Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-03-23
Protection 70 Cattle Han.

i
Last summer we mentioned a onestiona.
BILE transaction on the part Of one A. j.
Gillespie, a live stock commission man OF
Kansas City. in which it was alleged that
an agent of his contracted for a large
bunch Of cattle, but the market declining,
Gillespie refused to stand mp to his bar
gain. His action occasioned a heavy loss
TO the parties who sold him the cattle,
Greever q Houghton, Of this range. We
then warned stOckmen to be on the look
ont for Gillespie. The shipping season is
again approaching. so we publish another
chapter Of Gillespie's transactions. This
from the Denver Tribune Of March. Sd.
1888:
"On the 18th of September, ssl, about 9
O'Clock In the morning, two men drove I'D
to the stock yards in this city with twenty
head OF cattle, td be shipped that night to
Kansas City. The lateness of the hour and
the mixed character OF the brands on the
animals, created so much suspicion In the
mind OF the yardmaster that he took suffi-
cient notice Of one Of the men as to be able
TO Identify him afterwards. The car load
reached their destination and were unload
ell on tie 18th. Mr.. A. Barron, the Cattle
Inspector of the State, was in the ward and
also noticed the decided mixed character of
the shipment. Upon inquiry he ascertain
ed that the cattle were held for sale by one
Richard Mooney and one A. j. Gillespie. a
commission dealer in live stock of this city.
lie called upon Mr.. Gillespie, where he
found the man Mooney, VINO claimed to
own the bunch, and admitted to being the
shipper. Close questioning of Mooney de-
veloped that he could not or would not tell
where the cattle came from, or how they
came In his possession. He Informed MIR.
Gillespie Of his own conviction that the
cattle were stolen, and requested him to
wait few moments while he consulted his
book OF brands near at hand, and not to
sell until the matter had been investigated
While he was out TO consult the books
Mooney skipped out and was never seen
afterwards by him, until arrested a month
afterward ut kiowa, in this State, through
the instrumentality of detectives detailed
to hunt him down, Mooney was taken to
Jefferson county, tried, convicted and sem
fenced for nine years to the penitentiary.
where he now resides.
MIR. Gillespie sold the cattle for about
S44O and pocketed the money. Every ef-
fort, as we are informed by Mr.. Barron
himself, was made to get Mr.. Gillespie to
refund the money to the people from whom
the cattle had been stolen. He received
from these parties power of attorney to
collect the amount, and although a bond
indemnifying Mr. Gillespie against loss and
every argument possible was used, MIR.
Gillespie would not turn over the cash.
But he finally agreed, so Mr.. Barron states
to place the whole matter for settlement in
the hands of Mr.. j. A. Cooper, of the
German National Bank of this city, and If
he decided the proofs of ownership to be
conclusive he would give up the money.
and Mr.. Gillespie wrote Mr.. Cooper 10
that effect, the letter being now in the hands
OF the proper authorities. MIR. Cooper
soon replied that the money unquestiona-
biy belonged to the parties claiming the
cattle here. To which letter Mr.. Gillespie
returned answer that "Mr. Cooper mnst
have misunderstood him. That there w, re
many persons claiming the ownership,
some from Wyoming, and that he must
file the claims and proofs of ownership of
Colorado, or they would be left ont of
consideration" or words to that effect.
The Stock Growers association now
took the matter in hand, and, after estab-
fishing by Il committee conclusive and un-
disputable right Of the claimants to the
property, swore out warrant for the ar
rest Of Mr.. Gillespie. One of the detectives
was sworn as special Deputy Sheriff and
proceeded to Kansas City and arrested Mr..
Gillespie on waffant charging him with
grand larceny. He arrived with his pris-
oner on the 2Sth instant and took him to
jefferson county for trial. He waived the
preliminary examination and was put un-
der bonds to answer at the next term of
court. While in the city, before going to
Golden, he voluntarily turned over to MIR.
Cooper the amount he had received from
the sale Of the cattle, to be given to the
claimants 1t is only by placing guilty
men, the thieves of the cattle ranges, and
their aiders and abettors In the cities. in
their proper light before the public and by
getting speedy convictions in courts of
justice, that the cattle men of the plains.
feel any safety in their property, unless they
constantly protect their herds with shot
guns. Mr.. Gillespie has certainly placed
himself in very questionable light, and
unless on trial he can conclusively show
his innocence Of purpose and purity OF mo
tive, should be made to feel the full rigors
Of the law
Land Ofice DusinAza