Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-07-31
TOLD BY A DETECTIVE.
PERlLS IN BRINGING A GANG OF GRIM
MAILS TO JUSTICE.

As Host1er for the Leader of Noto-
rious Band of Horse Thieves and Rob
bers This Man Had Exceptional Facili-
tics for Securing Evidence.
Seated in the corridor of one Of the hotels
was a medium sized, plcasan: 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
fctrrs. IL suppose when old sam Rivers,
who is in Jail for couuterfcting, is sent
over his time" he remarked to n reporter,
at will end him. We'll, sam has had his
day and right lively one it was too DO
you know that Sam is the last of a baud of
robbers who infested this state for years?
The most complete gang ever organized. |
was Il member OF it,"
a member Of band of horse thievee!"
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
history Of the criminals, and this remark
able romance in crime was related:
"John r. Riley was born aud raised in
Hart ford, of rich parents. He was wild,
reckless fellow, and shortly after bccom-
ing of age he forged his fathers name for
s., 600 and fed to Philadelphia Here he
assumed the name of Thomas w Foster,
and engaged in the horse business, con
Meeting himself with n lot OF sharpers,
whose business it was to fleece country
men. lie made considerable money and
flew rather high.
zone night mt a theater he formed the nc
quaintance of n woman named Mcbride,
whose husband WINS an alderman and quite
wealthy. The Irritation was so marked
between the two that the husband was in
formed and hired me to watch his wife
| This did, and the information | secured
of her life in Philadelphia society would
make startling book. As | was about to
trap the guilty pair they eloped. and took
with them several thousand dollars be
longing TO the alderman. | started after
them; got trace of them ut Cincinnati,
where they bought tickets for St. Louis,
md | went there.
Il looked for them for months through
the west and finally gave up the chase.
1t seems instead of going to st. Louis they
stopped Off 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 at the little Iudi-
ana town.
FOSTERS LIFE N oSGOOD.
Foster had not been in Osgood a great
while until he became acquainted with the
notorious Missouri Rittenhouse and Isaac
Levy and his family, all of whom were
/ counterfeiters and crooks. The whole lot
| became quite intimate, and when Foster
| bought n livery stable and ostensibly did
| legitimate business, his barn was only "A
( fence for stolen horses. lie 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 tho highway, stores plundered
and men beaten nearly to death. Crime
was rampant. The people raised fund
| iuG was employed TO ferret ont the ma
rauders. When l got to OsCood | recog-
nized my old friend Foster and the alder
mans wife, and made mp my mind he was
the man | must cultivate. | could not get
/ in with him, however, and he sold out and
moved to Columbus, o.
There he and his wife moved in the best
society, gave grand parties and were the
associates Of the most prominent people of
the city. Two years Of rapid living drained
| Fosters resources, aud becoming heavily
in debt he returned to OsQood. His wife
! deserted him and went to WASHINGTON
where she lives under an assumed name.
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