The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-10-13
AHoRsE THIEFs CONFESSION.
He Speaks of an Organized Gang Oper
ating in Maryland and Adjoining
States

Frederick, Nd, October Z, says The ar
rest of man giving his name as John Wilson
on the charge of horse stealing furnishes the
clue to a band of oath-bound horse thieves,
if there is any truth in the prisoners state
ments. Wilson was arrested, after an exclt-
ing chase, near Plane No. 4, Frederick coun-
ty, last Friday, by John Franklin, black
smith of the vicinity. He was charged with
having in his possession horse which was
stolen from Mr.. J. j. Moore, superinten-
dent on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, at
Sandy Hook, Washington county, on Thurs
day last. The horse was identified by its
owner and Wilson was brought to Frederick
city and lodged in jail until Saturday evening,
when he was taken by the sheriff of Washing
ton county to Hagerstown.
Wilson is about 40 years of age, of swarthy
complexion, has dark hair, and wears full
black beard. In height he is probably five
feet six. When first apprehended he said he
had purchased the horse for 500 from a per-
son living on the National turnpike, between
Middletown and Frederick Afterwards he
stated that the animal had been transferred
to him by one of gang or band of horse
thieves, who infest Washington county and
the border counties of Pennsylvania, and of
which he was member, and his instructions
were to take him to Ellicott City, where an
other of the party would be on hand to receive
and sell him. In reply to question regard
ing the gang, he said it comprised member
ship of about thirty, with places of meeting
or headquarters in certain localities in Wash
ington county, Nd, and various parts of
Pennsylvania. Some of the members, he
said, are sons of respected farmers, and no
suspicion of the work in which they are en-
gagged has as yet attached itself to them. The
band, he says, is bound by oaths not to divulge
secrets or betray confederate, and violation
of their obligation is severely punished when
the opportunity offers. Its present field OF
operation is from Luzerne county, Pa, down
through Maryland and Virginia. Horses
stolen in these states are taken when neces-
sary to southwestern Virginia, Tennessee,
North Carolina and Kentucky, to be sold or
exchanged with gang operating in a similar
way in those sections. In other words, an
exchange system is carried on largely, the
object being to elude pursuit or detection by
getting the stolen property as far from the
vicinity of its ownership as possible. Before
joining the gang Wilson said he had been in
the employ of Mr. Israel Ref, distiller and
farmer, of Washington county. He claimed
to be native of Port Deposit, Nd. He
stated to some of the officials that if guar
antee was given him that he would not be
prosecuted for the offense for which he was
now imprisoned, he would reveal the names
and rendezvous of the gang with which he
claims to be connected, and give information
that would lead to the recovery of number
of horses An opportunity to do this will
probably be given him by the Washington
county authorities. His statements are given
here briefly for what they are worth He is
certainly thoroughly posted, but he has made
so many contradictory statements about the
horse found in his possession that any other
stories he may tell need to be thoroughly
tested. Before being taken to Hagerstown
the prisoner was called on by Mr.. j. W. Ash
ton, of Falls Church, Virginia, who's in search
of three horses, valued at nearly $500, which
were stolen from his farm on the 26th ult.,
and which he succeeded in tracing as far as
Montgomery county, but although some
knowledge of the matter was indicated by
Wilson, he would say nothing positive or sat
isfactory unless promised release from his
present confinement He would say this
much, that ten horses recently stolen in Vir
ginia and Pennsylvania are now in posses
sion of two of the gang, named Johnson and
Baird. The first named, the prisoner says, is
about 80 years of age, feet 9inches in height,
wears flowing sandy beard, and is dressed
in blue cloth clothing. Baird is about 38
years old, feet inch in height, and weighs
about 200 pounds. He has sandy hair and
light mustache.