The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-19

not, he would occasionally go back &
few miles into the country, hire out
to some farmer, and work for a week
or two.
One of the men for whom he had
worked several times was William Dex-
ter, a good-natured, easy-going old
farmer, who lived ten miles from the
river. Corsen had worked so well for
Dexter that the old farmer had begun
to feel confidence in him.
'Corsen amt SO big rascal as some
folks would like to make him out" he
said to one of his neighbors, who sug-
gested that il was not wise to have such
a fellow about.
Like most of his neighbors at that
time, Dexter allowed his cattle to
roa at will during the day and at
night shut them in yard near the
house.
On going out to milk his COWS one
morning he found the bars down and
all the cattle gone.
What! What" he exclaimed, rub
bling his eyes. 81 must "a left them bars
down last night!''
He went to look for his cattle and
found the herd at midday, but a yoke
of fat oxen which he had been intend
ing to drive to market in q few days
was missing.
! COrsen was not at the time at work
! for Dexter and no suspicion fell upon
him.
Dexter was a member Of the vigilance
| committee. He notified at once the
proper officers of the society, and
Blacl1man, their captain, was sent for.
He was a keen, courageous young
farmer, tall and smooth faced.
At dark the riders reported to him
for duty. Dexter Joined them.
1.-The thief, "psaid Blackman, "has
either taken the oxen to the city and
sold them, or he has hidden them on
the island. 1t is more likely that he
went to town with them; nowadays
they want the money as soon as they
can get it."
A night ride of twenty-five miles
brought them to the city. There were
in the place at that time dozen or
more cattle dealers, including butchers.
Each of them was visited and closely
questioned, but with no practical re-
suit. Not one of them reported having
seen the stolen oxen.
Blackman knew that nearly every
butcher had pasture of some sort as
near the city as possible where he
kept the best cattle he had on hand. He
knew that's ONE of the dealers were dis
honest and occasionally received stolen
property.
As quietly as possible the riders be-
gan the search, going from one pasture
TO another. just at nightfall, in a
pasture which belonged to German |
butcher, they found the missing oxen.
Dexter identified them, took his prop !
erty, and drove them into the city.
So much was accomplished, but it |
was now necessary to find the thief
When the German butcher was con-
fronted with the oxen he rolled his !
eyes in evident distress. However, he
was not disposed to give up the cattle.
Il hat bought dose oxen ten days pc
fore" he declared, doggedly.
See here, my friend" said Black
man, lit viii do you 10 good to lie
about this business. These oxen were
stolen night before last. They are fully
identified. You bought them yesterday
morning Now, sir, you answer our
questions tell us the truth, remember
or we'll have you in jail in less than
half an hour"
''Py Shorge" whined the man. 'Ven
i hat known dat dose oxens vas stoled
/ puys dem not"
I'VE understand that But tell Us
what sort of 8 man it was you bought
them Of"
II dells you true" he said. dot man
vas young fellar, short und tick, NIT
black hair und eyes, und a crooked
nose"
''Corsen!" the men exclaimed.
Further questioning only served to
strengthen the impression that the thief
was Corsen. To find and arrest him
was the next thing to be done.
1t was found that he generally stayed
With young man of his acquaintance
1t cabin thirty miles down the river i,
rom the city. An old woman, an aunt
II Oorsen's crony, kept house for
hem.
The cabin stood at the foot of one of
he high roclz-crested Mississippi bluffs,
Ind within a stones throw of the river
,ank.
Anticipating trouble in making the
Lrrest. Blackman called out 3 Few more
nen on his way down the river. There
vas another all night ride, wearying
- a .