Arizona citizen., 1878-01-11
The :. Road Agento Trouble.

Road Agents " are successfully pur- suing the business of robblng stages of
 mails and express matter and passen-
 gers and also pavmasters of the United
 States army. Within a few weeks, the stage has been robbed twice near Des-
 ert Station and a paymaster once near
 Maricopa Wells, and perhaps beforeI
 this is given to our readers, the mails and express will be again plundered and the letters and other like matter
 be scattered over the country. Thus
 far we hear of few arrests of innO- cent persOns-at least the testimony i'm each case was to that effect. All seem
 to agree that the same agents con-
 mitted the several robberies referred to. They therefore must have been
 along the pubic highway and perhaps
 at some way stations during the period
 of these depredations. Can it be pos sible that they have escaped notice of every honest man along the road2 OrI
 can they be such honest looking fel-
 lows that when seen they attract no lspecIal notice? Have the sheriff's and
 other peace officers exerted themselves
 to the full extent of their duty to fer
 ret out and arrest these land pirates ,?
 It would seem as if, stimulated byl
 large rewards offered by the Territory,
 the United States and Wells, Fargo & Co, that extraordinary and successful efforts should have been put forth to capture these men who are more infa- nous than the Apaches ever have been, land who, If their career be not arrest
 ed, will infiict incalculable injury
 upon the prosperity of the Territory.
 Individually, Messrs. Kerens & Mitch Iell have much interest in the matter. and they should have all station keep
 CTS instructed to carefully note passers-
 by or callers at their stations, and re- port the same, when their suspicious are aroused as to their legitimate pur- suit of such people. Sheriffs and con- stables should put themselves in com
 munication with station keepers in this respect Sheriffs in California and other States have made themselves so valuable to the public in hunting down, arresting or destroying this class of public enemies, that no matter what change occurs in political senli ment in their counties, they are re-elec- ted as often as they will consent to 1 serve the people. As officers. sheriffs and cOnstables should use every possi- ble effort to capture highwaymen, and as men they have a large interest in doing so. With united and determ- ined effort on the part of such officers, 1 station keepers and stage men, at least a measure of success would surelyI soon be achieved
 A few years ago it was common for from Sonora to murder station keepers and plunder stations along the Glla. Governor Stafford had constant understandings with such men as Col. K. s. Woolsey and others regarding the capture, &c., of the out laws, and such success crowned their labors, that the country along the Gila has been entirely cleared of the Sono- "a highwaymen. IL does seem as if like success could be achieved with reference to the present American road agents Their operations are stop ping travel; delerring men of means from coming 10 the Territory; prevent ing remlttances, and generally having a disastrous effect on the public at large. They should be arrested dead or alIve-better dead, but arrested III some condition.