The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-21
NOTED COOLEY GANG
outdoes Jesse James in Western
Pennsylvania,
THE FARMERS 50 TERR0RlzED
That Few Of Their Dcprcdations he.
come Known...ofllccrs and Dctcc.
tlvcs Cowcd.--A Band of Robbers
that Has Everything Its Own Way.

uSIoSrowS, Pa, Doc. 20.-southern
Fnycttc county citizcns arc being tor.
roriicd and robbed almost nightly and
tho notorious Cooley gang arc tho
principal perpetrators. Friday night
the smokchouse OF James Mccormick,
OF near smilhfcld, was broken into and
It's contents, the meat OF five hogs Just
butchercd, weru carried away. The
night before ten barrels OF apples wcrc
stolen from a neighbours orchard, and
the same night two other farmers each
lost ten to fifteen barrels OF corn.
Notices were posted near tho scenes
OF tho robbcrics, notifying Tho owners
that Il any effort was made to have the
visitors" arrested tho houses OF such
owners would DO burned over their
heads. Farmers live in mortal terror
OF tho gang, not ono OF them having tho
courage to mako IN information against
the gang, although they have positive
evidence that they are tho guilty
parties.
A farmer OF Georges county was in
town this afternoon, and gave tho fol.
lowing information:
TIE STATEMENT OF ONE WHO KNOWS.
There arc twenty-five members OF
the Cooley gang, and they are organized
as completely as was Jesse James band.
] am positive OF this, for l talked to
one OF their number only yesterday. He
had just returned from scout through
Preston county, w. Va, and told me
that was poor locality for their bust
ness, and that he was nearly starved.
lie had come back to Gods country"
10 get something to cat. He told me
that Pittsburgh detective had been in
the nciehborhood all last week trying
TO learn the movements OF the gang and
that on Saturday night the detective
went into Jack Cooley's cabin and ask
cd Tor something to eat and q nights
lodging. Jack took him in, supposing
him 10 be some unfortunate fellow, and
gave him n good supper.
About . o'clock Frank Cooley, the
leader OF tho gang, came in, and at once
Spotted" the detective, telling him that
he knew who he was and what he was
after, and the sooner he made tracks for
Pittsburgh the better it would DC for
him; that II he was was found sneaking
around here by this time tomorrow he
would put daylight through him quick
er than creased lightning"
DETECTIVES AND TIE SHERIFF STEER CLEAR.
The detective left and has not been
seen or heard OF since. The fellow says
Sheriff Nee ormick knows better than to
attempt to arrest them again, for they
have given him warning that il he does
he will be killed.
why" he said, we are so well organ.
lied that II Sheriff Mccormick comes
within five miles OF our headquarters
We would know it Mt once. We have
this business down fine, and;we propose
10 keep it up until a smarter and more
nervy set of officers tackle us than
have showed up yet, and. q larger
humber, too. We are SO well organized
that it would take posse OF men ten
to one OF our number to captur, us,
and thea we believe they could not
succeed"
The farmer said a member OF the
Cooleys' gang often stopped and talked
10 farmers as they passed along the
road and discussed their exploits in a
ocular mannc-. The farmers wouli
reply in the same vein in ordcc not to
incur the enmity OF the band.
III they are satisfied that you are
friendly disposed toward them" the
farmer continued, "thcy will not molest
You, unless it be to take q ham, some
chickens or a crock OF butter; but if
they ever believe you to be their enemy.
look out They will poison your stock,
kill your dogs and get revenge in any
way they can. Hundreds OF their
depredat;ons have never reached the
ears OF the public, because the victims
are afraid to tell OF them for fear OF
greater vengeance"