People's voice., 1899-03-10

for three mUDthS past, John Keir,
the blacksmith, has been aware that
someone was making a practice OF
stealing corn from his granary on his
farm two miles north OF town. Mon.
day morning, after six weeks close
watch at the premises, a neighbor,
bis wife and thirteen year old step.
daughter, were caught in the act OF
carrying corn from the granary in
sacks and loading it in spring wagon.
They were caught by Mr.. Keir's sou.
in-law, John Rickords, who rode out
from Wellington on a horse. He left
here after o'clock Monday morning
and reached the farm before 5 o'clock.
1t was very dark and as be approached
The farm he saw an object 10 the road
which looked like a wagon. He
stopped close by a hedge fence and
made observations. He saw enough
10 convince him that the wagon be-
longed to the thieves, and he rode up.
"hen he arrived at the gate the man
ana bis wife were in the act of climb
Ing over the gate, each with sack OF
c2rn. The step.daughter was holding
the team. Rickords demanded to
know what they were doing, aud the
man was at first inclined to run a
bluff on him. Rickords dismoupted
from his horse and began to inspect
the cora in the wagon, when the man
acted as l. he intended to strike him.
Rickords pushed him away and, al.
though unarGed, prepared himself for
a lively encounter in the dark. The
man finally weakened and offered to
pay for the corn. RickordS Informed
him that he had not come out there
to collect for the corn; that
he had come out to catch a thief.
The man and woman were told
to appear at Keir's blacksmith shop
in this city atSO'clOck that morning,
or the sheriff would be sent after
them. Promptly at s O'Clock the man
and his wife drove up before the
blacksmith shop and made overtures
to escape prosecution. He offered TO
pay for all the corn stolen and the
matter was adjusted, so far as keir
was concerned, by the payment OF slS
for sixty bushels OF corn. That was
the quantity missing. Keir and his
son.in-law, Rickords had been laying
for the thieves for six weeks, and had
remained at the farm all night with
out fire on many Of the coldest nights
of January and February. They had
seen the woman taking corn several
times, but knowing that her husband
was equally guilty, desired to wait
and catch him as well. After they
were caught stealing, the man and
woman admitted their guilt. They
claimed they stole because they were
too poor to buy corn. They own the
farm upon which they reside, three.
quarters of "a mile north Of Keir's
place. The woman had been 10 the
habit of hitching horse and spring
wagon during the absence of her hus-
band from home (he works on the
Santa Fe bridge gang and In com.
pany with the thirteen year old girl,
visiting Keir's place about three
nights a week, and stealing corn.
When her husband came home Satur.
day evenings the three would usually
90 together on the stealing trips,
Saturday aud Sunduy nights. The
husband Invariably returned to work
every Monday morning, unless
prevented by sickness or when the
weather was too severe for bridge
work. After settling with Keir for
the stolen corn Monday morning, the
man reported for work Tuesday morn.
ing as usual. He is at present with
the bridge gang near Anthony or At
tica. The man and woman have been
married only about a year. The
woman is from Kansas City. The
thirteen year old girl is said to be a
step daughter Of the husband, and not
related to the woman. Size is receiv-
ing poor training at the hands OF such
parents, and 1t seems to US that the
authorities should interfere In this
instance and place the child where
she can be brought up under better
influences. We are informed that
there is law that reaches such cases.
For the information Of those readers
who are unable to identify the man
and woman referred to above, their
names are given as John OFT and wife.
journal, Wednesday.