St. Paul daily globe., 1895-06-21
THIEVES STRIKE A NEW LEAD
THAT is VERY HARD To
FOLLOW.
FRESH MlLCH COWS STOLEN
NOT A DIFFICULT NATTER TO
DISPOSE OF VALUABLE AMI
MAILS.
FRED EsHLE's SIS BARGAIN
Peter Erickson Rescues His Cow
From an Innocent Pur-
chaser.

Thieves are now turning their at
tention to the stealing of cattle right
here in the city Not a few owners
of more or less valuable cows have
complained that their source of
fresh milk supply has been tempo
rarily or permanently taken out or
reach.
Chief Clark's men have. succeeded
in rounding up and returning many
animals reported stolen, but some
are still missing, and most likely
will remain so. That it is not a hard
matter to dispose of an animal in
good condition will be seen by read
ing an account below of a trans
action of which all evidence would
have been speedily wiped out by an
innocent butcher but for the fact
that the owner of the cow happened
along in time.
Given the right kind Of thief,
clever and we'll calculated by dress
and bearing to deceive a would-be
buyer, and there is small chance of
detection, especially if the animal is
sold to be butchered. When she has
been knocked in the head, skinned,
drawn and quartered, what man
can pick out his own cow at
slaughter house? The hide might
possibly serve as a means of identi-
fication, but it might not be easily
found in a pile, and who could swear
positively that a particular hide
Z; o,.fi
Undoubtedly some thievishly in
clined people are stealing fresh
mich cows, either to keep them un-
der cover or to dispose of them for
slaughter, on the specious plea that
times are too hard to keep them, or
on some equally plausible ground.
A SPECIMEN CASE.
Twas on a pleasant summer morning
| about week ago that a ruddy-faced
butcher met Fred Eshle on a suburban
street. Of course such a chance meet
ing would amount to nothing in itself;
but Fred was driving a comfortable
looking COW, and with the eye of
connoisseur the butcher viewed bos-
/ sy's goodly proportions.
where you goin' with tn cow?''
30, I'm movin' out here a ways, an
I got to take 'er along, although there's
no barn on the place. Reckon I'll have
/ to send 'er to pastur'."
| Then the butcher became a little more
| interested and took a closer survey of
| the cow.
Sell 'er?' he asked carelessly.
"Well, might" said Eshle coyly, as
| IL he wanted to be coaxed a bit.
"I don't really need acow,. the butch
er said, in off-hand style, "but I'll give
you eighteen dollars an take 'er."
Eshle had no permanent use for the
COW he was driving, SO after some hesi-
| tation he took the eighteen siInoleons,
| as alleged, anh went his way, while
| the butcher took the cow and shook
hands with himself for driving such a
| fine bargain. When he was proceeding
toward his private abattoir with his
! prize Peter Erickson came along.
"Hallo,'' said Peter in joyous tones,
ware ban you goin' vid COOP
| 20, just over here piece" said the
butcher, as he urged bossy along with
a switch. ~
..But dat ban mine coo,' asserted
Erickson.
| "Your COW! ah, you bin drinkin' !;
( better quit kiddin' an go home an
sleep it off.
| Still Peter persisted the COW was his,
and would not be put away. Finally
4 the butcher was convinced and the two
| went to police headquarters and re-
ported the quick sale for large profit
/ made by man who never owned a
| cow, yet had meat to SELL For q