The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-10-25
COOL cAPToR.

Win morse thieves. Their operations
were so systematic and covered so
large a region that detection was ex-
tremely difficult.
For a few years, indeed, they had
things much their own way, but at last
the farmers, goaded to action by the
failure of the authorities to cope with
the thieves, organized themselves into
vigilance committees.
These committees were not lawless
bodies of lynchers, but were societies
Incorporated under the laws of the
State to protect their members against
larceny and t%orecover stolen property.
The active work of the vigilance
committees was done by 1.-THE riders"
usually five in number, one of whom
was captain. When more help was
needed the riders might call to their
assistance as many members as the
case seemed to demand.
Among the scores of hardened men
who at that time alternately worked
and loafed along the Mississippi river
was n named Jim Gorsen. Though
nothing criminal had been proved
against him, his practices and associa-
tions gave color to the suspicion that
he would not hesitate to steal what
ever property he could safely make off
with. In his habits he was reckless,
dissolute and defiant.
In one particular he differed from
most of his lawless associates. Instead
of constantly loaing about the river.
whether there was work to be had or
not, he would occasionally go back a
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
Dexter, 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 a rascal as some
folks would like to make him out" he
said to one of his neighbors who sug-
gested that it was not wise to have
such a fellow about.
Like most of the neighbour at that
time, Dexter allowed his cattle to roam
at will during the day and at night
shut them in a yard near the house.
On going out to milk his COWS one
morning he found the bars down and
all the cattle gone.
"WhatI What" he exclaimed, rub
bing his eyes. 1 must a. left them
bars down last nightl"
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 a 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
Blackman, their captain, vas 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.
"The thief" said Blackman, "has
either taken the oxen to the city and
sold them, or he has didden them on
the island. It is more likely that he
went to town with them; nowadays
they want the money rs 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 a 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 a pasture of some sort as
near the city as possible where he
kept the best cattle he had on hand.
He knew that some of the dealers were
dishonest and occasionally received
stolen property.
AS quietly as possible the riders be-
gan the search, going from one pasture
to another. Just at nightfal, in a pas
ture which belonged to a German
butcher, they found the missing oxen.
Dexter identified them, took his prop
erty, and drove them into the city.
So much vas accomplish, but it was
now necessary to find the thief.
When the German butcher was IN
fronted with the oxen he rolled his