The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-07-31
EXCITING. SC:.NE.
4 SiIerin = fOssee nave Il Terrible
Tussie with n BioOdthirsty Horse
Thief Near Fred0nia


Thief Near Fredonia-
| Special to THE LEAvESwoKTH TINEs.l
FREDoSIA, KAs, July 81, 1S79.-Wilson
county has had a sensation to day Sunday,
in fact, still has it bad. During the fore
noon, several men from Woodson and AL
len counties came into Fredonia, one at a
time, and quietly put their horses up at the
| livery stable. Among them WAS Sheriff
| Smith Of Woodaon county, Sheriff IIodger,
| of Allen county, and two con-tables from
HUMBOLDT, besides several citizens from the
vicinity of Buff4lo and Humboldt. No one
noticed their appearance, rave one or two
to whom they communicated their business.
II seems that a man named d. o. Luce,
who has lived near Hum boldt for nearly
twenty years, has been long known
az one OF a gang Of stock thieves
who have been infesting this
section, running off horses aud cattle.
Luce is reported to be dangerous and
reckless IN IN, though pretty well heeled"
financially. He is supposed from many
reason 10 be the party ~ho shot or hired
some to shoot Z. Srosneider, OF Humboldt,
a few weeks ago. About week ago he
WAS shot at BY some uuknown person, one
things generally getting too bot for him he
concluded to ego West," and made a start
this morning. He sent drove of twenty
head Of horses and . number of cattle ahead
of him in charge of his brother, who is con-
sider.d even more reckless than Luce him
self, and two other men.
The men with the stock passed through
Fredonia this morning and attracted gen.
eral not &c by the rapid manner in which
they drove the herd. With this much
preface in explanation We will give the
CAU-E OF THE EXCITEMENT.
Luce, although long suspected of being
one OF the gang Of horse thieves, had always
been too ii. TO be detected. But Yesterday,
the % b, \ warrant was Issued and placed
in the hands Of the sheriff OF Allen county,
charging Luce with stealing a couple of
horses short time since. This morning
the sheriff, with PERHAPS a half dozen men,
started after Luce, who WAS leaving the
country "A mentioned before, they took
dinner a. F redoaia They then started after
the party who went through town with the
the drove of stock, expecting TO find Luce
with them. The posse wss joined here by
Mcintosh, sheriff of Wilson coup,y, and
several citizens, 30 there were ten or twelve
men sitter the thief. About half past one
O'Clock Luce came into town in a spring
wagon and stopped for denner. A boy who
had learned what was up recognized Luce,
and mounting horse followed after the
sheriff party and told them that Lure
would be along pretty soon. The boy over
took the posse on Rainbow Creek, some fonr
miles southwest of Fredonia. The party
then divided, one division, consisting OF
four, among whom were the sheriffs OF Al
len and Woodsop, ambushing on the road
where Luce was most likely to pass. Pres
emily he came driving along, and Sheriff
Hodgen, presenting q shot gun, commanded
Luce TO
HALT AND SURRENDER.
Instead of doing 80 he drew a revolver and
fired, when the sheriff returned the com
pliment. After firing the first shot Luce
| jumped from the wagon, and fired four
more times, but at the same time the whole
party opened upon him, firing nineteen
| times from shot guns loaded with buck-hot
Oae Of Luce's balls struck q man named
| kelso in the leg, another took the tip of of
one mans ear, and one went through the
coat skirt of one Of the party. Luce was
probably hit by the first shot fired at him
but continued firing until his weapon was
L L.. l. ,,,k
coming out of his ear, and iwo others enter
ed the left groin, one passing directly in,
the other going up and in and lodging in
his legs. A shot from revolver tore hi-
right hand to Piec.s just a.
he had the drop on Sheriff
Smith, OF Wood-on- This knocked his
hand up, and the bullet vent up in the air.
Luce was brought back to Fredonia, his
wounds dressed, and although he begged to
be allowed to remain here, was taken on to
Humboldt. The affair created a great
deal of excitement, Of course, and all sorts
of rumors are rife. 1t is generally believed
that the vigilantes are out in full force, and
that Luce's men, who had his stock, will
vet be heard from in connection with an
aerial dance at the end of a rope. Several
remarks were dropped BY some OF the pur-
suing pafIy WHICH Wcuiu NdITaEl tnis NC
lief, as would also their entire disregard o;
the cattle drivers. Luce was very anxious
to remain here, and seemingly feared that
the end was not yet-thst he would he
taken out and hanged before reaching
Humboldt.
HORSE STEALING
in this corner of the State has become q
nuts nee almost unbearable. Thieves with
the utmost lacking of ether prudence Oh
cunning, carry of animals, take them to
the Nation, generally, getting there before
the animal il missed, and, a. a rule, that
Is the last OF it. Now and then a daring
officer invades the Nation and succeeds in
bringing back his men, rarely an animal,
but whenever this is done, an expense il
entailed on the county, for officers fees and
expenses, costs of keeping AID irving the
prisoner, often amounting to over $500 per
head for common horse thieves
The sheriff of this county 10 daily in re-
ceipt of descriptions of stolen animals.
Patience is played out, and it is likely that
more of the gang will suffer before long, and
without a warrant in the hands Of an Off
Ger to make things all "squeegee."
SOME SPORT
il made of the posse comisofua for firing nine
teen shots from guns and no end of rSvolvel
ohotD It On nan. distant only about thirty