The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-01-28
AFTER COUNTERFEITEhS
HOW CAP'N CASoN RAN DOWN
THE DARING BUCK GANG.


, THE DARING BUCK GANG.
Two Bandits Of Corers Who :-.ad Xii!
; ed Secret Service Agents Before
Took Them to Their Hearts anc
Told Him AII-And Then lie Sur
prised Them.
Among the pictures Of noted men
In the first part of The Story OF Mis-
souri,, Il book issued b. the denart-
ment OF publication of the Louisiana.
Purchase Exposition, is a striking one
entitled "A Missourian of the Early
Days" 1t is a likeness of Capt. John
r. Cason.
For IS years Capt. Caaon 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 terrorzed by a gang Of
! hardened spirits from a h;lly district
known as Blind Pony" The saloons
were IN row in the II ain street and
1t was the cheerful fs shion of the
Sentlmen from Blind Pony TO make
the tour OF all the Gispensaries by
riding through them. After impartial
iy 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
" appointed Capt. Cason chief Of pol
ice. giving him a free hand 20 shoot
peace and quiet into the rough riders
from the hill country.
Within three months the Blind Pony
ties hitched their horses to the towr
rack like white men.
In 1884 Capt. Cason found himself
broke, with no Job in sight. He went
TO Washington and through the IN
fluence of Senator Vest obtained en-
ployment in the secret service. He
was assigned to the bureau at Pitts
burg. Dan McSwinney, man Of
parts and of steady aim, was chief
there. McSwinneys Interrogation OF
his new assistant was terso but com
prehensiye.
Ever hunt countcrfeiters ne ask
ed.
NO"
Like to-"
Just as you say
Well" said McSwinney, there's a
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. Hes |
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"
4 follow you." said the recruit
The cOuntry's 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
or showing the queer;
there's about 20 of 'em. II you want
to tackle the job, the government will
bury you as becomes good citzon."
Cason rigged himself up as hobo.
showed 5000 in his pockets and shook
hands with his chief. He had with
him elaborate data which had been
by agents OF the government
i,A Of h1
'citer gang. Casons hair and beard
we're black in those days. He looked
10 years younger than he was and was
,uilt like a gladiator.
The agent got of the train at Eden
,urg, hailed farm wagon for Licken- ,
lille, the nearest town to the counter ,
citing gang. and headed straight for
Boss Bucks place. Instead of going
|irectly to the house, however, he hid :
nut in tho woods q day or two One
lay Mrs. Buck met him near the
pring and invited him to come in. He
efused to 60, and then Buck came out
lie was q tall. stalwart fellow con- /
tructed q good deal like Cason. The
My advantage the agent had was
hat OF fewer years.
Hello, stranger" said Buck. :.
well. hello" :
What might your name be-" d
1T might be Gen. Beauregard, but
!. ain't. What do you care?" 7
"Oh, don't care" said the boss,
but seems you're on my place, you e
ught TO be civil enough to tell me q
no you are" II
The agent looked cautiously around; D
len approached the counterfeiter. G.
IN tell you what's the matter with II
le," he said. I've been hunted for ;
le last three months, and I've come D
ut into this hopeforsaken country
get rest-to get chance to sleep Y
ithout holding on to gun. 1t won't I
, you any good to know my name, q
ecause I might be lying to you You /
IN cali me Sam Wentworth. if you IS
1e, or anything That comes handy,
1t il you let 1t out TO a living soul
at I'm on the run I'll shoot you, so
Zip me. jeremiah" n