Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-07-09
WAR ON THE RusTLERs.
Sheriff Wood and Deputies Break up one
of the Most Daring bangs that
Ever Operated in the Hills.

80
Sheriff Wood was called to Hill City
on urgent business last week, and when
he returned Sunday evening he had in
charge, four men who had been arrest
ed on a charge of rustling cattle in Gus.
ter county. The names of the men are:
- Hill, a Hill City butcher, who is sup
posed to have received and sold the
stolen cattle, Buchanan, a meat cutter
in the employ of Hill, and Sopher and
Davis who are charged with stealing the
cattle in this county and driving them
to Hills corral, a few miles from Hill
City. About the first Of June, this year,
WIN. Dixon, a farmer and stockman Of
Pleasant Valley, this county, missed a
bunch of cattle, and as they had not
been in the habit of ranging at n
distance from his ranch, he became
suspicious aud instituted a search for
them. About the same time other
stock of different brands wal missed
from the customary range, and Mr..
Dixon was aided in the search by other
stockmen. The cattle were traced to
the north, and were finally found in the
corral above mentioned, near Hills
slaughter house on the outskirts Of Hill
City. There were about % head Of cat
tic in the bunch, and all were recog-
nized by their owners as those that
had been missed from the range for
two or three weeks. Sheriff Wood was
notified and taking p. Eskins, A. ID.
sherwood as deputies, he went after
the thieves and evidence of their guilt
which would be sufficient to land them
behind the bars. That he secured what
he went after was quite evident when
he returned with the four prisoners,
Sunday evrning. The sheriff and his
deputies, together with two or three
stockmen, concealed themselves in the
vicinity Of the stolen cattle, and re.
manned there about forty.eight hours.
During that time they witnessed the
roping Of two of the young cattle by
Sopher and Davis, saw them taken 10
the slaughter house and there killed
and dressed. They saw Hill drive up
and converse with the men who did
the work, and later on watched Buchan.
an as he came to the slaughter house
with a team, loaded the dressed beef and
hauled it to the Hill City market. The
cattle were roped in the evening Just
before dark, and killed and dressed
during the night. The hides were af-
terward found in a prospect hole with
the brands cut out, but a fresh hide was
found in the slaughter house with Mr..
Dixon's brand on it. After securing
the damming evidence evidence related
above the sheriff and the posse proceed
ed TO take their men into custody.
Sopher and Davis were arrested at
their cabin nea the corral where the
cattle were held, and Hill and Buchan-
an were nabbed in Hill City a little
later. The first two were a little inclin-
ed 20 show fight, but the cleaning
barrels of six shooters had the desired
effect and mp went their hands. While
awaiting the tram which would bring
them to Custer, Sopher volunteered a
confession and gave the entire scheme
away. He told in the presence of
Sheriff Wood and others that Hill,
Davis, another man who was not found
at that time, and himself had entered
into an agreement to steal the cattle,
kill them and retail them out at Hills
market, dividing the profits equally.
He admitted that Davis and himself had
driven the bunch of cattle above men,
toned, from the range 20 miles south
west of Custer, to the corral near Hill
City. His confession did not incrimi.
nate the man Buchanan in II way.
The four men were given a preliminary
examination before Justice Smith, We'd
nesday, w. q. Porter and b. r. Wood
appearing for the prosecution, and w.
II. Mitchell, of Hill City, and ii. ID.
Reynolds Of Custer, for the defense.
The evidence introduced by the prose.
cution was identical in general features
with the facts as related above. No
defense was offered except in Buchan-
ans case. He was put on the stand by
his attorneys and testified that he had
been but recently employed by Hill and
knew nothing of the nefarious business
in which he was engaged. 1t was quite
clear from the evidence that the mans
worst crime was being found in bad
company and he was discharged. The
others, Hill, Sopher and Davis were
bound over in the sum Of $500 each.
Judging from the testimony given in at
the examination, they are sure enough
candidates for the pen, and nothing but
death will keep them from going there
Sheriff Wood and his deputies did one
OF the neatest jobs on record. They
spotted their men, but didn't disturb
them until they had secured evidence
that would leave no loop hole for escape.
The result will be the crushing out of
existence a gang Of r~ustlers who in a
little while would probably have he
come very troublesome. 1t is believed
that two other men are connected with
the crime, but one of them skipped the
country about two weeks ago, and the
evidence against the other Was not of
snch q nature N TO warrant his arrest.
The men arrested have reason to congra-
tulate themselves that Sheriff Wood and
his deputies got hold of them first. As
soon as the arrests were made and tie
facts known in and about Hill City,
there were plenty Of men who .have
been suffering for years from the in
roads of the rustlers, who were only too
ready and willing to secur a rope and
try the case Immediately and expedite
ously. In fact at one time Mr.. Wood
was invited to go home and leave the