The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-13
Bill Against The Govern
ment Sent In.
ACCOUNT NOT ALLOWED.
Department OF Justice Sent Man
Out to Investigate.
MADE A CONCLUSIVE REPORT.

sums years ago, salu tne pnllOsopner,
before trolley cars came In and beared the
horse market there were numerous crowds
Of organized horse thieves i'm the wild and
woolly west who, when not engaged In
the serious occupation OF horse lifting,
varied their afternoons by little stage rob-
series and incidental murders. One OF
these outisb in the ncighborhood of Dead
wood became especially annoying to the
authorities and TO those citizens who were
happy or unhappy i'm the possession of a
pony. Finally patience ceased TO be a vir-
tue, and the orders came from headquar-
ters to the marshal of the district TO or
ganize posse and bring the gang in 30
that retribution could be mcted out. In a
short time the department Of justice was
informed that the posse had been formed,
had gono on the hunt and had returned
with three prisoners, who were turned
over to tho authorities and whose fate IL
not set down In legend or song.
After time, however, the department
here was grieved by receiving without ex-
PLANTATION a bill reading 1.-THE United
States government debtor to the Deadwood
posse, sl2, 600 for the expenses Of catching
doubling mind, the department sent the
bill to tho treasury department. The
treasury did not spend moment in doubt
ing, but with promptitude and harsh
ness born of long experience turned the
bill down--in fact, turned IL upside down.
The auditor did not content himself with
a rundown, but added some American
language about people who wanted 81, 900
apiece for catching everyday horse thieves
when the variety could bc picked up any
day on the road for $40 a head. The
auditor closed with some euncomplimontary
illusions TO a department that would send
up such accounts. The department of
justice felt even more grief at this rebgke
than at the receipt Of the original bill and
sent friend Of minc, who was in the
service, out tc investigate the account.
This man went out TO tho Deadwood
neighborhood with mind filled with
prejudice He did not want to go to Dead
wood at all. AT any rate he began TO take
testimony.
His first inquiries consisted of an in
formal talk with the big leader of the
posse, and what ho learned went some
thing like this
"How many members were there to that
horse thief gangS"
we'll aDOut 70.
"And you captured threcl"
"Ycs, we put thrcc of them in jail"
"Havc tho rest OF tho gang been giving
any trouble since them
well, no. They haven't troubled us
none"
Then you must have captured tho lead
ers?"
"No. Can't say they was. The three
we brought in didn't amount To much.
They only cooked and carried water for
the rest.
"Umph."
That closed the first round and after
light Refreshments the inquiry took new
line, tho man from the department having
taken on somo additional prejudice re-
garding the case.
"Well, how many were there in that
posse of yourss"
stranger, there was just "a"
"Umph! Five hundred dollars apiece.
How long were you outg'
1--WE was out exactly IL days"
"Whowl Ono thousand dollars a day"
"Wcve got 20 got at this thing some
way. What did you do the first days"
"Wcll, wo rode and trailed."
"Ard tho second"-
"That day we surprised the horsies in
camp"
"Did you GPhtY"
"Wcll, we ft come"
"Wcrc any CT tho thieves hrrt?'
"Some SIX OF them were shot up consid-
srablc."
"Killcdf"
"We buried them"
"The third Layg"
"Wc rode like HI"
ttrI',o ,,,~fgff
"Wo como Oh - the horsics as they was
crossing q ford.
"Any thieves hurt?"
"We buried five of them afterward."
"Thc fifth layy'
"Wc trailed and hunted horses separate
ly."
ANY nghting'"
''Well, there was considerable shooting
and cutting. | believe flvo of them was
ready for the resurrection.
what about the sixth dayg"
That day We got the drop on six Of
them in canyon and had them tied lie.
fore they knew S..
"Whgs did you Go with themP'
"NCll, stranger, tho boys hanged them
six. Dciag nu o4lccr OF the government,
Of course didn't take no hand in IT, but
kept my back turned until Ii was all over.
The next Cay we caught the last three.
They thrcw up their hands soon as we got
In shooting range. The boys was going
to hang them, too, but said No! No,
stree. The United States government
has sent you out TO each these horse
thieves; tho United States government Is
paying good wages, Gnd expenses, and III
be d----d Il Tho United states government
shan't pot something for its money.
These three Lorsc thieves goes quietly
back to Jail. Besides, | says, they amt
no regular horse thieves, anyway; thcys
only cooLs afd wgteriron.' Then we rode
peaceful back to camp, being goo miles
thcrcfrum.
My friend was little weak by this
time. but he managed Ca continue.
a. yDudy In your rariy hCrty'
"Oh. yrs. NO was ull considerable shot
aud cut ny
"AnybULy iiileflt"
"Fourtc.Lt tie hoys was Killed out
right srd twu hes CiCd siutc then.
What wa yuuf itlca II ulspUsing OF the