The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-02-14
A SENSATION.
Evidence Comes to Light of Extensive
Horse Stealing Operations,

There was quite sensation sprung
the fore part of the week, especially
among horsemen, over an incident
that promises to bring to light some
quite extensive thelving operations
on the range near Weiser 1t APP
pears that last Saturday night after
dark a car load of horses were driven
into the stock yards at Huntington
and an effort made to load and ship
them that night. Officers at Hunt
ington who were on the lookout fol
stolen horses from certain Oregon
points, refused to permit the ship
ment until the brands on the animals
could be examined, and they were
locked in the stock yards to await
daylight, but when the yards were
visited in the morning it was found
that the keys to the yard had been
obtained and the horses run off into
the hills to escape inspection A
search was made and the horses
were found near Snake river, also
five dead horses were found in a
gulch where they had been shot.
The live animals were rounded up
and found to be Weiser horses bear
ing the brands of Tom Mackey, Jap
Griffith, Lansdon, Barnett Bros,
Yardley, Steve Durbin and others.
The owners we're at once notified
and the stock reclaimed. The cause
for killing the five horses in the
gulch is hard to explain. The ami
mails we're swum across Snake, to
avoid the ferries on the way to
Huntington, while those in charge
crossed in a boat and it is surmised
that possibly they were taking two
car loads and drowned so many that
on reaching the other side found
they had few more than one car
and shot the extras to get rid of
them and have none on their hands
after the car was shipped. 1t was
very evidently the intention to drive
into Huntington in the night, load
and get out at once and pass Weiser
before daylight and thus escape
detection. 1t is believed that this
practice has been carried on success
fully prior to this attempt, as many
horses have disappeared at divers
times. A Weiser party had engag-
ed the car for the horses, but it is
stated that he had contracted with
another party for the delivery of
car load at Huntington, and knew
Of their being stolen but
supposed they were coming from the
nelghborshood of Willow creek.
1t is significant that the party who
had contracted to deliver the horses
has disappeared. Other Welser
parties have been mentioned in con
nection with the affair, but the
SIGNAL refralns from mentioning
names at this time as circumstances
might easily combine against inno-
cent men. The party who purchas-
ed the horses is familiar with all the
brands about Weiser and neighbour
ing ranges, as he has been on the
ranges for years and engaged in the
horse business. The party who was
to deliver has also been upon the
Weiser ranges for some time work
ing for different persons. 1t seems
that no bill of sale was given or
asked for from the original owners
to show that the stock was being
properly transferred. 1t was clean
steal and the officers are using pro-
per efforts to arraign the guilty
parties though no arrests have been
made. Persons named in connection
With the affair express themselves as
anxious to see the guilty brought to
Justice.
Empty whisky barrels for sale by
Carruthers & O'Toole.