Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-22
HOODS HORSES.
The Checkered Career of One of the
Most Noted Horse-ThieVes in
the South.
His D0ings in Mississippi, Arkansas and
West Tennessee-His Partially for
Memphis Blooded Stock.

A telegram was received yesterday fore
noon from Capt G. I. OHsver, Aberdeen,
Miss, by Chief w. c. Davis, saying he had
recovered horse there stolen some time since
by the convict Hood from L. Fritz, Of THE
city. The animal was shipped yesterday
morning, and Capt. O'HSver will return in
day or two. AS this is probably the last
Of this
NOTORIOUS HORSE THIEF
for fifteen years at least-a concise history
of his exploits may prove interesting. His
real name is Sam w. Wood, though be has
a number of aliases, among them J. n. Hood,
J. II. Woods, Sam Williams and Jim Viii
son. He entered the arena about 1867, when
he was arrested by four men at Lsmar, Miss,
for being a member of the kuklux khan.
He was taken back into Dssoto county, and
when within eight miles OF fernando killed
NcLsmele, one of his guards. and made his
escape. He fed to Arkansas, but was re-
captured and conveyed to fernando for
trial. By some hocus pocus he was acquitted,
and then began bis career as a horse-tbief,
making himself notorious in very short
time. He was
UNUsUALLY SUCCESSFUL
until 1874, when he was captured at Mem
phis and sentenced to ten years in the peni-
Mrs. Carroll. After serving four years of
his term, be was again turned loose on the
community by means of the pardoning
power of the chief executive. He came
here from Nashville at once, and to lead
people TO believe his reform was complete,
| drove 3 street car for three whole months.
Then he took his departure for Mississippi,
and began the old business once more. As
| long as he was not too greedy about the
| and L. m
| time, be got safely away, but when he
attempted to steal three mules at once from a
man near Helena, Ark, about two years
| ago he was again
| CAUGHT IN THE MISSILES
Of the law and sentenced at Helena 10 fifteen
years in the State prison. After an enforced
residence there of three months, the scoun-
| drel escaped and fled to the swamps with two
others. They visited some negro cabins in
their flight and robbed the darkies Of enough
| shotgups with which to defend themselves.
Bloodhounds which were put on their trail
by the prison authorities, were shot down as
fast as they come up with the fugitives, who
finally managed to make their escape good
After stealing two or three horses from North
Mississippi he came TO West Tennessee snC
began running them off By the wholesale
The belief was prevalent for a time that
regularly organized gang were at work, bu
when Chief Davis learned through Towr
Marshal Jones, of Holly Springs, Miss, thai
Hood had escaped from the Arkansas peni
Tertiary his eyes were opened and he and hii
detectives
| WENT ON THE TRAIL.
Hood was tracked to Arkansas CITY anc
arrested there on a telegram by Town Mar
shall Simms. He had with him a fine mul,
belonging to J. M. Glenn, of Collierville
Detective McCune was sent to Arkansas CITY
where he took man and mule in charge
Hsod was put in close confinement, and il
The hope OF receiving a short sentence in thu
Tennessee penitentiary he began 10 uuboeon
himself, rather than return TO Arkansas
where he knew a new cato nine-tails wa
always ready to greet a recsptured convict
With this idea in his head he told all abou
his exploits in other Slater, but kept silen
with regard to his operations IN Tenpessee
thinking the proof was already good enough
for one term. OF one horse, however, he di,
tell. A splendid match animal stolen b.
him from II. A. Thoms, the undertaken, has
been run of TO Holly Springs and sold Their
to J. M. Cady, livery-s,able keeper, frou
whom
IT WAS RECOVERED.
Alter telling this Hood promised Chic
Davis il he would write to his wife at Green
vile 10 sell out and come TO him he woul
tell him something else OF interest. Tn
telegram was sent, and when Hood wa
shown the reply he informed the chief b
would hnd mule belonging to w. E. Kuo,
near Okolons, Miss, in the possession OF +
SEWER, Of Greenville, who also had mul
belonging to Mr.. Waddington, of Buhle
Miss. Both Of these mules were recovere,
Hood was treated to book beer and presse
to continue his interesting communication
he was agreeable, and related a pleasar
little adventure that he had down at Bubls
one uddy, rainy day. He found a maI
] hitcted at the rack on the public square an
broke the reins to mislead its owner b
mounted the hybrid and rode away to w.
Grab ANS place, near town, where he foun
an iron gray horse. The gaits of the mu
l we're not pleas ant enough for him, and he
CHANGED HIS SADDLE
| to the back of the iron gray, leading tn
l | mule by the halter. For these he found
D ready purchaser in the person OF a Mr.. CocI
e rell, who resold them to party at Johusor
q vile, where they were afterward recovere
by their owners through Chief Davis. Th,
Hoods tongue ceased to pstter, and he clan
ored for his ticket to the Tennessee pepit.r
tiary. He was anxious TO be seet right U
! to The Criminal Court, and did not want
!. go b,f fore Judge Hsdden's tribunal if
could help il. This he was obliged 70 d
however, and plead guilt7. He had an in
mediate trial before Judge Greer and r
ceived a short sentence. Before he could |
transferred from the jail to the peoiteutiar
. however, the State prison authorities
l Little Rock grew clamorous, and he WI
finally returned to
THE ARKANSAS PENITENTIARY,
to finish his sentence Of fifteen years,
which he had served but three months f
got the whipping he dreaded, and it WAS la
z on in the most approved Tewksbury fashie
When Capt. O'Haver visited Little Rock
few days ago he saw Hood and treated hi
to a cigar. Then there was more flow
soul. Hood told him where he could find
!, horse stolen from Louis Fritz, Main sire
, timer. This is The animal just recovere
at Aberdeen. One remarkable feature
Hoods dealings has been that he alwa,
3 | demanded and received fair market prit
, | for his stolen mules and horses, and wou
higgle for an hour over SIS bill. His 81
pearance is striking. He is about six fe
and half tall, awkward and ungsinIy, wit
small head and long neck, legs and arm
His hair struggles down over his ears az
, eyes, and his beard, though stunted, is rsgge
: and gives him such a weird sind savss
appearance that one would walk many
mile rather than risk meeting him in a dsr
ah<N4 -. l.