The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-08-24
HORSE THIEVES
WORK
TAkETWo ANIMALS BELONGING
70 BERRY eARTHoLoW, FOR
MERLY OF THIS CITY, NOW
LIVING At WESTON.

Berry Bartholow. formerly of this
city, but now located at Weston, had
two fine horses stolen from his stable
last week. Along with them two or
three others were taken It the same
time belonging to other parties.
Two men from Virginia came through
the town protesting to be buying and
trading in horses. One day, Mr.. Bar
tholow having beer out, returned and
found the two men with his horses,
bridIed and out of tbe stable. Being
suddenly accosted by him with the in
ton, they explained hat they we're
out looking for good horses, and see-
ing these and liking their appearance,
were only examining them.
He at once Informed hem that his
horses were neither for sale nor trade
and ordered them put back in the
stable, which was done.
The next day also he was out for a
short time, and upon returning found
the same two men again at his stable
examining the horses. His suspicion
q CT o4SS ooS ny IlCli lASO1
conduct, and fearing something wrong
in their motives, ordered them away
and not to return, as his was a private
stable and the horses we're his private
personal property.
Excusing themselves as best they
could under the awkward circum-
stances, and seeing that they had over
stepped the bounds of propriety, as
well as of safety, they hastily obeyed
orders.
During the following night Mr.. Bar
tholow awakened from his sleep, when
his thoughts reverted to the singular
action of the men, and he concluded
to go to the stable to see if all was
right. But to his surprise he found
the stable door open and both his
horses gone. He at once procured a
horse and started in hot pursuit, going
in the direction of Buckhannon. When
daylight overlook him he discovered
he was on the right trail. The
tracks were fresh, and he knew his
horses had made them in part from
the absence of a shoe on one of them
which c~orresponded with the tracks
made. He then pushed on until near
the town, where he noted their de-
parture from the main road, and fol-
them over a decline, into a
thicket of trees skirting a %ravine,
where he soon found one horse, with
n bride, tied up to a bush.
Securing it and not seeing the other,
ne rode on into Buckhannon. He had
at hpan 1nnp in tho tnUn 11nfi1 hn !
discovered the presence of his two
newly made friends from Virginia'
also. He had them arrested and
ocked up, while he went in, search
If the other horse. Arriving at the
POINT where the first one was found
~ him, he began to reconnoiter. He
not sought long before a farmer
over the hill and near by him,
upon learning the object of his
search, told him he would find a horse
answering the description tied up to
tree about a hundred yards back in
secluded nook, which was possibly
and following the directions he
them to be true.
Overjoyed with his luck in recover
nS both of them, he fastened home
18th them. His neXt thought was
bout the two men left locked up at
and from whose previ-
us actions, as we'll as their departure
the town the same night his
.orses were taken, he felt morally GER
ain were the thieves. But as he had
o positive evidence to convict them.
ince no one saw them take h horses,
or with them on the road, or when
hey were found. yet intending no
oubt to return the ext night ard
eclaim their prize and go on their
.ay, he left the men to Ianguish in
Ill till, no one appearing against
for the crime. they We're at
snSth released. but without their
ooty. {