Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-02-15
BANDED FOR ROBBERY
ssrS,sn,An.s noLp YOUNG rurhvEs
sura ot Tromipcut Crissn, Organized iur
fI1uuoT what the Police found
Ia Ihtir Den.

sora ot rrcmiacut Cui..n, Organised tor
fInndCT what the Police Found
Ia Iheir Den.
About five mouths ago the residence
o. Hon. NJ T. Fowler, representative
70 the Legislature, on West Oak street,
Shenandoah, was entered during tho
absence Of the family and u number OF
articles stolen. Among these was a gold
headed cane presented to Mr.. Fowler by
the bosses employed by him when in the
coal business number OF years ago.
Previous to this number of other
robberies had taken place, and every effort
to get clue failed.
On Wednesday q boy about Ii years
Of age presented himself at the jswelry
store of g. +. Holderman and offered for
sals the top OF a gold headed cane. Mr.
uolderman examined tho gold head with
n magnifyiug glass and found that it had
been engraved at one time. but tho lines
had been scratched off. After a careful
examination the letters "M." "P" and
F." oouli be traced, justifying Mr.
Hnlderman's suspicious that tho cane was
| that owned by Mr.. Fowler. On being
| questioned the lad stated that he had re-
ceived the cane top from another boy who
| had found it on the street in front of Mr..
Fowlers residence, and at first refused to
| give his name. Mr.. Fowler was sent for,
and, on seeing the cane head, recognized
| 1t at once as belonging TO him.
The boy tinally give his name and made
n confession Of the whole affair, disclosing
| the fact of q Jesse James gang" being
in existence in Shenandoah. composed ol
twelve or fifteen boys, aged from fourteen
to eighteen years, sons of some Of the
leading citizens and members of the high
school
| A "wintcr shauty" hal been erected
on tho rear Of a lot on West Oak street,
near Mr.. Fowler : residence, large enough
to hold eight or ten boys. Underneath a
cellar had been dug some six feet deeE
and the sides liued with boards. In this
cellar, when visited by Chief of Police
Roads and Mr.. Fowler, were found tool,
of all kinds, locks, keys, playing cards
checks, checker boards, dime novels and
literature of the blood and thunder style
A large quantity of articles bad been re
moved a few minutes previously by SON
OF the gang, they having heard IN some
way Of the chiefs coming. Shortly after
ward large sled, drawn by number .
the gang was captured by Capt. johnson
and amouug tho articles found was til,
other part OF Mr.. Fowlsr's cane.
, Investigation proved that the gong me
quite frequently, aud, when not otherHis
engaged, played cards, and the check
were used as money. They had iesua
oath bound organization, having g,ips
passwords, etc. Before entering tn
band the candidate was ballotad for, and
If elected, initiated. The applicant wa
then partly stripped aud tied up agains
the underground wall and made to swea
not to reveal any OF the secrets, pass words
etc, under certain penalties. In thi
position the applicant was kept for on
hour while the rest kept up series o
{ tortures.
1t is expected Other robberies will b
traced to this organization. The nigh
before the discovery of this gang the gro
Gerry OF Glenn & Severn, on East Centr
street, was broken into and robbed O
groceries. The same evening the resideuc
Of Mr. Gsssley was also entered and robbie,
OF gold watch aud other articles OF value