The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-11-05
An Extenslve Gang ef Horse Thieves
Discovered.
tlo"a Falls, H., Correspondence Of Dubuque

def6l0.J
On Sunday, Oct. Sd, I resident of this
place missed buffalo robe and some othe,
articles Of no great: value, under circum
stances which led him to think that his
premises had been visited by thief
taking neighbor, he set out on the
trail, and at M,n's Grove. in Franklin
county, oyerhauled 4 man AMI woman
resting by camp fire. A search of: the
wagon revealed the stolen goods. The
man, one A. j. Reed, escaped in the
orush' The woman, after denying he,
real name for several days, confessed tt
being Mrs. Emily Pomeroy of Boone
county, who had been travelling with
Reed under circumstances which tell fa1
more of her warmth of heart than Of hel
honesty. Camping with these parties 4,
the time Of the arrest was S. A. Holly, q
young man formerly residing here, but
latterly at Ackley. His presence there
excited some suspicion, but would have
soon been forgotten had he not on the
following day appeared in the court room
and clandestinely passed. letter
to the woman Pomersy. The move.
ment was detected and the letter demand
I'd, whereupon Mrs. P. took the letter
from its hiding.placc in her bosom, tore
it in pieces and attempted to thrust it
in the stove. The fragments being SC.
cured and carefully pasted together, dis.
closed letter from Reed, containing in.
formation which has resulted in the ex
posure of one of the most extensive and
we'll organized bands of horse thieves and
outlaws which Iowa has known for many
years. Hollv was at once arrested, and
after much lodging and equivocatioa, his
fears got the better of him and he owned
up like little man. Warrants were
issued for A. J. Reed, E. B. Clancy oil
Ackley, Charles Peck and Sylvester Mott
of Hamilton county, and Nathan Thomp.
son and Nathan Rainsbarger Of Hardin,
all Of whom, except Reed and Rainsbar.
ger, were soon in durance vile.. On pre-.
liminary examination, CLANCY, Holly,
Peck, Mott, Thompson and Mrs. Pom
eroy were held to answer. CLANCY made
desperate resistance, his trial occupying
several days. The evidence clearly dis.
closed the fact that he has for several
years been acting rs depository of the
gang At Ackley, receiving stolen property
and destroying its identity as far as pos.
sible, and@elling and trading tho same to
innocent parties.
The man Reed is a dangerous char.
acter. and vigorous measures should be
instituted for his capture. He has already y
served one term in the Penitentiary, and
owes the law.abiding world no good will.
He is the master-spirit Of gang extend.
ing from Kansas to Minnesota. His head
quarters appear to have been at Kansas
City, Des Moines, 'Adel, Boone, Ackley
Northwood. Wells, and other points
along the line. He seems to have been
making regular trips over this route
every summer for several years, taking
horses and other property in bo' h
directions, and leaving them with
his ''partncrs' to be disposed Of at safe
distances from their unfortunate owners.
Some six or eight valuable horses and
mules have already been recovered in this
vicinity two have been found at North.
wood, while others are supposed to be
safely slowed away in the quiet hooks Of
Missouri and Kansas. Much feeling is
manifested here, and if A. j. Reed allows
himself to be caught mapping you need
not be surprised if one of the Hardin
county oaks has borne other fruit than
bitter acorns; in other words, that Mr..
Reed, like many an irregular dealer in
horse-Aesh, may find his entire stock in
trade reduced to single halter.