Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-08-27
A DEN OF HORSE THIEVES.
One Thief Arrested With Fifteen
Stolen Horses-Dr. Rodes' Mare
Found.

CtV1Cu 1kVIBCS-DI R8UGS A8I0 l
Found.
On the morning of the 2lst inst.
marshal Murray and DR.. Rodes re-
ceived kilograms from the marshal of
Des Moines, Iowa, that the Doctors
mare that was stolen on the night of
the 26th ult., was in that city. DR..
Walker went up the following night
to identify the mare and if possible
find a clew to the whereabouts of
Mr.. Hugh Wilson's horse, which was
stolen at the same time.
1t appears that about six weeks
ago suspicious were aroused concern
ing the actions of one who claimed
to be a horse buyer, and had a pas
ture rented three miles from Des
Moines with an agreement to pay 5
cents a day per head with privilege
of pasturing one or twenty, as he
might desire, and often the animals
which were always turned in at night
have evidences of long trips. About
four weeks ago the marshal, Adam
Homer, went out to the pasture for
an investigation, but being a poor
judge of horses and unable to rec
ognize descriptions he failed to find
enough to justify an arrest. Since
that time the man became more and
more bold, selling numbers of brides
and halters and saddles, and giving
away old wagons, &c. Finally all
the horses were brought into the city
and placed in the stock-pens, shod in
front, and billed to be shipped to
Chicago, in the face Of $4,000 or
10000 people, hundreds of whom
should have seen accurate descrip-
tions of nearly every horse. Becom-
ing emboldened at the apparent stu
pidity, or bad eyesight Of his fellow
mortals, he had dared to show off the
fine saddle qualities of one of the
stolen prizes 80 often that an admirer
wanted to buy him. He asked 500
and on being offered that amount he
wanted 1925, which was given, and
it was this sale that led to his arrest,
as the marshal was informed about
the situation, and when he went to
the stock-pens he found that he had
descriptions for nearly every one, Is
in number, all of which would have
been shipped in 20 OR 80 minutes
more, and probably the whole affair
remained unsolved. The name is
undoubtedly assumed. This same
man pastured horses the same way,
with the same farmer four years ago,
and he has most likely been q lucky
and prosperous thief. When search
ed he was found with over $1,000
cash. He is SO years old, about
feet tall, stoop-shouldered and weighs
about $50 pounds, dark brown hail
and moustache. The latter recently
shaved off. One would not pick hin
out of a crowd for a horse thief, as
lie bore an air of lnexperience and
timidity. He says he has been il
the business for ten years that he ii
the leader and receiving agent of al
organized gang, but he will not i'm
-, plicate any of them. Three Others
were seen with him; two young mel
: and one m~iddle-aged, rather flesh.
and with burnsides. Shields wa
4 afraid of a mob and told the marsha
!. that he wanted to kill himself if an.
mob came for him, and he was yer,
anxious not to come to Missouri, a
he probably knew the history o
some of his brethren who had com
this way and Missouri was equal.
!. sorry that she could not get him, a
. it was thought q tight rope. would b
. q strong argument to induce thi
T king to give an invoice of his terrific
e ry and subjects. On being question
!. ed about MI. Wilson'S horse, he dis
Z claimed any knowledge of him; say
a he received the mare with two other
near Bethany, No., and that sh
came from Mexico, and he gave q
account of where all the horses cam
from as follows:
=" Two from Cameron, Mo. two frol
s Moberly, one from Mexico. two fro'
Bethany, two from independence
A. two from Usage, Iowa, two. frol
&c Albert Lea, Minnesota, and two fro
Rochester, Minnesota
It is a little singular that two wei
stolen from each place. Mr.. Wilson
saddle was found showing that ii
horse started with the mare as WI
supposed, and it is thought that u
horse became fatigued and was lei
or sold or snapped for a fresher O.
r. between here and the Iowa line. Il
ng marshal of Des Moines will get
be handsome thing in rewards. probat
,er $500 or $1,000, but all who had de
ings with him pronounce him a cie'
gentleman. The sheriff OF Osae
Iowa, took the thief to that place !
ao- trial. All the horses were identifi
ext and claimed but the two from NJ