The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-30
A HUNTER OF COUNTERFEIYERS
now CAPN CASON RAN DOWN
THE DARING buck GANG.
Two Hands OF Coiners who Had Killed
Secret Service Agents Before Took
Him to Their Hearts and Told Him
All-And Then He Surprised Them.


Him TO Their Hearts and Told Him
All-And Then He Surprised Them
KANSAS CITY, Mo, Oct. 2e.-Among the
pictures Of noted men in the first part OF
-The Story OF Missouri" q book issued by
| the department OF publication OF the Louisi-
ana Purchase Exposition, Is striking one
entitled "A Missourian OF the Early Days
| 1t shows the head Of man wearing large
aggressive SLOUGH hat, and beneath 1t white
| hair rolling down Il massive neck. Inc
eyes are keen and fringed by tiny wrinkles,
which reinforce their intensity. Long,
piratica mustaches and goatee, white as
snow, suggest wind swept plains and Win
chester rifles.
To the picture a prize was awarded by
the art commissioners as being the most
| typical representation OF the pioneer Mis-
sourian. Not line regarding the original
appears in the book not even his name.
For all the world knows he might have
been peaceful woodsman whose ambition
was wind proof log cabin and a sack OF
duck. But 1t happens in this instance that 1t
was a cactus instead OF an olive branch.
For sixteen years Capt. John r. Cason
was engaged, pistols handy, in restoring
order. While 80 occupied he held COM
missions as Marshal, Sheriff and Secret
Service officer. This was after four years
of fighting under Jackson and Lcngstreet
In 1873 the town OF Marshall Saline
county. was terrorized by gang of hard
enei spirits from billy district known as
@Blind Pony" The saloons we're in a row
in the main street, and it was the cheerful
fashion of the gentlemen from Blind Pony
Al, ali A. y, Hxr
riding through them. After impartially
distributing their patronage they would
then shoot out the town lights and perforate
such other things as pleased their fancy.
To discourage this the people of Marshall
unanimously appointed Capt Cason Chic?
of Police, giving him free hand to shoot
peace and quiet into the rough riders from
the hill country.
Within three months the Blind Ponyites
htched their horses to the town rack and
drank from the bars like white mon.
About this time "Dutchy" Shultz, alias
Vosse, landed in Marshall with price of
sl4oO on his carroty head for killing the
marshal at Versailles. Leopold Fessler
was running saloon on the row. and he
agreed to tip the officers whe n "Dutchy'
came in there. The signal was to- be
slight cough when the murderer sat down
at a table across from the bar.
Cason was out Of sight behind the counter,
and his deputy, Salemon Ager, was on
the lookout from the stairway. The quarry
came in with partner, but instead Of going
to a table, they walk d to the bar. "Dutchy"
called for whiskey straight, and coughed
in drinking it. Thinking it the signal from
Leopold, Cason and Ager appeared with
pis tolls ready.
-Dutchy and his pal were well prepared,
and for the next five minutes the saloon
was thick with powder smoke. Then the
lights went out and all was still. Capt.
Cason struck match.
-Sufrerin' Moses, Cap! Vas you krazy''
1t was the voice OF Leopold from some
lit the lamp and surveyed the wreck.
"Dutchy" was on the floor dead. Deputy
Alger was down, but only wounded.
-Dutchy's- pal had departed;
In 1884 CaI t. Cason found himself broke,
with no job in sight. He we;.t to wash
ington ard through the influence Of Senator
Vest obtained emf loyment in the Secret
Service He was assigned to the bureau
at littsburg. Dan McSwinney, a man of
parts and Of steady aim, was chief there.
McSwinneys Interrogation OF his new
assistant was terse but conn rehensive.
Ever hunt counterfeiters?" he asked.
No"
like tor"
just as you say.
~ ell, said McSwinney. there's gang
up about Edenburg a ways. They've
been running sixteen years and have killed
two of our men. Boss Buck. 8s, a giant,
is the main pain guy and he about runs 'h g.
to play housebreaker and tramp in some
places, and be deacon and lead in prayer
meeting in others,
i follow you, said the recruit.
The countrys rough and woody, and
every man you meet carries gun for a
Federal officer We want some Of that
money, we want the tools they make it
with and we want every man manufacture
ing or showing the queer: there's about
twenty Of EN- If you want to tackle the
lob, the Govern ment will bury you as be-
comes a good citizen.
Cason rugged himself up as hobo, showed
5000 IN his pockets and shook hands with
which had been conn lied by agents Of the
Government during the long siege Of the
counterfeiter gang. Casons hair and beard
were black in those days. He looked ten
years younger than he was and was built
like gladiator.
The agent got off the train at Edsnburg,
nearest town to the. counterfeiting gang,
and headed straight for Boss Bucks place.
Instead of going directly to the house,
however, he hid out in the woods day or
two. One day Mrs. BUCK met him near
the spring and invited him to come in.
He refused to go, and then Buck came out.
He was tall, stalwart'fellow, constructed
a good deal like Cason. The only advan-
taSe the agent had was that Of fewer years.
Hello stranger" said Buck.
well, hello
what might your name be2'
1T might be Gen. Btarregard. but 1t
amt What do you care?'
"Oh, / don't care" saidNhe boss. but
seems you're on my place you ought to
be civil enough to tell me who you are
The agent looked cautiously around;
then approached the counterfeiter.
"I'll tell YOU what's the matter with me,
~ e"id "I'"e been hunted and bedevilled
for the last three months, and I've oomea
o t into this nopeforsaken country to get =
rest-to get chance to sleep without hold
ing on to gun. 1t won't do you any good
to know my name, because might be lying
to you. You can call me Sam Wentworth,
IL you like. or anything that comes handy
but IL you let It out to n living soul that I'm
on the run I'll shoot you, 80 help me, Jere-
miah.'
The Dos countsrfeiter laughed and ex-
tended his hand. The two went into the
house and Mrs. Buck got dinner for them.
or nights the agent would sleep in the barn.
being timid about houses. He stayed sew
ernl days with the counterfeiter and never
II.