Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-04-30
Thieves;
were Directed
BY WOMAN'S WIT
Clever schemer Whose Vile.
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
month, brought to light a remark
able story of the formation of an
avowed thieving society, in Which a
woman's wit played an important part.
The Circle society," as this organi-
zation, dreaded by every stockrnan 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 han 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
Is years terrorized this tTans-Missouri
county. Jack" Sully, picturesque out
law. in his aerie on a high hill in the
toughest 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
We're: Meyer Winter. president; David
Colombo. vice president; Mrs. Never
Winter. treasurer. n Joe DeMarsche.
secretary. Winter left the country
some time ago to escape liability Oh a
bond. He had a store at Westover,
VA Az SIaSAN NAAS}S w
talk over plans with him and his wife.
Colombo is now in the p-eniteniiayy for
cattle rust1ing and DeMarsche is at bay
in the courts.
Mrs. Winter. as treasurer. received
the profits of the wholesale thef,s and
distributed them pro rata among the
members. AS natural to one in her
prominent place. she was never al "A
loss to suggest ways n means 10 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 member into the treasury and the
SO raised were used in defending
any member OF the organization who
might be arrested for stealing cattle or
horses. Because of it's %xtensjv mem
bership and the secrecy which attended
Its operations. 1t could never be known
Wnether or not members were OF the
juries that heard the evidence against
n one of the society On trial. John
Bartine, county attorney. dared to un-
dertake the breaking up Of this oreani-
cation and. though his house was burn;
over his head and he was Threatened
with death time and again. he never re&
Tented in the unequal strugsle. Mem
bers OF the society even We're elected 10
county once. SO profoundly secret were
all their doings.
Two regular meetings of the circle
We're held each month, on Sundass
usually, and there was always a laTe.
attendance. Whites. mixed blooas ana
INDIANS were represented in the organi-
cation.
John Q. Anderson crossed one of the
MEMBERS IN a saloon at Chamberlain.
deriving am order to dance undsy 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
snaarting under his insult. the society
neasa and adopted a motion TO ruin
Andersons business. Every member of
the circle took an oath chat he would
shoot every head of live stock belong
ing TO Anderson. wherever he might
ma 1t within the next two weeks. and
TIE society furnished the ammunition.
Al the next meeting of the circle the
member were called on to repor, how
Wen tney had carried u their pledges
ana II was shown that over 200 of An
oerson's cattle and horses had been
slain. 0 Nest'
The. oath of membership In the So
clety was terrible enough to do Justice
70 a Clan-a-Gael. the death penalty be-
ing expressly provided for any act OF
dlsioyalty: With the settling of the
country, the organization has had more
ana more trouble to keep out of tie
clutcnes OF the law. A number of it's
members are already in prison and il
DeMarsche is convicted. it is likely the
enc or cattle r%ustling in this section
Will have been sounded.
INCORPORATED UNDER
cannon