The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-08
THE ORDER OF MULES
Peculiar ANTI Crime Organization
ofKentucky and West Virginia.
II Has Become . Terror to Murdererp
and Cattle Thieves and Evfi-Dosrs
of Every Descripe;on-Its
Origin and Condoct

Unquestionabiy the most UNIQUE OF
der in the United States is the '.Mules,
q secret organization Of farmers In this
county and the several adjoining coun
ties of this state and West Virginia
Organized just after the close of the
war, and on somewhat the same plan
as the regulators Of the far west, OF
perhaps more after the fashion of the
rangers of the Texas plains. the order
has constantly grown in favor until
now the membership is estimated &c
reach well en- toward 5000.
Following the close of the war there
was for a number of years in the i'm
mediate neighborhood Al alarming run
of lawlessness. The principal occupa-
ton of a great majority of the back
county communities appeared to b
horse stealing and general thievery
Something had to DO done to stop it
as the authorities were wholly unable
70 cope with the offenders. In this e1.
trernity the resouroeful mind of one OF
the best known physicians in the coun'
=
for the mutual protection Of the farm
-ers. The result was soon felt In the
presence of the Mutual Protective so
eiety, of which only the most RESPONSE
ble farmers and citizens. regardless oi
occupation, were eligible to member.
ship.
The first proclamation Of the new or
der was a candid statemtnt Of its pur.
poses and conditions, and q warning
tersely worded for the benefit of all
transgressors Of the laws of the coun-
BY and state. A promise Of the early
breaking up of the several bands of
horse thieves then operating in this
and the Big Sandy country was also
made. This latter provision was the
source of considerable sarcasm on the
part of the gangs named. who resorted
to the white cap manner Of plaoaN1ing
their answers OF defiance. When the
6rst raid was made on the farmers
stock it was of a more general chafac.
ter than had ever before been attempt.
ed, presumably to show the small es.
TEEN In which the officers, and the
lodge as we'll. were held.
The members of the order turned out
en- masse and speedily ran down several
of the gang and 90 closely chased the
leaders that they were compelled to
fee to the mountains. Convictions soon
followed, and the order became recog.
nieed as an important factor in the
county government Similar expert.
ences followed, ard the membership OF
the order increased at = rapid rate.
New lodges sprang up in adjoining
counties, and each community had 8
branch. with an organization and a
code of signals sufficient to enable the
varntng of the entire membership to
the field in the shortest pessisle order
Whenever a case of horse stealing was
reported the order would turn out 900
or 500 strong and scour the whole re-
.gien until the animals were recovered
or the thief captured.
Other and similar ofenses were given
attention equally substantial. Cndes
these conditions the gangs soon became
scattered, their work most hazardous
and the morals in general Of the county
as good as could be asked. Through.
out the past 20 years the unceasing
watchfuiness and energy Of the order
have maintained the same effect in thu
mountainous country. Only recently
The Mules" turned out nearly 500
strong in Lawrence county to investi.
gate the supposed murder OF az Arab
peddler from Cincinnati. They soon
resolved the case into one q pure spite
work, in which the victim, was an inno-
cent sheep. and the object the desire To
cast suspicion upon one OF the natives
as would cause him to leave the coun-
try. A warning was left publicly posted
for the benefit of the oopspirators.
Down in GreenUp they are still working
ON the mysterious case of the murder
of enc of their members whose body
was found nearly two years ago in a
creek with a rope around his neck and
unmis taxable evidence of violence.
They will never leave the trail until
something tangible Is developed. Here
IN this county but a few months ago
the order sent a representative almost
20 theN Atlantic oo0st 70 brisg back a
man wanted for breaking the law. The
man was produced for trial at The time
originally appointed. Over in Wayne
county, VI. Va, two convictions were
made at a recent term of court as a re-
suit of the orders work.
While the work of the order Las been
most aecepta BILE. and most of Tie mem.
bers are sincere In their intentions at
their joining, il has also been made the
tool of politics TO @orne extent. Nuner-
Gus men have become members simply
20 WELD a little political influence oyeI
the order. 20 their personal benefit, OF
st is steadily growing, and surprisingly
so n the towns along the river, where
their bold formerly was very insignia.
can't. The peculiar designation. ''Sfulcs.'
comes through the adoption some years
ego of the outline of an stAnua.ei
mule as the emblem Of the order.
Once g year the Mules hold nee..
ing OF their grand lodge. and ths VIII
be held this year at Greenup. early in
the coming month. Jass year the meet
ing was held at Lockroods. Il lawrence
county, and IL was estszaasc tha. TO-
eco people were present Gu-7ne ths two
days session The order e yearly adoSs-
ing more revised rules. ard !. VII prob
ably eventually emerge into q full
nedged secret society Of the oi5.ash-
toned order. Though they sstE urn on:
en- n.asse and ride over tho country in
'he fashion generally accredited the
noonshiners Of the south. th-y arc IN