The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-26
CHAMPION HORSE
THIEF" IS DEAD,
c. Rufus Young Falls in Escaping
From Posse and Is Fatally
Hurt.
SPENT 80 YEARS IN PRISON.
Odd Stories Told of His Daring Ca
reer-He Never Injured
Horse.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Rutland, Vt. July o5.-Investigatious be-
ing made by the Sherifr's office relative 10
the career of c. Rufus Young. the cham
pion horse thief of Vermont. who died in
the County Jail as the result OF injuries
sustained at the time of his capture, are
developing some astonishing facts.
Sheriff Daniel 7. Peabody. the veteran
horse-thief catcher, who captured Young
near Arlington. forty-two miles south OF
here. says that the man has spent thirty
two years of his sixty-six years in differ
ent prisons. and that stealing horses be-
came such mania with him that he would
go back to his old trade day after his
release.
How many horses the man safely got
away with since he made stealing 4 profess
sion is not known. but it is believed that
he stole and sold them by the hundred. In
side OF two months from the day he was
discharged from the State Prison at Wind
sor. May IS last. scores of horses have been
missed. and It is believed that Young was
the thief in nearly every case.
Young began his career some time be-
fore he attained his majority and kept at
1t eltdullN llllll riiS utGlI ne tdlllt VI
good family and at one time ran hotel
near Troy. n. Y. for the express purpose of
aiding notorious gang in stealing horses.
He was eventually caught and sentenced 10
prison. He no sooner got out than he again
allied himself with his old pals and horses
began TO disappear. He was again captured.
this time in New York State. and sent to
Clinton Prison. In all he served twenty
two years at Clinton and ten years at
Windsor.
OFTEN BRAvED DEATH.
The man was successful because of his
holiness. It is said OF him that he feared
nothing and would always brave death
rather than capture. He was known to be
desperate: and whenever taksn h he put up
however. too much for him, and this &C
counts for his long periods in jail His
methods were unique and at times dazzling.
He would take horse if it pleased him.
no matter where 1t happened TO be. He has
been known to jump into a mans rig
feet of him and get away with it:
He practiced every known dodge to get
both horses and wagons: and invented new new
force He took them from church sheds,
town markets and stables. In nearly every
Instance he got away. He escaped just be-
1t is related that he once stole a thor
oJ:ghbred. and. finding the next day that all
the roads were blocked by posses from sur
by woods. went to the man from whom the
animal was stolen and got his dinner and
bag oil grain on the pea lhat ne was
This he repeated three times. until the way
was clear for his escape.e
At another time he stole a light bay horse
from doctor and took 1t to camp In the
woods ten miles distant. There he dyed the
animals coat black and the following day
the doctor discussing the case with several
officers and asked him II he didn't want to
buy n horse. The physician was in urgent
Young's horse over and trying him up aud
down the road. while the officers looked on.
he paid a round price for II.
Young had a popularity that got him
light sentences. Whenever he stole horse
he took the best of care of 1t. and II he
he left 1t where the owner could recover H.
Many times he has risked capture in order
To get grain for a horse. At other times he
cause he was unable to get fodder for them
No matter how hard pressed he might be
on the road, he would never oyerdrive
8nima: and take to the woods on foot.
SHERIFF HIS MATCH.
The thief met his Waterloo when Sheriff
Peabody got after him. The Sheriff IS well
skilled thief-catcher in the State. He is said
TO be afraid Of neither man. beast nor the
devil. and will ride the mountain roads
week without sleep before he will give up
Early in the week Young and confeder-
ate broke into the George Ruane barns at
Rex. a valuable stallion belonging to Ed
ward Bowman. and Thoroughbred mare
owned by Frank R. Blanchard. The mare
drove south. leading the stallion: The Sher-
if was Immediately notified and the chase
was begun.
The officers were exceptionally anxious to
get the thieves; as horse belonging TO
Edgar Davis of Milf Village was taken and
abandoned the week before. The horse had
hardly been returned 10 the barn before the
thieves returned and were making away
with the animal a second time when they
were put to flight by Davis's daughter.
The chase lasted two days and the off,
GERS were beginning to think that the Grim
inals had given them the slip. when they
night and in the fight that followed several
shots were fired. In the scriuimage the
thieves got into the woods and escaped.
Both horses were recovered and the roads
were watched.
The officers examined the horses and
found that both had been rubbed down, fed
and watered regularly and We're none the
worse for the chase 1t later developed that
Young had taken the animals into Il thick
cooling them off. He might have driven on
and escaped. but he was too humane.
CLAIMED TO BE ILL.
On the following morning. while the
Sheriff's posse was securing the woods.
Young emerged from a copse near the spot
where the fight had occurred. and crawIed
to the home of ]. W. lyman. a farmer. He
WIS badly injured internally from fall
and knock at the door. Mr.; lyman re-
sronded, and Young inquired If the police
we're looking for horse thieves. The farm
er responded that they were, and then re-
lated the events of the night before.
Who's leading the poser" asked Young.
"oid Sheriff Peabody.'' replied Mr.. lyman.
We'll. If it's the old Sheriff himself 1
guess I'm about in" declared the visitor;
I'm one of the thieves. and reckon I'll
give myself up. They never could get me
. 81 1 hadn't busted something inside of me.
!. / haven't long to live. SO take me to the
Sheriff"
II was several minutes before the farmer
realized that he had one of the much
sought thieves on his doorstep. Then he
h:tched up handsome mare and started
for Sheriff Wilson'S house at Arlington.
The two men were no sooner in the buggy
than Young began TO regard the mare with
.sIf / wasn't sick I'd take that mare
away frcr, you,' he volunteered pleasantly.
.sBut YOU need have no fear. for L n all in
Doctor ". s. Phillips examined Young
and said that there was little the matter
with him. so he was taken by train to the
Workhouse here. He still complained that
re was dying and the jail physician. Doctor
F Hall, made an examination He con-
CURED with Doctor Phillips; and announced
that the thief would be we'll enough TO send
You may think you are right, doctor. but
YOU are wrong for once, declared Young.
Something has broken in my stomach
yhere YOU can't see it. But it is all right.
Tm eS years old and I'm ready to GO"
Early the next morning the man died and
was buried in the Workhouse cemetery.
BURIED IN HER BRIDAL GOWN.
Young Woman Died Two Weeks
pof,ro Hor NNeddinp Day