The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-02-10
AFTER COUNTERFEITERS
HOW cAP'N cAsoN RAN DOWN
THE DARING BUCK GANG.


Two Bandits of coiners Who Had XIII
ed Secret Service Agents Before
Took Them to Their Hearts and
Told Him AIl-And Then He Sur
prised Them.
Among the pictures of noted men
in the first part of THE Story of Mis-
souri," a book issued by the depart
ment Of publication of the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition, is a striking one
I, entitled "a Missourian of the Early
Days" 1t is a likeness of Capt. John
r. Cason.
For 16 years Capt Cason was en-.
gagged, pistols handy, in restoring or
der, While so occupied he held COM
missions as marshal, sheriff and secret
service afficer. This was after four
years of fighting under Jackson and
Longstreet.
In 1876 the town of Marshall, Saline
county, was terrorized by gang OF
hardened spirits from billy district
known as Blind Pony" The saloons
were in row in the main street, and
1t was the cheerful fashion of the
| gentlmen from Blind Pony" to make
the tour of all the dispensaries by
riding through them, After impartial
| ly 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 unanimous
ly appointed Capt. Cason chief OF pol
ice, giving him a free hand to shoot
peace and quiet into the rough riders
from the hill country.
Within three months the Blind Pony
ties hitched their horses to the town
rack like white men,
In 1884 Capt. Cason found himself
broke, with no job in sight. He went
to Washington and through the in
f1uence of Senator Vest obtained en-
ployment in the secret service. He
was assigned to the bureau at Pitts
burg. Dan McSwinney, a man OF
parts and of steady aim, was chief
there. McSwinney's Interrogation OF
his new assistant was terse but COM
prehensive.
Ever hunt counterfeiters? he ask
ed.
mo"
Like tor
Gust as you say"
WELL" said McSwinney, there's
gang up about Edenburg a ways. They
have been running 16 years and have
killed two of our men. Boss Buck,
6S, giant, is the main guy, and he
about runs things on his land. He's
got sort of assistant general about
Reynoldsville. You'll have to play
housebreaker and tramp in some plac-
es, and be deacon and lead in prayer
meeting in others
II follow you," said the recruit.
"The country's rough and woody,
and every man you meet carries a gun
for federal officer. We want some
of that money, we want the tools they
make it with and we want every man
manufacturing or showing the queer;
there's about 20 of EN-. If you want
to tackle the job, the government will
bury you as becomes a good citizen"
Cason rugged himself up as hobo,
showed 5000 in his pockets and shook
hands with his chief. He had with
him elaborate data which had been
compiled by agents Of the government
during the long siege of the counter
feiter gang. Cason's hair and beard
were black in those days. He looked
10 years younger than he was and was
built like gladiator.
The agent got off the train at Eden
burg, hailed a farm wagon for Licken-
ville the nearest town to the counter
feiting gang, and headed straight for
Boss Bucks place. Instead of going
directly to the house, however, he hid
out in the woods a 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, con-
structed a good deal like Cason. The
only advantage the agent had was
that of fewer years.
Hello, stranger" said Buck.
well hello"
what might your name be-"
ut might be Gen. Beauregard, but
It amt. What do you carer"
"Oh, don't care" said the 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.
'T'll tell you what's the matter with
me-" he said. 1--WE been hunted for
the last three months, and I've come
out into this hopeforsaken country
to get rest-to get chance to sleep