The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-01-11
"HORsB COMPANIES"
The Means Adopted by Farmers to Prevent
DEMONSTRATING

The Means Adopted by Farmers to Prevsn I
Horse-steaiing.
In former years farmers had compare.
Neutrality-suspicious. against the depreda.
tons of horse.thieves. These marauders
could despoil tho tiller OF the soil of his
and make good their escape before the law
could be no manipulated rs to inclose them
within its mcshes. In the far west
he farmers dispensed with red tape,
and forming themselves into vigil
lance committees, meted out justice with
the aid OF convenient tree and n rope
when they caught the Offenders. This GUS.
an is still In vogue in certain parts OF the
vest This class of thieves became so nu.
nerous In the southeastern portion OF
Pennsylvania that about 1927 or 1928, u
OF farmers in tho little
township of Oxford, Philadelphia county,
and its vicinity, formed an organi2a-
ton under the title of the "Ox(ord Horse
Among the founders OF the
John Bavington, Jacob Snyder, Jacob Shall.
c<s General Castor, Charles Robbins
Job Livezey and William Roberts. The
acs differed but little with those of the
.orse companies Of the present day. All the
members OF the company constituted u rid.
ing committee and were arranged in
,lasses, each class having leader,
These leaders We're known ns the
Notifying committee. The members were
flassed that two might ride in company.
sVh member when in pursuit of thief
Is compelled to ride thirty miles from his
ace of residence ut his own expense, be-
'e giving up the chase. In case he re-.
lived such information that II would be
,seemed necessary to prosecute the route
further, his expenses were paid from the
funds Of the company. When horse was
stolen from one of the members the owner
immediately notified the president. of the
company, who in turn informed the notify
ing committee. Each one of the committee
then filled up n blank notice with the DIES.
cription OF the stolen pr erty. for every
member of his class. Til t,ember was al.
so notified to ride u rou designated for
him, and was ordered to Immediately pre-.
pare and start, either In person or by suf.
iicient proxy. In case of refusal or neglect
% do so, except in cases of actual sickness,
he was fined S.. IL the stolen property
ias not recovered the loss was made
ood by the company. Rewards were also
,leied Tor the arrest and conviction OF the
,iei and handbllls containing u descrip.
, pn OF the stolen property were posted aud
ALTERED within radius OF thirty miles.
, We company held Its meetings at what
+ r. then known rs tho Old Soldiers
q ,.'ern, on the Oxford turnpike,
Int y mile and half above Frank.
hi The organization ilourished, and
Ell such success that ITS member
+ swelled TO almost unwieldy pro.
: ons. Alter Il had existed about four.
years, Charles Robbins. Jacob Livezey,
nm Roberts and n number of others
rev from the company and formed
,,i ar at Fox Chase. In the meantime
Il, ysmple had bccpffollowed through.
no state and IN Eany Other states.
m k1Sii u united Dorse company was
foi about twentf five companies In
II q = lvania, Delaware and Maryland.
hi, ST meeting was held In this
raj hey notified each other by tec.
NJ. NJ the loss of h horse, and Il
10 \ght that BY this means the chances
he, alor n hprs,+,hicI would be reduced
% 81 isw with Q union. however, never
Nj Miss Ida uch, aud a number OF
the city. \, within the last lew
" ofMr. o Bun II altogether. Some
res this city United company. 10
, gral FrohsinH fhe past. Shortly be-
moore Schmidt 10 20 ont the Bustle.
KS w nented the 20 company, was or.
rly'y The hkRaLp detective In The
rict' all the hapt significance. however,
ely hearts eau army being the same as
Mr.. II. Smt ,lneh IN looo ,ne
w. I,s.,.n ,m"s n 1868 the Frinkford
re' Ss,i ~ ...nispan, was formed.
Timss now Sa,ter company have
inrw hss hs.rinate, Us the, have
a. ss.,,,.,.. tnsi for the last two
,.s~ ,,,o.s " county In Penn.
t.ssrrsvs alton OF this kini.
4 G,"H,,,,cr sisk,ss numerous in 9th.
vac tu1 ns-"i .s',r !" W. sissippi. la Lehish
IRE to1 . 49, n, h,m' mrcll,d 10 ride but
w " 49, >pce VA pursuit OF a
- ipe~, comps-
~ ts'h"< one