The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-12-17
Brought 10 Justice.

READERS of the Gi2be pay perhaps re-
member the account, which was pub
lished little over year ago, of the rob
berry OF Mr.. Walter Grayson, a promi-
nent citizen of the Creek Nation. Mr..
GraysoD, OF "Uncle Wat" as he was
familiarly called, was possessed of a
good deal of wealth, which he had aC-
cumulatcd by strict attention TO bust
ness and .he practice OF rigid economy
He was known throughout the whole
Creek Nation, and held in high esteem
by all who once formed his companona-
bic acquaintance, so that the robbery,
and the circumstances attending it. raised
a storm of Indignation which it took
months to quiet.
About the time alluded to a stranger
call ed at the residence OF Mr.. Grayson
and, by representing that he was endeav-
or4g To purchase number of ponies
managed to obtain permission to remain
at his house during his stay in that neigh
borhOOd. The stranger seemed to the
kind old man to be first-rate sort of II
fellow, and he had no hesitation in giving
his friendship and telling him a number
OF his secrets. He little knew that he
was entertaining member of the squad of
Gads Hill Cavalry, whose exploits were
only took him few days to find out his
mistake. One morning the stranger was
Joined by his comrades, and the old man
WAS taken out, "a halter placed around
his neck, and he was suspended from "a
tree until life was nearly extinct, his
captors telling him, as they proceeded
with their work, that they would kill him
unless he told them where he had lis
money concealed and allowed them 70
make off with it. But Mr.. Grayson had
the courage to meet death, if he must,
sooner than comply with sucl. demand
and he stubbornly refused to disclose the
hiding place of his treasure After keep.
ing him pendent from the tree until his
face became black and blue and he was
almost dead, they cut him down and tried
persuasion for time, when, finding this
method useless, they would again resort
to the hanging torture. Il made no diff
ference to the old man, however, what
they did; his stubborn will would not
permit him to sucCumb, and the robbers
were at length, much to their disgust,
forced to leave him. But their devilish
ingenuity hit upon another plan. Mr. Gray
son had a wife wnom he fondly loved
who had been his daily companion for
years, and they knew that if her life was
attempted the old man would Yield,
and they would secure the money. The
old lady was then taken from the house
and the halter tied around bcr neck in
the presence of her PROSTATE and help
less husband, and the villains were in
the act of hanging her to tree when
Mr.. Grayson's courage, will, everything
failed him, and he told them to leave
him his wife and they could have his
money.
The whole party then returned to the
house, where Mr.. Gravson turned over
to them the sum of S32 600, S2S, OOO of
which was in gold, with which handsome
amount they Immediately made off
The stranger who remained at Mr.
GraySon's house was named Wilder, and
be was the leader of the gang who aided
him in the robbery. He has recently
been arrested in Texas, and is now con
fined in the Jail at Fort Smith, Ark.
awaiting his trial in the United States
Court for the crime. Soon after his ar
rest Mr.. Grayson was sent for and iden
tilted him, beyond the shadow of doubt,
as the man who stopped at his house I'M
der the pretense of being engaged in
buying ponies, and the one, also, who put
the halter around his head when the
gang hanged him.
Wilder, finding that there is no posi-
billty of escaping conviction, has made
confession, and acknowledges the
crime charged upon him, but he asserts
that he was prompted to the deed by IA
noted Cherokee citizen, who took the
greater part of the booty himself, and
gave him (Wilder) only $3.50 for his ser
vices. He also says that one of the gang
who aided him in the robbery was the
noted Reed, who was killed in Texas not
long since by Detective Morris, who
had been on his trail for several months.
Reed was once a citizen of Vernon
County, Mo, and was one of the men
connected with Wilson and sent to the
Pcnitentiary from Henry County for
robbing an old farmer, several years ago,
near Lamonte, in Pcttis County
The authorities are now at work
hunting up evidence against the Chero-
kee citizen alluded to, and, if Wilders
story is true, he will be made to suffer
the severest penalty that he law can in
tlict.
There has been good deal of talk
among the friends of Mr.. Grayson of
dealing in a rather summary manner with
Wilder, but the Jail authorities will pre-
vent any interference with due course of
law.-,>t. Louis GIDbe, Dec =