The sun., 1903-06-14
SECRETS OF CATTLE RUSTLERS
CONFESSIONS FROM MEN WHO
HAVE STOLEN .1OO, 400 ANIMALS.
The Cans Has Been In Exist cnce for Twenty
Years ana Has Killed Forty Men
known as the Crcie-Iiad Control
OF POlitics-F1ve Men Have Confessed.

known as the (Jrcie--Iiad Control
OF POIitics-F1ve Men Have Confessed.
OAcosfA, =. D., June lS.-The 1Circe," a
secret organization Of cattle and horse
rustlers, who have looted Lyman. Pratt
and Presho counties OF 100000 cattle and
killed forty men in twenty years, and who
were bound by blood oath, has been ex-
posed in the confessions Of members of
the society just arrested by Detective c. II.
Wilkie. From Claude Eagle Pipe, Henry
Pipe, William Blackball and Moses Good
voce, halfbreeds. and Alfred Nelson,
ranchman, separate and corroborating con-
feesions have been obtained.
In the days when South Dakota was
young, tall. bony. red-mustached man,
without past, came to the Dakotas. His
name was Jack Sully. He built his hut
on high hill and gathered twenty-five
confederates about him. Officers of the
law always found the place deserted and
berry pickers We're warned away by bullets
at their feet. Two Nelson boys, OF and
Charles, came few years later and settled
on opposite sides OF the range country.
About these small beginnings the Circle"
society was built, and now its members
number nearly 900. Their members were
sworn to secrecy with blood drawn from
their arms John Bathene, County Attor-
ney, the only man who has dared prosecute
them, woke up one night after two arrests
with his house burning over his head lie
has been shot at repeatedly.
Last fall Jack Sully was caught. Ho
tried to kill Pete Waugh, dissatisfied
victim He escaped, however. aided by
his allies Sully has killed seven men,
including his father. One Of the few mur-
ders for which the gang was held responsible
was that of Mat Matson, a homesteader,
whose only ofreno, was to settle opposite
Phelps Island, in the line of the cattle
drive.
The Circle is known to have included
many supposedly respectable ranchmen,
who were always lined up with the rustlers
in political fights. So widespread was the
influence of the Circle that for years until
last fall they controlled nearly all the county
Offices. OF Nelson, one of the leaders,
was elected by his gang,
Their power and desperate methods
terrorized opposition and 1t was not until
Wilkie, disguised as a rustler hired by the
State Stockmen' s Association. was admitted
to the secrets that the gang was brought
to bay.
Their plan was to steal a bunch of cattle
or horses, and drive to the place of the
nearest member. where the brands were
worked over and the stock was passed on
from member to member. If caught they
would refer officers to Indians who would
similarly refer the officers to others until
the trail was lost. If hard pushed the
stolen stock would be pushed over the line
of the Rosebud reservation and taken In
charge by Indians.
There were many confederates among
the Sioux, led by Joe Blackbird. If the
members of the gang were really threatened
with prosecution they would fee to the
Bad Lands, where pursuit is impossible.
They used four distinct drives in taking
their cattle to market. OF late years they
have handled as much as 100000 head OF
cattle and 10000 horses.