The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-05
VALUE OF HORSE THIEVES.
Since the Introduction of TroIIy Cars Their Num-
Der Decreased.
From the washington Star

From the Washington Star
Horse thieves, said the philosopher in
one of his lectures to his class, are bad
in whatever light you take them. They
demoralize the moral sense of the COM
munity, besides making people walk in
stead of ride, and they don't half take
care of the horses after they get them.
"A horse thief Will steal @ hundred dollar
horse, ride him nearly to death and then
sell him for $12 and a drink, all of which
Is calculated to wound the pride and self
respect of the animal to a huruful ex-
tent.
Some years ago before trolley cars
came in and beared the horse market
there were numerous crowds of organ
lied horsethieves in the wild and woolly
west. who, when not engaged in the seri-
Gus occupa ton of horse lifting, varied
their afternoons by little stage robberics
and incidental murders. One of these
outfits in the neighborhood of Deadwood
became especially annoying to the au-
thorities and TO those citizens who were
happy or unhappy in the possession of
pony. Finally patience cea sed to be
virtue and the orders came from head
quarters to The marshal of the district
to organize a posse and bring the gang
In SO that retribution could be melted
out. In a short time the department of
justice was informed that the posse had
been formed, had gone on the hunt and
had returned with three prisoners, who
were turned over to the authorities and
whose fate is not set down in legend or
song.
After a time, however, the department
here was grieved by receiving without
explains ton a bill reading "the United
States government, dr., to the Deadwood
posse, $4,000 for the expenses of catch
Ing three horse thieves" Although with
a doubling mind the department sent the
bill to the treasury department. The
treasury did not spend a moment in
doubling, but with premptitude and q
harshness born of long experience turned
the bill down; in fact, turned it upside
down. The auditor did not content him.
self with rundown, but added some
American language about people who
wanted $4,000 apiece for catching every
day horse thieves, when the variety
could be picked up any day on the road
for SO head. The auditor closed with
some uncomplimentary illusions 10 de-
partment that would send UP such ac-
counts. Tie department of justice felt
even more grief at this rebuke than at
the receipt of the original bill and sen, IA
friend of mine, who was In the service,
out to investigate the account.
Ihis man went out to the Deadwood
neighborhood with a mind filed with
prejudice. Primarily he objected to an
extravagant valuation on horse thieves,
and secondarlly he had his opinion of
posse that. starting out to roundup a
gang of horse thieves, only succeeded N
capturing three. Thirdly, he did not
want to go to Deadwood at all. AT any
rate, he began to take testimony
His first inquiries consisted of an M
formal talk with the dig leader of the
posse, and what he learned went sone-
thing like this:
How many members were there to
that horse thief gang?'
well, about twenty-five"
"And you captured three?"
"Yes, we put three of them in jail"
Have the rest of the gang been CIV
ing any trouble since then?A
Well. no, they haven't troubled us
none.e