund
Pirafes Organized for fluBdcr-binal Cap
aud Hanging OF AL of TaCu.

Depredat ions in ITatsgorda County-Lund
PirateD Organized for fluDdcr-binaI Cap
ture nnd Hanging OF AL of raCm.
IBernnard June 29) correspondence Galveston
WeXaS) News
For some year or more last past there has been
located upon Tres PalaciOs creek-west OF the
Colorado, IN Matagorda cOuaty-an organized band
OF outlaws, who nave been engaged IN stealing
horses, siaughtelins the cattle OF other PERSONS
robDlng aud mardering. ihey became so bod as TO
send defiance to tne officers OF the law, and to
threaten Them aud all Others VINO might interfere
with their villanous work with DEATH The sheriff
OF the county, who, by the way, is consistent re-
publican and recently elec,ed, mas now letter
wrtten to him BY one OF these cattle pirates,
threatening him with death upon sight, for IN
forming another person that the writer OF the
letter was III possession oil a stolen horse. Tue
neighboring citzens were intrnidated by tue bold
ana ferOcity Of these pllagers, ana darcG not
even complain to tue courts for lear OF assassination
by this gang. old ana distinguished citizen ol that
vicinity upon one occasion found six o his mules IN
possession OF some OF the ROBBERS and yet he dared
not iay ciaim to them, nay even 10 recognize them,
for fear Of Dutchery FOr the better execution or
their Infamous purposes they nad erected q large
pen in secluded spot, wnere they were IN The habit
OF herdlng and siaaghtering The Cattle OF otners
After slauytLering the cattle the hides were stripped
OH and sent 10 IndlanOla for shipmenr. More tnan
boat load Of these hides were seized at Indianoa
and recognized by the brands TO belong to persons
other than The shippers and claimer5 SILL the
authorities and the neighborS were Oyerawed by the
bodness aud cruelty OF tins maleiactors, aud dared
not attack them IN their strongholds. Auleng
Others, Two freedmen had perlsned at their hands,
and two white men, for the money they carried,
murdered, roDDed ana sunk IN the Walcr Dy means
OF an old stove attached their bodies. Horses and
mules were stolen from distant counties, and herdeJ
III their Businesses until they could be carried or and
sold. NO mans property was his own, and no man 8
life SAFE In the vicinity OF the piagers aud a.
sasslus. They deded the laws reveiled In CRIME and
bloodshed, and were ia ttening on the wrongs done
TO the innocent and worthy. Vengeance at leuyJh
overlook them. About ten days ago large body OF
armed men assembled near the den OF these outlaws
one was clptuced near his house. and two
others were chased down npon Tho prairie aud cap
tured. They were the rinseaders Oh the oandi they
were carried to the principal scene or their criminal
exploits their cattle pen, and there, after coniessng
many OF their Infamous crit1es, were hung to the
gate Of the pen. Like Haman OF Old, they were hung
10 the gallOws they had themselves erected.
The recital OF their crimes freezes the blood, and
the scene near this catlepen beggars description.
Thousands OF carcasses OF csttle stripped OF their
hides In every stage OF DutreacGion aud decay, lay
miles around, the silent witnesses OF tpe crimes
there committed, an Immense Golgotha, cnarnei
house OF stencil and rOtenness, hecatomDs OF victims
sacrificed TO the genius Oh crime and pluDder. IL
nearly passes belief that such lnings should have
happened within days ride or Matagorda Court
House. aud that the Infamous perpetrators should SO
long have been, almost unhndercd, the scourge
and terror OF the people Immense bundles OF hides,
too. ready Tor shipment ana embracing almost
every brand on the range, were discovered, and
scores OF horses and mules with defsced and altered
brands and marks. IL Is estimated that not less than
0O00 head Of cattle belonging TO different persons
had been killed by these outlaws for hides alone.
Two OF the persons hanged were brothers, by name
Lunn, and the third was one John Smith, whose
numerous nanesakes WILL no DOUBT, not insist on
claiming kin with MIN.
measure, is felt by al who know the facts 10 have
been an act or simple justice The laws were pow.
erless and the right To punish crime, bold h0r
ribe as this, reverted to the people, whence all
power derived. When law, the artificial power
created by the people, the sum OF natural rights re-
linquished 10y Individuals for general good fails TO
protect life and property, as In this Case then the
'absolute right OF person. to preserve which tho
laws are made and society formed 'the right OF
personal security the right OF personal liberty a1d
the right OF private property justify good people
in protecting themselves, their families aud their
property, at the cost OF the lives OF the guilty.
Alter the execution OF the outlaws q part or the
other assembly came upon cabin near Eiliott's Old
ferry on the Colorado In which negro, desper-
ate villain and one OF the gang OF freebooters, was
found With q view to making him disclose the
hiding place of Others they called on him to come
out and surrender. lie advanced 10 the door and
d red, killing young Edward Anderson Of Wharton,
and was himself therenpon shot down.
IL Is supposed that there were least two hundred
and fifty men engaged In this work, representing
five or six counties, whose citizens had suffered from
vllanies OF these notorious prowlers Their depre-
dati0ns had extended even to Austin and Washing
ton counties and to Gonzales In the West and per.
haps farther. No such crime has ever been revealed
since the days Of John A. Murrin and Monroe
Edwards. and let US hope this signal pun shment will
pur ~ the social atmosphere and bring back peace
aud security aud with that prosperity,