The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-01-23
A Band OF Thieves Broken Up.

Howard (Elk county Courant
Our citizens were somewhat surprised
last Sunday, about IL O'Clock, by the APP
pearance on the streets OF wagon load
ed with new clothing of almost every de
scription-ladies' cloaks, rubber goods,
and other articles-Whioh had been haR-
tily loaded, and by persons not used to
packing such merchandise for shipment.
The wagon was in charge of three or
four armed men, apparently officers Of
the law. Little or no information could
be obtained concerning the strange out
fit, except that the goods had been stolen
and that the thieves had been captured
and that these, the goods, were being
taken to Emporia. Sunday evening, at
ter supper, a representative of the Cour-
ant was introduced TO the officers, sheriff
Moon and marshal Fleming, of Empo-
ria, and a detective known as "TeXas
| Frank from whom the following par
ticulars were learned 1t appears that
Emporia has been infested by an organic
] ed band of robbers for some time, WHO
have successfully eYaded the law until last
week, when Moon and Fleming discov-
cred their haunts, and five of the gang
are now In the Emporia jail. The first
clue 10 their whereabouts was telegram
| from Sedalia, Mo, to sheriff Moon, stat
| ing that lot of goods had been received
ut that place, shipped from Emporia,
and that the consignee, whom the police
had spotted as thief was there. Moon
telegraphed back to arrest the fellow and
| that he would come after him by the
first train. He accordingly went to Sc
dalla, but when lac arrived there the bird
had given the officers the dodge and
skipped. Nothing farther was develop
ed until one day last week, when another
chap was arrested in Usage City upon
the charge of stealing clothing, and on
| searching his trunk it was found to
be filled with dry goods of diff
| ferent kinds. Seeing that the jig
was up with him, the prisoner acknoYl-
edged to stealing the clothing and also
to being connected with others whose
headquarters were in Emporia, and gave
their stopping place, which was in the
| basement of a large stone building. Moon
and Fleming were at once notified and
on last Friday they Swallowed the thieves
until they had all retised 10 their den,
and then surprised and arrested the
whole gang, five in number. Friday
night sheriff Moon took the youngest of
the prisoners, young man named Greg
| DRY, INTO his Office and induced him to
tell about the robbery and the wherea-
bouts of the stolen goods. Young Greg
DRY said the goods were taken from a
freight car standing near the depot,
and that the plumber was divided,
a part being shipped to Sedalia, and the
balance to Elk county, and told where
the goods could be found here. On
Saturday evening the officers above nam
ed arrived on the IL so train and remain
ed in this city until Sunday morning
when they proceeded to the house of Mr.
Gregory, IA brother Of the young prison
err, we believe,) who lives on John
Hughes farm, four miles southeast OF
here, where the goods were found as
young Gregory said they would be, and
brought TO this city as stated above, and
shipped back to Emporia. A trunk
which was shipped from Emporia las
week and consigned to one of the Greg
cries, was also taken back. The officer.
also captured stolen harse which
was taken from near Emporia by ont
of the gang, run down here and TRADED
to Mr.. Goodnight. Mr.. Goodknigh
accompanied the officers back to En-
poria last Monday morning, where thu
thief had taken the horse he had re
ceiyed for the stolen one, hoping to re
cover il, Thus the state is relieved o.
7 another band Of robbers who have NJ
doubt got away much other property
that is not yet, and may meyer be re
covered, and it is to be hoped the gOo(
work may go on. Much credit is dut
to the untiring efforts OF the officers whC
have succeeded in breaking up thi
nest, and their vigilance should be duly
: appreciated by the people of Emporii
and Lyon county. They were all joll,
good fellows, and we were pleased t
MAKO their acquaintance.