Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-12-30

ed to aid in bringing the Cooleys to JUS
tice these peace loving people OF Fair-
chance declined point blank to do the
sheriff's bidding, and, 6guratiyely speak
ing. washed their hands Of the whole bust
ness.
The gang at present consists OF nine
men, but they are able to defy or outwit
the sheriff.
Frank Cooley Is the acknowledged leader,
and his right hand man Is Jack Ramsey;
but most OF the head work Is done by u
young and pretty woman named LYDIA
Pastorius. She il the mistress OF Frank
Cooley and is exceedingly popular with
the outlaws She is known throughout
the entire section as "Cooley's Queen"
and her influence with Frank and his as
sociates is simply marvellous. Every out
rage perpetrated by the gang is planned by
this woman, But "Cooley's Queen" is
such very clever little woman that she
has succeeded thus far in keeping out OF
the entanglements Of the law.
| The origin of the Cooley gang IL a
curious study. Thirty six years ago Lutte
Cooley, aged twenty-four, married a
maiden of seventeen, and the two settled
down to hard work and honest living.
Their five daughters are all respectable,
but Of their eleven boys every one save
Jack was bully and u ruffian in child
hood, and every living one Is now an out
law The neighbors cannot explain it..
The parents were fairly good folks. The
boys do not drink liquor to any great ex-
tent, yet columns like this might be flied
with the barest outline of their crimes and
rogueries.
"Old Lutte" as the people say, "just
about whipped the life out of Frank, the
oldest, but couldn't whip the devilment
out of him, and drove him away when he
was but eighteen" The father died soon
after, and then the boys turned rascals as
fast as they got old enough. They are the
terror of the vicinity and the scandal OF
west Pennsylvania. It's very queer case
Since the tragic death of their leader,
Jack Cooley, a short time ago, the Cooley
gang of outlaws has been more lawiess
than ever in the vicinity of Unionrown,
Pa. Hardly day has passed since the
burial of their leader that some new deed
of lawessness has not been reported,
chargeable to them. 1t was reported a
short time since that they had shot and
killed Il farmer named Goodwin because he
refused to harbor them The rumor turned
out to be false.
Some time after that four masked men
knocked at the door of William Smith, an
aged farmer, living near Fairchance, and
demanded admittance. Smith went to
the door with revolver in his hand. Two
Of the men, who were concealed In the
doorway, sprang upon Smith and dis
armed him. They threw him on the floor
and bound and gagged him. Mr.. Smiths
two aged sisters and the servant girl were
imprisoned in q room, and one of the out
laws stood guard over them with re-
volver. The others started to ransack the
house for money. While they were en-
gagged in the search Smith broke the cords
that bound him. The outlaws then bound
him more securely with BEDFORD taken
from one of the beds. They had coal
miners lamp with them, and threatened
to burn Smiths feet if be did not divulge
where his money Was
They continued their search, however.
without doing this. They ripped up the
beds, tore open cupboards and bureau draw
ers, and searched high and low for money.
Smith refused to say how much money
they got, but says they got all he had.
His sisters also had some money in tho
house, and they got all this. In all they
are supposed to have secured $1,000 TO
1900 They found two dollars belonging
tothe servant girl, which they returned to
her when they left. They told Smith they
were members of the Cooley gang, and
warned him not to venture out of the
house until after o'clock the next morn
ing or he would be killed When the
alarm was given on Sunday morning the
neighbors gathered at Smiths house and
found things turned completely UPSIDE
down. Feathers from the bed were scat
tered everywhere and the clothing and
furniture were piled in heaps. Smith. who
Is seyenty-five years old, and the women
were Frustrated by the fright and treat
ment to which they were subjected.
Forty of the neighbors armed themselves
and started on the trail of the outlaws. II
had rained heavily during the night, and
1t was found impossible to follow the trail
far. They found a mask in an empty
house and other evidences that the outlaws
had been there. The southern end of the
county is aroused over the recent outraees
and the people are almost afraid to stay in
thelr houses at night. The neighbors in
the terrorized community band themselves
together at night for mutual protection.
Thomas Collier, whose spring gun in his
milkhouse shot and killed Jack Cooley
mas an armed guard at his house every
night. He fears the vengeance of the
gang, which has threatened to burn every
house In Collier hollow" where he lives.