The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-07-09
.GETTIHG THE DROP"
Something About Detective Work
in the West-How the Notorious
(usgrove Gang was Destroyed.

-. Lou'- Eepnblisan-
Capt. w. Frank Smith. assistant
superintendent Of the Rocky Mountain
Detective association, has been in -.
Louis for the past few days. guest If
Mr.. James McDonou.h, Jr, "f the
police department. He is on his way
back to Denver. after having delivered
at Harrisburg desperate who was
wanted there to answer for nearly all
the crimes in the calendar, and who
was arrested through Mr.. Smiths
agency in Denver ON a printed de>-
cription.
Capt. Smith is man better known
by reputation than personally, in st.
Louis. and If his reputation does him
justice. he Is emlnently qualified in
shrewdness. coolness and nerve for the
duties of a western detective. lie is
of medium height. build not heavy.
but wiry, cheek homes prominent. com.
pIexion well Drowned. eyes dark.
clear and wonderfully penetrating,
and dressed that Of a
GENTLEMAN OF LEISURE.
Of course such a man has a vast fund
Of information that would he intensely
interesting to newspaper readers. and
a Republican reporter endeavorei To
profit by it. He found, however.
that Capt. Smith had very decided
objections to notoriety. and, although
courteous and sociable. was averse tn
talk about himself and his experiences
with view to publication. During
casual conversations. however. within
the past couple Of days. enough was
CLEANED from him To form very
interesting budget.
1.-The detective business in the
frontier differs somewhat from the
work in st. Louis and further east.
does it not. captain?" asked the re-
porter.
"Yes, there is decided difference.
You see our criminals out there are
uniformly of a desperate class. For
instance, we have much trouble will,
what are called Texas cowpunchers.
or cattle drovers. Now those men are
in the habit Of taking desperate
chances. and have no great REGARD for
life. They always have pair Of navy
revolvers strapped on them. and when
an officer starts ont to make an arrest.
he goes with the certainty that the
man he wants
WILL Re FULLY ARMED.
Hence he wants To see that his pop is
in good condition, and to pay pariicu-
lar attention to that very necessary
little proceeding Of getting the drop
on his man. It is a common thing
with men Of the reckless class men
ton. when they strike u small place.
to take the town. A proper under
standing Of this phrase requires that |
should state that nearly all the towns
,ut there boast Of a large dance-hall,
where the people gather in the even
ing and drink and make merry. Now
it is a common thing for these dasper-
ADDE'S, after they have had a few drinks.
to set uD whoop. draw :heir navic>
and begin to shoot out the lights, at
the same time ordering everyday TO
leave the hall. If anybody refuses la
60 In reasonable time, IT Is under
stood that he means fight and they be-
gin To shoot mt him. This is called
taking the town. call to mind a
very good instance Of this style of pro-
ceeding. two stockmen had cleared a
hall Of all but the barkeeper, when a
deputy sheriff, who was noted for his
courage and determination, attempted
to resist them. He appeared at the
door of the hall with double-barrelled
shotgun. and fired quickly one load
at each man. They fired at the same
time, shooting him
THROUGH TIE HEART.
His aim had been good in both cases,
but the gun only contained bird shot.
and one man fell. while the other kept
his feet. When the body of the
deputy was finally taken out, it had
either eleven or twelve bullets in it
During the shooting some one fired
int" the hall through the window, and
the bullet struck the counter, and
glancing up. ridged the barkeeper's
scalp. The affair never amounted to
anythin. i'm the courts"
care there not troublesome gangs
of horse and cattle thieves out in that
region!"
"Not at present. The worst gang
We ever had there was known rs the
Musgrove gang, from the fact that
man named Musgrove was their leader.
He had large number Of men from
thirty to fifty. probably-and their
depredations were very bold. In
1868 they ran of lot Of government
mulee, and the sheriff. with eight men
including myself and two other of our
men. started in pursuit, We followed
the trail up to the mountains, and
having pretty closely located them, we
separated. myself and two partners
going around by Laramie to cut the
gang off from the plains, and the
sheriff continuing on the trail. Mus
grove was posted as to our movements
and as soon as our trio had left he
sent for the sheriff, who went up into
the camp Of the gang. Musgrove
gave the sheriff horse and told him
TO 60 hack to Denver. and if he was
caught following the gang
HE WOULD BE KILLED.
When We rejoined the party and heard
Of this, we wanted tn 60 mp and attack
the crowd but the sheriff insisted ON
going back to Denver. and we went. !
81 l.. I 4