Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-07-29

4
purchaser would ask no questions, and
The Trader would Wink
name low figure and the trade was
contaminated. Yet all along the line
not single man would be missing
from home day, and il arrested, could
prove without any trouble where he
was at the time the horse was STOLEN.
Finally one of the thieves, named
Bradford Henson, became too bold, and
he was detected and arrested. He e.
| capped the penitentiary, as usual, by the
| tall swearing of his confederates. The
workings Of the nefarious traffic, how
| ever, were so clearly exposed that its
abolition was but matter Of time.
Baifled the second time in his abof-
tive attempts to get rich by unlawful
| means and worried by legal prosecution
| which threatened States prison in the
| eud, Bridgewaters became desperate.
| The country, torn and convulsed 10y
the two conteDding armies, and never
thickly settled at its best, threw upon
its surface number of cut-throats, des-
peradOes and murderers OF the worst
description. These were added to the
Bridgewaters gang of thieves, counter
feiters and sharpers. From being an
annoyance Bridgewaters now became
a POSITIVE terror to the country. His
stronghold was anywhere in the noun.
tain Businesses of Eastern Kentucky.
The man seemed
Very Devil.
Bloody and atrocious murders were
committed all over the country with
startling rapidity. If member OF
Bridgewaters' gang a grudge against
a man, the latter either sold out and
left the country or his friends attended
| his funeral in a very short time. When
the gang came to the conclusion that a
man was in their way they would ride
up to his house, call him out and shoot
him down. The officers of the law
were defied, and no vigilance commit
tee mad the temerity to attack them.
| The only time Old Jim was ever beard
ed in his den was by rival band oi
| thieves and cut-throats from Central
Kentucky, and composed, it is said, OF
| the Coulters and Sanders men, who are
| related to the best families in the State.
| Bridgewaters or some of his men at one
| time murdered one of the Sanders gang,
and they swOre the vendetta against
him. A trusty friend warned Bridge.
waters of their approach. For once in
his life he thought discretion the better
part of yalor.
| Aiming Himself
with two navy revolvers and Colts
repeating rifle, he entered piece OF
| woodland short distance from his
house, and, climbing up tree that had
| fallen lodged in the fork of another,
he concealed himself in the thick
branches. In few minutes his ene-
mics came in sight, all on horseback
and armed to the teeth. Not finding
him at home, they rode quietly away,
while old BridgewaterS chuckled "a
himself and descended from his hiding
place.
At the close of the war he had such 4
| reputation that the Governor offered q
reward for him dead or alive, and when
a Kentucky Governor offers a reward
fo man lie must be fiend incarnate.
| Though IN outlaw and an outcast, his
reputation was such that for long time
no one would undertake his arrest.
| Finally young man named Walters
| from Louisville, had the temerity to
try it. Disgusting himself rs a trsmp
he hung around until he met Bridge
| waters, ingratiated himself into his con
fidencc and became pal to al! appear
ances. Br:dgewaters projected a raid
ing excursion, and, having all con.
fidence in Walters, invited him TO come
along, saying they would divide the
booty between them. Their plan was
to procure covered or emigrant wagon,
go through the country, steal every
thing they could get their hands on,
| until the wagon was loaded, and then
proceed to some obscure town and
Sell the PLUMBER.
The plan was carried out, and they
drove into this place to dispose of the
stolen goods. Walters now determined
| to act. He went to the authorities and
stated that Bridgewaters was in the
wagon, and that he wanted assistance
| to arrest him. Not man could be
found who would risk himself against
"Old Bridges pistols. Finally Wal.
tiers, who was but II years old and a
beardless STRIPPING, procured a shotgun,
walked back to the wagon and coOlly
demanded his surrender. Bridge
waters saw the game was up and at
tempted to draw a pistol, when Walters
fred. His victim fell over without a
| word.