Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-08-04
The FaScinatiOns and HaraSSmentS OF
Horse Thieying.

At various points in Texas bands Of
horse thieves are reported to DE organ
lied and plying an occupation which is
tenfold more injurious to the farming
interests than the raids of Mexican stock
thieves and foravs of wild Indians ever
were. A perusal of the newspapers will
show that the daily losses from the ope-
rations of horse thieves are simply
enormous. The occupation Of the horse
thief is attended with dangers and eX-
elements that have an irresistible at
traction for adventurous youths once
engaged in an exploit of the kind.
Theirs is a wild life of adventure, and
when enlisted in organized bands,
travcrsinS the country under vigilant
and experienced leaders, or concealed
by day in their forest hiding places, the
life which they lead has much in it to
fasc;nate the ignorant and vicious youth
of this time, dcmoralized by the shame
less cheap literature with which the
country is deluged. AS a matter of
course. the poor farmer suffers most
from their incursions. He can little
afford to spare the time and expense
of pursuit. and many a poor widow,
whose last work-horSe has been stolen,
is pract ;caliy beggared for the season.
In the stock-raising districts where
there are great stretches of unsettled
co,Intry and stock is abundant, running
wild in extensive pasture or upon open
prarics. the opportunities for thievIng
and conccalmcnt are very much greater
than in the thickly populated regions,
but the cases of individual hardship in
the former are not so numerous. 1t is
stated that the stockmen have organ
lied an agency for the detection of
al. fan hat
the losses of stockmcn have become so
great that associated effort and heavy
individual expense are necessary for
their protection. No efficient protec-
ton is afforded by the State. Not one
horse thief in twenty is apprchended at
all and of those who are caught not
one in ten is arrested by officers of the
State. HorSe-thievery is an evil of such
magnitude, and so in furious to the rural
population. melting robbery, murder
and lvnch-law, that it appears marvel
ous that the State Government should
have taken no adequate steps for its
suppreSSion. Until some general sys-
TEN of detection ut the public expense
is adopted the adventurous element VIII
continue to be attracted % this Seduc-
tive business of DEMONSTRATING, and the
people VIII b" compelled all through
the country To organize expensive heeH-
cir>. costing much more in the end than
vigorous system of suppression by
the State. which would protect the poor
farmer rs well as the wealthy stock
raiser. The NcUS has nothing TO say
a~ains: the muniticent spirit which was
tt the last Legislature exhibited in the
substantial contributions of cash for
monuments, historical works, the uni
versitv. colleges and schools. but sug-
ges.S that n small amount from the cash
balance for protection of the sweating
producer against these bands of horse
thieves should have first been allowed.
The farmer is sometimes obliged TO sell
lis cow TO pay the tax on his stolen
work horse, and he has right TO ak
that the tax be used To catch the thief
rather than to build n monument
Gy}rCStOR (Tcr.) NcWS.