Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-05-09
The Man Burners.

Luther Mitchell and Ami w. Ketchum
and burning their bodies, last week re-
suited in verdict Of guilty of murder
in the second degree. II was entirely
unexpected. The evidence was so
strong that a verdict in the first degree
was looked for, but evidently the Jury
were cowed and dared not fulfill their
duty. Ever since the lst of April Hast
ings has been in a most excited state.
DAYS were spent in preparing to take
testimony, and meanwhile the streets
we're crowded with cowboys and
strangers, all interested in the trial
Nebraska has seldom been so worked
up over a murder case. 1t got about
that attempts would be made TO rescue
Olive il convicted, and the alarm be-
came so general that the Governor was
appealed to and at his request a COM
pany Of infantry was detailed by Gen
eral Crook to preserve the peace. Wild
eyed Texans, members of Captain
Olives old Confederate company and
friends of the Olive Gang have ridden
through the town and hung about the
outskirts. That they would go to al
most any extreme to save their chief
no one doubted for an instant. The
presence of Olives family has added to
the interest. A boy of ten is with his
mother, and during tho trial has been
amusing himself with the Hastings
boys. He is true son of ranchman.
He can ride any animal, puffs cigar
cites with the case of a Mexican and
wears tremendous white wide
brimmed hat.
The history of the Olive family is q
most remarkable one. They seem to
have held life of no value whatever,
and the only one who appears to have
pursued an honest course is the father,
James Olive, now seventy-nine years
of age, who is at present staying at
Plum Creek, at l. z. Olives rancho.
After the Mexican war James and his
wife left Louisiana for Texas. They
settled in Williamson county and
began stock raising and brought their
sons up in the same business. |. p.
Olive, the prisoner, known as Prentice,
or for short, Print" was the Oldest.
When the war broke out he Joined a
Texas regiment and remained in the
rebel army until the end. He was
severely wounded at Shiloh in the
| tulOU. AlIbI lllt wal uO lCIll hCu W
Williamson County and joined his
brothers, Ira and Thomas, in stock
raising. In 1866 he was married to
Miss Louisa Reno, the daughter of a
small farmer. BY her he has become
the father of seven children, five of
whom are living. For time after his
marriage, everything seemed to 90
along swimmingly, but in 1870 the
trouble began. One day =" Print " and
Ira were driving cattle when they met
a man named Fream and his drivers,
who had some of the Olive cattle in
their herd. The Olives "cut" their
cattle out and angry words passed. AT
this time the fourth son of James Olive,
Bob, was fifteen years old. A few days
after the alteration Bob-afterwar
known in Nebraska as Stevens-in
passing through a ravine was fired
upon by two parties, who, he told his
brothers, were Fream and one of hi:
drivers. A day or two later Fream ant
Print met. "Did you shoot at my
brotherP" demanded Print" "No
but I'd like q pop at you," was the
reply, and both men drew and fired
Both were badly wounded. Olive was
several years in recovering, and Frean
died IA short time after. At the term o.
court following this event Olive was
indicted, and at the next term tried anC
acquitted.
1t was in the centennial year tina
Thomas met his death. He and hi!
brothers were sleeping outside theil
rancho. About midnight their rancho
was burned and they were fired upol
by the raiders. Thomas was fatally
wounded, and Prentice and Bob swort
to have revenge. Subsequently Olive
residence was visited by two negroe
on horseback, one named Donaldson
and the other Banks. They had pis
tolls strapped to their saddles, and Prem
tice claims that they were sent ther,
to kill him. He got a rifle and ad
vanced upon them, ordering them no
to 90 to their horses, which they haC
left momentarily at the well. Bank
disobeyed and was shot. Olive wa
tried and acquitted. Then he cam
North and settled at Plum Greek, ant
became the king of the cattle men. /
wilder man than Prentice was Bob. HI
was twenty-four years old when he me
his death last winter in Custer County
He left Texas with two murders to hi
charge, and was shortly indicted and
reward of $500 offered for his capture
He killed Cal. Mutt in a saloon in No
vember or December, about four year
ago. They had little misunderstood
ing. Mutt fired, but without effect. |
was quickly returned and Mutt fell bacl
into the saloon dead. Mutt is suppose
by the Olives to have been membe
of the gang that killed Thomas, or wa
engaged by them to kill Robert, VIII
, had vowed revenge upon the murderer
of his brother. Six months prior t
this he shot and killed negro, who h
claimed was stealing corn from hi
crib. He was not even bound over fo
this offense. After killing Mutt he lei
almost Immediately for Cheyenne
where he assumed the name of Steven
and finally became Sheriff of Custe
County. On a charge that Luthe
Mitchell and Ami w. Ketchum, rancf
, men, had stolen cattle, he undertoo
and Bob was killed. A result of hi
, death is the trial which has just CLOSED
3 Prentice swore to avenge his brother
, death. Many shooting affrays ha
: made him fearless. He offered 81, ,0C
,, reward for Ketchum and Mitchell, an
the two men, becoming frightened, SUI
, rendered to the Sheriff of Howar
County. He took them to Merric
County, and then Barney Gillen, VII
followed Bob as Sheriff of Custe
stepped in to secure the prisoners an
, take them to Custer for examination.
The three Sheriffs got in row ovC
: the division of the reward, which WI
: subsequently satisfactorily settle,
Gillen started with his prisoners on Il
10th of December to Plumb Cree
a When near the Olive rancho band
u men met him and demanded Mitche
and Ketchum. Ropes were put abo
the necks of the prisoners and Il
. SherifFs wagon was driven under
tree. The other ends OF the rope we
> made fast tn a limb One of the de