River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-05-12

could not stay in the same town.
"Then move" said Mcdonald, "the county
will be rid of one rascal. 1t will be rid of more
before get through here"
Captain Bill went to Austin, himself after
Sullivan so that there might be no mistake
about his coming. He presented the case to
Governor Culberson and got his sanction; then
sent word to his men at San Saba to meet
them, and he arrived with Sullivan promptly
on time He had expected that there would be
demonstration by the sheriff and his friend,
instead of which the streets of the little town
were deserted.
Captain Bill began doing quiet detective
work, a labor for which he has a natural apti-
tude, as shown by the shape of his ears and
nose and from the ferret look of his eyes that
this would be Good citizens now took
further courage and came to the camp with in
formation. The Ranger captain looked over
the field and undertook case of particularly
cold-blooded sort.
A man named Asa Brown one Of the mobs
early victims, had been hanged some 10 IL
years before, and his son Jim, though he had
never attempted to avenge his fathers death,
had fallen under the ban. Jim Brown had
never even made any threats, but he must have
been regarded as a menace, for one Sunday
night while riding from church with his wife
and her brother he was shot dead from
bush, his wife, whose horse became frightened
and ran within range, receiving a painful
wound.
Captain Bill secured information which con-
WINGED him that one Bill Ogle had been the
chief instigator in this crime.
The murderers now realized that trouble was
in store for them. Some of the men began
quietly to leave the country. Others consulted
together in secluded places and plotted to kill
Bill Mcdonald" Sympathizing citizens encour-
aged this movement, and anonymous warn
ings- always the first resort of the frightened
criminal-began to arrive in the Ranger camp.
Captain Bill paid no attention to such commnni-
cations; he was used to them. He went on
gathering and solidifying his evidence, prepar-
atory to the arrest of Ogle and such of his as
sociates the proofs would warrant. Ogle,
the "tiger" of the society, as he was consid-
cred, Mcdonald had not yet seen, as the tiger
did not live in the town. and for some reason
had lately avoided those precincts He arrived
however, in due season. Perhaps the brother
hood let him know that it was time he was ia
king hand in the game.
Captain Mcdonald, one hot afternoon, was
talking to an acquaintance on the streets of
San Saba, when he noticed stout surly look
ing man with the village constable, not far
away. Now and then they looked and nodded
in his direction, and presently an uncompli-
mentary name drifted to his ear.
"Who is that fellow talking to that sorry con-
stable?" he asked.
His companion lowered his voice to a dis
Greet whisper.
"That is Bill Ogle,' he said, "the worst man
of the murder mob"
Captain Bill looked pleased.
Good bye" he nodded, 'I want to see Bill
Ogle."
Ogle had crossed the street and passed
through the courthouse to hardware store
the other side-where number of his friends
had collected.
Don't go over there captain" cautioned his