Arizona republican., 1911-02-17
STEALING CATTLE
FOR THE MARKET
A Branch of the Live Stock Industry
the Sanitary Board Seeks to
Break Up.

The live stock sanitary board now
has well under way the prosecution
Of two of the biggest cattle stealing
cases that have ever been brought
TO its attention. one involves a
group of men at Winslow and the
other group at and near Seiigman.
The two cases are quite similar as
IN both instances the accused are
charged with Strengthening a large
number of cattle that did not belong
10 them. on the range and dsposing
of the meat in the nearby markets
In the Winslow case Marley Bros.
have been arrested for killing a con-
siderable number of cattle belonging
10 O. l. Hart. Rabbit Brothers. and
others. Special counsel has been en-
ployed TO assist the district attorney
in the prosecution of the case and if
il is necessary or desired, sp 'cial
counsel will be secured To assist in
the prosecution of the other case. The
cases have been worked up by the
local inspectors and detectives of the
sanitary board, which is determined 20
make cleanup of that particular
branch of the cattle industry 1t is
standing firmly behind its inspectors
and is thoroughly appreciative Of their
good work.
The Seligman case was worked up
by Inspector T. r Holden who seems
TO be not only sure of the guilt of
the accused but is pretty well provided
with evidence. The accused are well
known cattlemen in northern Yavapai.
some of whom have always appeared
TO be- very much concerned about hav-
ing other people obey the law. The
men accused are W. ID. Webb. known
also as Jack Webb, Sterley Plummer.
and Elmer Plummer. The charge is
that since last June they have slaugh-
tered something like a hundred head
of cattle belonging to Jerry Sullivan
of Seligman The cattle. it is alleged.
were killed on the range tributary
thereto and the carcasses disposed AT
at the Ellison market in Seligman.
The men have been given preliminary
examinations and are held under
heavy bonds to await the action of
the grand jury.
Inspector Holden secured his first
information from Pat O'Dousherty and
his brother. who had been employed
by Webb for several months. Ac-
cording to the first information re-
cefved here the O'Dougherty brothers
went along with the inspector and
pointed out where the hides of the
animals slaughtered had been buried
in holes on Webbs property and trees
set out in the holes above the hides
II was also said that some weeks be-
fore that time Webb and Plummer mad
burned a gunny sack full OF brands
and ears that had been cut out OF the
hides. There seemed 10 be no DOUBT
Of the fact of the cattle having peeh
killed but the fear was that the NOES
having been mutilated and the brands
Ont ont there would be difficulty IN
identifying them.
Later information was received from
Inspector Holden to the effect that ne
had found a number of hides and had
nossessed himself of much other val
nahIe- information He found ten
hides buried in seven holes just out
sid. the fence around Webb's corral
The holes were about three feet in
diameter and from three to three and
a half feet deep. The hides were
mutilated and badly decomposed and
the ears were missig though some
of the hides were taken along to see
what could be done with them in the
way of Identification. They were
hurled in the bottoms of the holes
with the offal Of the slain animals
above them.
Rut there is also still better evil
dence on hand in the persons of three
witnesses who helped kill the animals
and one of whom kept a record IN
writing of everything slaughtered
With all this evidence ii seems hardly !
possible to fail of conviction ana
the board and it's inspectors VIII en-
deavOr to go into the case thoroughly
There are frequently reported cases
of the irregular slaughtering of ami
mails but more often it is only one or /
tVo at a time and under circum-
stances that indicate that mistake
may have been made In such cases il
Is hard TO convict and if it proves To |