The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-29
TOLD BY A DETECTIVE.
pERlLS IN BRINGING A GANG OF GRIM
INALS TO JUSTICE.

As HostIer for the Leader of NOto-
rious Band of Horse Thieves and Rob
bers This Man Had Exceptional FaoilI-
ties for Securing Evidence.
Seated in the corridor of one of the hotels
was "A medium sized, pleasant looking
man, well dressed and resembling in many
respects a drummer. He WAS one of Major
Carriers most trusted detectives, the man
who captured the Orange county counter
feiterS. 81 suppose when old Sam Rivers,
who is in jail for Counterfeiting. is sent
over this time" he remarked TO u reporter,
cit will end him. Well, Sam has had his
day. and a right lively one it was too. Do
you know that Sam Is the last of band of
robbers who infested this state for years?
The most complete gang ever organized. J
WAS member of it."
a member of band of horse thievesl"
exclaimed the reporter.
Yes" answered the secret service officer,
with a smile Il belonged to it until ! got
most of them behind stone walls"
The reporter pressed the detective for a
history of the criminals, and this remark.
able romance in crime was related:
John T. Riley was born and raised ia
Hartford, of rich parents He was a wild,
reckless fellow, and shortly after becom-
ing of age he forged his fathers name for
5000 and fed to Philadelphia Here he
assumed the name of Thomas W. Foster,
aud engaged in the horse business, con.
Meeting himself with "a lot of sharpers,
whose business it was to fleece country
men. He made considerable money and
few rather high.
Zone night st a theater be formed the &C
quaiutauce OF q woman named Mcbride,
whose husband was an alderman and quite
wealthy. The Hirtation was so marked
between the two that the husband was in
formed and hired me to watch his wife
This l did, and the information l secured
of her life in Philadelphia society would
make a startling book. As was about to
trap the guilty pair they eloped, and took
with them several thousand dollars be
longing 10 the alderman. l started after
them; got trace Of them at Cincinnati,
where they bought tickets for St. Louis,
and | went there.
u looked for them for months through
the west, and finally gave up the chase.
1t seems instead Of going TO ST. Louis they
stopped of at Osgood. Ind, where Foster.
with the money stolen by the woman,
went into business, and while was search
ing for them all over the west they were
living very secluded lives ~ the little Indi
ana town.
FOSTERS LIFE ~ OS6OOD.
Foster had not been in OSGood a great
while until be became acquainted with the
notorious Missouri Rirteuhouse aud Isaac
Levy aud his family, all OF whom were
counterieiters and crooks The whole lot
became quite intimate, and when Foster
bought livery stable and osteusibly did Il
legitimate business, his barn was only a
fence for stolen horses He and Levy
bought horses and passed counterfeit
money. and, attending all the fairs and
races, soon became acquainted with all the
thieves and crooks OF the country.
"A great many horses were stolen, men
robbed on the highway, stores plundered
and men beaten nearly 10 death. Crime
was rampant The people raised fund
and was employed 70 ferret out the ma
rauders. When got % OsCood / recog-
nized my old friend Foster and the alder
mans wife. and made up nay mind be was
the man mast cultivate. ! could not get
in with him. however, and be sold out and
moved TO Columbus. Q.
There he and his wife moved il the best
society, gave grand parties aud were the
associates Of the most prominent people ot