The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-13

distance, when they dcslstcd, knowing
the thieves to be armed, while they were
not. Stearns sent team TO alarm the
neig hbors and started, himself, for town
con horseback.
The Sheriff had tried ul Monday
night to get some clue to the route the
desperadocs had taken, and felt that he
must certainly get some trace Tuesday
morning, and accordingly prepared him
self He saw Stearns coming III the
morning before he reached the Jail and
was out to receive him. Sheriff Gates,
on getting the particulars. Immediately
went to the livery stables, hired teams
and sent men out as fast as possible,
with orders to surround the woods,
When the woods had been thoroughly
picketcd the search began in earnest.
These woods arc very favorable for
hiding, being full of ravincs, pieces of
marsh land and tangled underbrush.
At about eleven o'clock a convalcsccnt
from the Asylum, who was husking
corn in noighboring field turned over
a shock and out jumped the men. The
Sheriff had previously been to the man
and told him if he saw anything OF the
dcspcradocs to give the alarm. They
made the fellow promise 10y all that
was great and good" that he would
not give the alarm if they would spare
his life. They then immediately started
for the woods, aud as soon as they were
out of sight the man gave the alarm. In
IA short time they were discovered aud u
gun fired, which had been agreed upon
as the signal. The thieves then scpa
rated, and one ran up to the lines and
tried to break through at u point where
Sheriff Gates and IL Mr.. Highly were
stationed. The latter took the thief
for one of the searching party, and
called out (which way did he go?"
The thief, which was Simmons, replied :
A" This waym Gates was not to be
caught in that way, and called out to
Highly to Stop that man-hc is the
one we want !" Both men lcveled their
rifles on him aud ordered him to throw
down his gun and come to them, which
he did, Simmons was immediately
started for jail. In u short time Parker
was discovered lying under the fence,
face downward, was arrested without
opposition and brought to town and
locked up.
Wednesday morning they were taken
before Judge Brown, and, both pleading
guilty and acknowledging to having
committed other deprcdations, were each
sentenced to ttcentysfcc gea"s III the
State prison.
In the woods where these men were
captured, all manner of goods were found
consisting of coats, stockings" rubbcrs
boots, shoes, razors, bread fruit cake
and any quantity Of other articles. They
stayed i'll the woods during the day ano
committed their dcprcdations nights.
When questioned by the Judge if they
knew whether Hagclin had amy money
before attacking him, they replied thai
they did not, but had decided to kno;E
down the first man they met.
Sheriff Gates wishes to return hi
thanks to the gentlemen who SO readily
responded to his call, and by whose ak
he has been enabled to bring to iustic'
two as big villains as ever went unhuug
The Sheriff says that especial credit i
due Mr.. Stcarns for the manner il whicl
he acted, and further says the public j
indebted to him for the capture of tn
prisoners.
We say the Sheriff and all partic
concerned are entitled to the thanks o
the community for the promptncss, tao
aud energy they all displayed in bring
ing to justice these villains.