Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-07-14
LANGDON, NORTH DAKOTA THURSDAY, JULY IA; 1892
An Organized Sand of Thieves
Unearthed.

W JoulIS LutIl, iAu!pIOSc Uoulu duu
Young Lesart were arrested for stealing
a horse from Mrs. Delisle. Their eX-
was held before Justice
Trenholme and they were bound over
to appear before the distrsct court to
answer to the charge of horse stealing
AT the time there were hints from GER
tain sources that surprising deyelope-
ments might follow. Many Of our far
mers and towns people had missed
various articles Of value from time to
time and were at IL loss to account for
their disappearance. On Thursday OF
last week young Lesart, urged by the
sheriff. reiterated by his brother, sup
ported by his attorney, n. c. Young,
made a confession that will cause Penn
bina and adjoining counties to wonder
that such a condition Of affairs could
exist here unknown and unsuspected
and also account for many missing al
ticles. His confession not only exposes
theft but goes farther, and i'll several
instances charges arson. AS result
of the disclosure thirty-two warrants
were placed in the hands of Sheriff
O'Cennor with instructions to serve at
once, which he did promptly. At pre-
sent there are men in Jail charged
with completely as follows: Lesart,
Clark Rose, Jas. Quinnell. Ambrose
Gould, Eugene Gould, aged Is, James
Bottineau, Ezra Croft, and VIM. Mont
gomery. Lesart's confession goes to
show that there was a regularly organ
lied band with grips, passwords and
blood oath. The party violating the
secrets to suffer the penalty of death.
Amongst the things confessed to have
been stolen Ia large part of which have
been recovered by the sheritf) are gang
ploW from farmer four miles west of
Canton; set OF harness from Brown, of
Gretna; 14-inch gang ploW from James
Langton, of Wellford; q set of harness
from Henry Williams, Of Cavalier;road
cart from Johnson West, of Cavalier;
oats and wheat from DR.. p, c. Dono-
van; oats from Henry Williams, of
Cavalier; Canton clipper plow from W.
u 3. James; COW from John Staples, of
Beaulieu; 10 bushels of wheat from a
farmer near Milton, Cavalier county;
set of harnets from William (Yankey)
Stewart; tanning mill from Abrams,
Haist & Abrams; los fence posts from
John Thacker; buggy pole from John
son West, of Cavalier; a horse from
Mrs. Delisle; wheat from MI. Huff, of
Beaulieu; clothing stolen from Jew
peddlers; turkeys from VIM. Gordon;
] set of harness from Tillion, of Neche;
wheat stolen from Woolneck; horse
just stolen from Beaulieu, near (Dupe-
well) Wellington Stewards. The con-
fession also includes arson in the burn
ing Of Woolneck's granary and the
granary of Henry Williams of Cavalier
Lesart confessed among other things
things that horse had just been
stolen from Beaulieu (the one last
mentioned in the list) and was to be
ridden by William Montgomery tt
Park River. Word was sent to Park
River and on schedule time Montgom.
cry arrived on horse answering tt
the description given by Lesart.
LATER.-Jas. Quinnell has secured
bail as has also Clark Rose. 1t will be
said by the defendants that Lesart is
attempting to shield himself by charg
ing innocent men with his crimes
That the confession is tissue of false
hoods. Those of the men charged ot
completely are we'll to do, and not only
are capable Of, but will make strong
fight. Our readers will bear in minC
that as yet there is no evidence excep
that of Lesart, who by his own confef
sion aided in these crimes. The fac
that Lesart says they are guilty mus
not weigh too heavily until corrobora
ting evidence is, given and after tria
we hope that they may be able to sho1
that the confession did them gross in
justice. If, however, the charges ar
true, we hope for the sake of law an
order that they may get the longes
te1ms of Imprisonment allowable ur
der the law.
The following is only one of tn
threatening letters said to have bee
written by some member Of the gan
to intimidate and frighten from til
county person to whom they ha
taken dislike:
MARCH l8, 1S9;
Mr.. EDWARD H1LDRED.
Dear Friend.-Sorry to relate ths
your time is short around here and 20
just have until the 25th to settle an
leave this country or when you leav
you will be carried out. Yours Truly
FRIEND.
-Bathgate Democra
. To All to Whom it May Con
u aT},io ia 4o cortifv -t1hot sthn lono,,or