The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-04-23
CATTLE THIEVES
WERE DIRECTED
BY WOMAN'S Wit
Clever Schemcr Whose Wiles
Wrought Terror Among the
Pioneer Stockmen.

Oacoma, 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 ar
avowed thieving society. in which a
woman's wit played an important part.
The Circle society" as this organi-
%zatton, 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 a black hand So
ciety. operating Systematically, with a
membership so secret that no man
knew whether his neighbor was a thief
or honest citizen, this organization for
10 years terrorized this trans-Missouri
county. Jack" Sully. picturesque out
law. In his aerie on a high hill in the
toughest part of the country, was one
or 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
We're: Meyer Winter, president: David
Colombo. vice president; Mrs. Meyer
Winter. treasurer, n Joe DeMarsche,
secretary. Winter left the country
some time ago to escape liability on a
$1,000 'Nti " GU tI p,
where members of the circle came to
talk over plans with him and his wife.
Colombo is now IL the p~enitentiary for
cattle rustling and DeMarsche is at bay
In the courts.
Mrs, Wintsr. as treasurer, received
the profits ~ the wholesale thefts and
distributed them pro rata among the
members. AS natural to one in her
prominent place, she was never at a
loss to suggest ways and means to in
crease the loot of the society, pointing
out herds that could be taken and re-
branded and showing the precise way
to do 1t.
Monthly assessments were paid by
each embe into the treasury and the
FUNDS so raised We're used in defending
n member of the organization who
might be arrested for stealing cattle or
horses. Because of its extensive mem
pefship n the secrecy which attended
It's operations, it could never be known
whether or not members We're on the
)uries that heard the evidence against
any one of the society on trial. John
Bartlne, county attorney, dared to UNI
dertake the breaking up of this organi-
cation and, though his house was burnt
over his head and he was threatened
with death time n again, he never re-
tented IN the unequal struggle. Mem
bers of the society ever We're elected to
county office, so profoundly secret we're
all their doings.
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 were represented in the organi-
cation.
John -. Anderson crossed one of the
members In a saloon at ~mber
defying an order to dance under a re-
volVer n twisting the weapon from
) the hands of the utlaw Knowing this
stockman on the Grow creek to be one
OF thelr interchangeable and
smartfng under his insult, the society
heard and adopted a motion to ruin
Anderson's business. Every member of
lhe circle TOOK an oath that he would
shoot every head of live stock belong
ing to Anderson, wherever he might
nnd 1t within the next two weeks. and
the society furnished the ammunition.
AT the next meeting of the circle the
members were called on to report how
Wen they had carried out their pledges
ana 1t was shown that over 200 of An
derson's cattle and horses had been
slain.
The oath of membership in the So
clety was terrible enough to do %i,lstice
10 a Clan-a,Gael. the death penalty be-
ing expressly provided for any act of
d~isioyalty. 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 if
DeMarsche Is convicted, it is likely the
end of cattle rustling in this section
Will have been sounded.
INCORPORATED UNDER
SOUTH DAKOTA Law
Pierre S. D., April 22.-Companies
having incorporated in South Dakota
this past week are:
The Royal Elevator company. Mitch
ell, S25O,000; the Charles Mix County
Milling company, Platte, $4,000. tne
Bralnerd Lumbe and Mercantile com
pany, Pierre. 100000; the Rawhide
Tri-Lode Mining and Leasing com
pany, Pierre, 100000; Mabean Mer-
camille company. Blunt, $4,000; Farm
ers' Telephone Exchange of Irouuois
Iroquois. $10,0 Rogers S~ilyerware
Freeman. $500, 900; L.uibdo
3.ioid Dredging company, Pierre. So
100000. Lock Bar Steel Concrete COM
p py; Flerre. s2oo, 900; Homestake Hy-
drauiic Mining company, Pierre, $780,
Q0o; United States Car Corporation.
Huron, s1.000,000; South East Truro
company. Stickney. So
900; the Louisiana Sulphur and Deyel-
opInent company. Sioux Falls. $1,000
thage. $4,000; Yankton institute,
K $4,000; Cotton Cemetery as
ISOLATION, Cotton. Sheridan Farmers
COMPANY WATERFOWL. S10.-
WE; Farmers C6 operative Creamery |
association. Castlewood, $4,000; yolks-
zeisung Publishing Eureka,
$4,000; East Pierre Assembly Hail as
ISOLATION, Pierre; International Veneer
company, Pierre, 81. 900, 600; the HaIcy-
on OIL company, Huron, S1,5O0.000: The.
AJAX Electric Tool company. Huron.
$4,000; the Congregational church Of
Murdo. Murdo: Boulevard Sewer ON
pany, Sioux Falls. $25, 900; Hurley Ce-
ment Tile factory, Hurley. Ga zoo.
sherman Dry Goods company, Aber-
deem, $4,000.
TO PRAcTIcElN
SOUTH DAKOTA COURTS
Pierre. s. D.. April 22.-The supreme
has admitted upon examination to |
In this state. Ward B.. Dyer. Of
Fort Pierre. Donald Fellows, of Aurora.
Wiley Nv. Knight. of Clear Lake. Jos. ]. |
Gonry, Of Aberdeen, Theo. Quale, OF Blunt
and H. \. MacGeary. of Sioux Falls.
I
TELEPHONE EXCHANGE TO
BE A.siMlLATEp
fankton. S. D., April 22.-The North
Telephone company, which has
to divide local patronage for some |
Years with q citizens independent com