The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-10-08
A GANG OF OUTLAWS
TERROR1ES THIS TOWN
Arvonia, Near Richmond, Has a Reign
Of Terror.

Richmond, Va. (Specia) Conn
monwealth's Attorney Edmund w.
Hubbard and Sheriff L. w. Williams
left Arvonia for the purpose of track
ing down the Thomas-zimmermaD
force of outlaws, who are terrorizing
the countryside, and who are believ-
ed to be guilty of the shooting OF
N. w. Gregory, on Saturday night
The outlaws are in hiding in their
stronghold between the Slate and
James Rivers. Their spies are re-
ported traversiDg every section OF
the country, ready to warn the des-
peradoes Of any attempt on the part
of the citizens to hunt them down.
Warrants have been issued for
Mrs. Arthur Zimmerman, wife of the
leader of outlaws, and her sister,
Miss Burton, as alleged accomplices
to the many crimes with which Ar
thur and Benjamin Zimmerman and
William and Charles Thomas are al
legged to be guilty. The women have
disappeared an dare believed to have
Joined the outlaws in the fastness-
es. With the leaving of the county
authorities the citizens of Arvonia
are left without protection. They
have been authorized however, to
shoot to kill If the town Is attacked.
A Gordon of determined and armed
men are guarding the little hamlet
tonight.
Outlaws Are Desperate.
Associated with the outlaws are
the Zimmerman and Thomas and
Sweten families, numbering in all
probably a hundred men. All OF
them are desperate characters and
will fight IL the posse of citizens
comes upon them. The three fam
lilies have intermarried throughout
the countryside until almost all the
country population is in league with
them. There are also several fam
lilies of negroes implicated with the
gang, notably those of William
Brown and George Martin. The gang
remains in hiding during the day, sal
lying forth in the night time to seek
food for themselves and their wives.
Robberies are of almost nightly oc.
currence.
Roberts Banks, negro, reported in
Arvonia, stating that with ample pro-
lection he would lead the citizens
to the hiding place of the despera-
he give evidence against the gang
and the desperadoes should escape
his life would surely pay the forfeit
The negro reports that the gang was
| Joined by Samuel and William Zim-
norman. of Albemarle County, the
later going to Payne Station from
which point sufficient provisions to
| withstand a siege were shipped to
| Tho n1oQn in Wnirff
the outlaws are hiding is densely
wooded. 1t is said that it would
take hundreds of men to take them
in their formidable fortress.
The depredations of the thinner
man and Thomas clans began two
years ago. They are firebugs, thieves,
Illicit whisky ditillers, and with tho
shooting of Gregory, whose life is
despaired of, the charge of assassin
would be added. In many instances
farms have been visited and the
plants torn up and haystacks and
barns burned. The Rev. Plummer
Jones is actively engaged in the
work of bringing the citizens to-
gether. His statement is: Il would
kill any one of them without pang
of conscience"
Appeals For Aid.
The following communication from
Arvonia was addressed to Governor
Swanson: Conditions here intoler.
Lble. Gang of assassins strongly in
trenched three miles away. One
citizen shot in back; others threaten
ed county authorities appear power
less. We need detective and blood
aounds. Can you come up?"