The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-04-24
CATTLE THIEVES!
WERE DIRECTED
BY W0MAN'S Wit
Clever Scnemer Whose Wiles
Wrought Terror Among the
Pioneer Stockmen.

Oaconla S D.. April 22.--In the in
dictment of Joseph DeMarsche for cat
tie rustling and the action of Judge
Garland, of Sioux Falls. last week in
holding him for trial at Deadwood next
month. brought to light a remark
able story OF the formation of an
avowed uhieving society in which Il
woman's wit played an important part.
The Circle society,"" as this organt-
cation. dreaded by every stockman in
Lyman and Presho counties, was called,
was the product of the brains of Mrs.
Meyer Winter and her husband. Bound
by all the rules of black hand go
ciety. operating systematically. with a
membership so secret that no man
knew whether his neighbor was a thief
or honest citizen. this organization for
Is years terrorized this trans Missouri
county. Jack Sully, picturesque out
roughest part of the country, was one
of the chiefs in the conspiracy
The Circle society held its monthly
meetings at DeMarsche ranch on the
Big White river. above the town OF
Westover. The officers of the society
were: Meyer Winter president; David
Colombo. vice president; Mrs. Meyer
Winter. treasurer. and Joe DeNIarsche.
secretary. Winter left the country
some time ago to escape liability on
",
whore members of the circle came to
talk over plans with him and his wife.
Colombo Is now in the penitentiary for
cattle rustling and DeMarsche is at bay
in the courts
Mrs Winter as treasurer received
the profits of the wholesale thefts and
distributed them pro rata among the
members. AS natural to one in her
prominent place. she was never at Il
loss to suggest ways and means to in
NO >t,,$t,
out herds that could be taken and re-
branded and showing the precise way
to do 1t.
Monthly assessments were paid by
each member into the treasury and the
funds SO raised were used in defending
any member OF the organization who
might be arrested for stealing cattle or
horses. Because of Its extensive mem
bership and the secrecy which attended
Its operations. ii could never be known
whether or not members were on the
juries that heard the evidence against
ary one If the society On trial John
P,rtine. ,olnty attorney, dared to un-
''rnalsines :a o. .h:s ur:,ai,i-
cation and. though his house was burnt
over his head and he was threatened
with death time and again. he never re-
Tented in the unequal struggle. Mem
bers of the society even We're elected to
county office, SO profoundly secret were
all their doirgs.
Two regular meetings of the circle
We're held each month. on Sundays
usually. and there was always a large
attendance Whites. mixed bloods and
Indians We're represented in the organi-
cation.
John .. Anderson crossed one of the
members in a saloon at Chamberlain,
defying an order 10 dance under a re-
Nolver and twisting the weapon from
the hands of the outlaw. Knowing this
stockman on the Crow creek to be one
of their indefatigable opponents and
| snlarlinS under his insult, the society
I, heard and adopted a motion to ruin
! Anderson's business. Every member of
the circle took an oath that he would
| shoot every head of live stock belong
/ ing to Anderson wherever he might
! Hnd 1t within the next two weeks, and
the society furnished the ammunition.
| AT the next meeting of the circle the
members We're called on to report how
| well they had carried out their pledges
| and 1t was shown that over 200 of An
dersons cattle and horses had been
| slain.
The oath Of membership in the So
ciety was terrible enough to do justice
to a Clan-a Gael the death penalty be-
ing expressly provided for any act OF
dis!oyalty. With the settling of the
country. the organization has had more
and more trouble to keep out of the
clutches of the law. A number of its
| members are already in prison and II
DeMarsche is convicted. it is likely the
end of cattle rustling in this section
| will have been sounded.