, 1874-03-24
THE MISSOURI HIGHWAYMEN.

The nauraerous operations of tho Missouri
highwaymen, no matter how dangerous or dcs-
perats these banditti may be, are disgrace to
Tint State, aud argue degree Of inoflcancy or
cowardIce upon the part OF tho State author
itieB. The st. Louis Republican records seven
robberies committed within comparatively short
time, aud all Of them undoubtedly by tue aamo
gang,-the robbery Of tho Iowa railroad train;
TINT OF tho corydon, Chillcothe, and st. Gone-
viove Dauks that Of the Treasurer Of tho
Kansas City Fair Association; the plunlor Of
tho Hot Springa' coach. and tho Gads Hill rob.
bory. Although thage robberioa wero Of IN TIL
usually aggravated character, md IN eome
inatances accompanied by murder and personal
violence, no ono has been nrreated or punished
for them. It las boon we'll established that the
Gada Hill robbery VAS porpetrated by two
gangs Of highwaymen known as the james
brothers and the Younger brothers, and
there is littlo reason to doubt that
they wero concerned IN MI tho other outrages.
These deBpcradoes live in Missouri, and nre well
known In their section, and yet the State has
takon no stops to arrest or punish them. What
little has been dono Ia the work Of private dctoc-
tivea for the sake of reward, aud that little las
met with tragic results, as might have been a,-
tcipated. Whicher, tho detective, who traced tho
James brothers to their lair in Clay County, was
seized by them, tied upon horse, taken over the
Missouri River. and shot, and his body. was loft
In the woods. Tho doteotivos who hunted down
the Younger brothers Jared no better Although
one of tic brothora was killed. two at least Of
The detectives we're also killed, and one made
his escape, and now both gangs arc at large
again, with nothing to prevent them from organ
izpg anosbor robbery and continuing their dep
redations with impunity from arrcst. It is very
doubtful whether any more private datcc-
tives will care to take their lives in their hands,
and 90 down into thia section where they cannot
have the help Of any ono in their operations. II
will bo remembered TINT neither tho detective
who went into Clay County, nor those who went
into st. Clair County. although they consulted
the sheriffs Of those counties. had any help
from them. They were left by these authoyitios
to 20 upon their tragical mission alone and uu-
aided.
Tue following dispatch to the St. Louis Re-
publican sufficiently explains the character Of
these desporadoes, and leaves room for COM
ment upon the ineliicionoy Of the State authori.
ties:
Thcreare forb brothers Of the Younger boys who have
nade thor headquarters in the vicinity Of Monogan
Springs sluco 1885, und haYo exercised aort Of terror
i'm the people u tho region, ind though their
desperate character was we'll KNOWN they were shielded
from arrest by IN iudisposition and dread amoug
thcir ueghbora to Inform against them. Tho worst
Of tho gang Ia Cole Younger, who formerly hailed
from Independence, jackson County. Monogau
springs tho headquarters Of the desperadoes 10
cutod in mountainous county. hoaviiy wooded, and
somewhat secluded, although but five or Six miles
from Osceola.
Tho indispoaition Of the State and county au-
thorities to do anything comes out in still strong
or light wheu 1t il considered tlat there Is no
element Of socreoy attending tho operations Of
these highwaymeu. There whereabouts arc we'll
known to the 6Aeriffs of the counties in which
they live, aud they arc personally known to tho
local officers. They maae no ooncoalnont Of tho
sact that they are highwayn,on aud live by plum
der, Robbery is their businesB. and they conduct
1t Just ~ openly lu the community In which they
live Oh q carpenter or grocer conducts hls bual.
neas. II any one objects to 1t, or says anything
about It, they quietly shoot him, md that ia tho
end Of 1t. They have established such d tor
rorism in their counties, not only among
peaceful residents but also among tho
olIlclals themRelyos, that they do not
even take ordinary precautions In CON-
mitting roLborlea. Instead Of Investing their
tleods With secrecy or committing them under
cover Of darkness, they rob mud kill In broad
daylight and right under the eyes Of tue officials
themselves. That throe men in one county aud
four 1nau In smother, known to Ill thoir uslgl-
inra at tha HutloritiaR uxkiuu m no,1