Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-08-18
THE COOLEY BAND
Or OUTLAWS,
Who Are Now in Preston County,
This State,
AT THEIR BUSINESS OF PLUMBER.
A History Of This Pennsylvania
Organization.
For Eleven Years They Have Been Engaged IN
3 Career Of Crime Which it Seems Nothing
Short Of Military Win Ever Sop.
At THEIR BUSINESS OF PLUMBER.

laws. now engaged on one OF their peri
odical thieving excursions into Preston
comfy. this State, has for years been
one of the largest, bo.dest aud best or
qapized aggregations Of outlaws known
to the Northern and Middle States since
the civil war.
For more than ten years they have
plied thelrunlawiul calling, for the most
mart with perfect impunity, and many
farmer and merchant on the West Nir-
gipia side Of the State line has album
dant cause to regret the excursions Of
the gang.
AS long ago as 1854 occasional raids
were made into West Virginia territory
by these scamps, and stock was stolen,
highway robberies perpetrated, barns
burned and stores robbed.
For years prior TO that time, however,
the gang operated in Pennsylvania, but
as they became holder, better organ lied
and more numerous, and as their conf
6ence in themselves and their contempt
for the law increased, they extended the
area Of their ravages, until territory
embracing az least i've hundred square
miles became their stamping ground
and their prey, and no man could tell
when his turn would come 70 make an
enforced contribution 70 the gang.
For years the
RoBBERIEs AND ACCOMPANYING OUT
RACES
attracted little notice outside OF the i'm
mediate vicinity OF the area through
which the gang rOamed, and for quite
while the people were az loss 20 know
who was TO be credited for the various
unlawful acts, ana were unaware or
could scarcely believe there was an
oath-bouud aggregation of outlaws who
made robbery d trade and profession,
aud who would stop 40 no crime 20 carry
out their plans. BY lSSS, however, the
existence Of the gang had become pretty
we'll known, and the COOleys got the cred
il for most of the out.awry. Many
denied their guilt, however, and the
few feeble attempts made 10 secure ar
rests we're OF no avail. With increased
confidence the operations Of the gang
became more extended and extensive,
until to-day, as for years past, they
have bid defiance to tine authorities OF
two States, and it looks very much as
though the civil authorities would be
unable to cope with them, and that the
aid OF the organized military OF 0oth
PENNSYLVANIA and West Virginia would
De required 90 put the outlaws under
arrest and bring them 20 Justice
a ID 40 q n
thortieS have had to contend with, eS-
peciany in Pennsylvania, Is the fact
that very large proportion OF the pop
ulation in the immediate vicinity OF tho
headquarters Of the gang sympatbizo
with them, and protect them as far as
they can. This arises from several
causes. Some citizens have relatives as
active members Of the gang, or whopro
fit by their lawless acts; others have
certain amount OF admiration for the
crowd who can so successfully carry on
q warfare against the people Of several
counties;OtherSS still are fearful that any
thing but friendship OF substantial
sort will bring down upon their devoted
/ heads the diSpleasure OF the gang, as
I they sometimes meet out bloody re-
byenge when sufficiently provoked. Ad-
ded TO this the natural desperate char
( acter of the men, their daring and cOur-
age, and
THE ROUGH AND WILD NATURE
Of the country, both in Pennsylvania
and on the West Virginia side, aud the
reader can see, 10 some extent, az least,
why the crowd has so long evaded ar
rest, and imagine the difficulties which
confront the officers Of the Jaw.
10 is a fact that even in Fdyette cOun-
ty, Pa, the home Of the gang, only
favored few Of the law-abjding citizens
know the truth about the COOleYS and
their band AS matter OF course
every man, woman and child In Esyette
and the adjoining counties know OF the
existence OF the gang, bat you may wan
der through the section from Union
town 70 the State line and you will not
find more than a score Of men who
know the complete record.
And vet for more than ten years the
CoOleys and their associates have been
buslly engaged TO committing all sorts
and conditions OF crime. They have
burglarized almost every store and shop
fn the villages of EUirChance, Hayden
town aud Smithfed; they have ROBBED
old men Of the fruits Of years Of toll,
they have
TORTURED AND MANNED WOMEN,
they have abducted children and
slaughtered cattle.
They have committed all these overt
acts and yet number their friends by
hundreds and enjoy a kind Of CHASTITY
popularity In the community. The best
proof OF their social standing can DO
cleaned from the more or less varied ex-
perienCe OF the Sheriff of Fayette
IN his effort to disrupt and cap
ture the gang. Time aud
time again has Sheriff Mccormick
rode 20 FairChanCe village and wasted
his eloQuence and energy In a vain at
tempt 70 organize a posse OF reputable
citizens. He has always had his trouble
for his pains. Directly they learned
that they were expected to aid in bring
Ing the COOley's TO justice these peace
loving people OF Fairchsnce declined
point blank to do the Sberif's bidding,
and, fgurativey speaking, washed their
hands OF the whole business
In point of fact, zoo OF the 1000 peO-
pie of FairChance are
IN SYMPATHY WITH THE GANG,
md make no bones in saying so. The
remaining 800 cordially hate the gang,
and would rejoice over its downfall, but
The majority Of them are restrained from
manifesting their true feelings, either
by word or deed, by fear Of the cOnse-
9uences. At a liberal estimate, there
are 90 men in Fairchance to-day brave
.g--.-el 80