New-York tribune., 1903-01-11
ROBBERY

aoohaster Jan I0-The recent sensauohal iii40
night robbery of the house OF Ezra I'M I'M 90 %
,-sf 10 do farmer who lives in the to"hsIiip "
f7iI+on bv two masked burglars. and the suose-
-uent "a pture in New-York City of one OF 'ne sup
az thieves has again called attention to the eA-
istence of a remarkable and perhaps unique u
ranization of farmers in the northern aha "eo'e.
towns of Monroe County. The Clint ROBBERY
rurred about two weeks ago, and SINCE theil I-
rural .sleuths" have been securing lhe weo1e- ST.
80 ~ the state in pursuit Of clews when may
lead to an important arrest John bogai', '.-e ~
man arrested several days ago N Ne"-ioih -
t,a+ecsve Mooney under instructions from CaP'dii
,r,+,,s was not identified one OF the lniohisi'
-, - 4,- +beir victim and IN addition set UP
-, .1,ts b4,t IL is nevertheless thought that ne
may possess some knowledge OF the ouI siai - -
rtaternents which he is said to have let IAN 'ei
his arrest close surveillance is being kept up'H
bis actions. .1
to,-n VAS awakened at midnight by the sound OF
his door opening stealthily- w no IS theiei
asked and gruf voice answered; "Strike ngH
- Ne = o,s,p about it" Instead, MI Chnl
leaned out of bed and made a reach for pistoi
o.. Was srapuled by two pairs of strong arms
md thrown Then the thieves lighted their own
fight. beat their victim almost INTO lnsehsiONi''
end escaped with 500. Both were maskeo
II was here that the vigilance organization came
into action for no sooner was the alarm give.
,har score of active and vigorous men, Wen
armed were mounted upon horses ana scouiias 'l
ronntry in ali directions. But the night was oi"1h
ere stormy and their efforts were In vain as
far as capturing the thief was concerned. but IN
sn incredibly short time they had sent information
cf the robbery 10 the Rochester police and the
county officials
The Mutual Protection Association Of the lilo
assembly District OF Monroe County is an incor-
rorate6 body, the first artlcle OF whose cons1itu
ton reads as follows:
The object Of this association shall be TO reclaim
rroperty stolen from its members, or the legal rep
fesentafives their estates and TO nrng the tlet
20 judgment.
The association was organized in 1852, and still
exists probably the only association or the KIND
ln q State which boasts civilization ana advance
rnent far ahead OF that the Far western plains
Of Montana or Idaho. II is in truth vigilance
,oovi,+ee with all that obsolete society's energy
End unifcation of procedure without Its tendency
10 20 10 extremes IN execution ano morse thie'es
are its special object OF pursuis
The cause of the associations formation lay. no
doubt In the somewhat lawless conoitions WHICH
prevailed in the days OF the Civil War, when the
country was fun Of freebooters who appropriated
10 themselves whatever was not careIuny Sc
cured and exhibited marked leaning toward the
collection Of other mems horses. WHICH once eo'
out Of the county brought good rouno sum
from the government. Perhaps more active forty
years ago, the present members, many OF theAi
descendants OF those who ADOPTED It's
infrequentIy bring quickly 10 justice criminal
who il left to the mercies Of aocreditec servants
RI 4be law v,feht not meet the Justice he deserves
Indeed e was TO the persistent efforts ano long
continued pursuit by two Of these Monroe county
yigflantes that one of the most notorious noie
thieves that ever masoueraded as a man OF reineo
81 sorne-vhs. unusual atsainrlepts captured
and landed for q long term behind prison nafs-
That was many years ago. but In later days many
exciting moonlight pursuits and successfui raios
have marked the career Of this ASSOCIATION Va
farmers.
The protection association formed oy q
family named Brigham. who lived near spencer