Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-08-18
DARING HORSE Thief
CAUGHT IN MOUNTAINS

Gray haired and feeble and to all
appearances just a plain old man is
John West from everywhere" who
was brought to Stautnon last night,
and placed in Jail, following his ar
rest near Lotion, where he was
caught with two horses and surry he
is said to have stolen. 1t is the be-
lief of the Staunton police that the
aged man is the perpetrator of other
thefts of similar nature which have
been committed in this part of Vir-
ginia recently.
Some time between dark on Tues
day and daybreak yesterday two fine
mares were stolen from the farm of
J. S. Carrier, of Mint Spring, while
a surry and a set of double harness
disappeared from the stable of Char
les E. Warner, whose place is at
Folly Mills, just about mile away.
Both thefts were pulled off with the
greatest cunning, as neither Mr.. Car
rier nor Mr.. Warner nor their fami-
lies were awakened by the thief, and
knew nothing of their loss until they
got up yesterday morning.
With little difficulty the stolen out
fit was tracked to point near Staun-
ton, where it took side road and
proceeded in the direction of Green
vile. With the aid of an autOmo-
bile obtained here and by informa-
ton gained from people along the
road the pursuers toward nightfall
managed to get into close proximity
to where they believed the thief to
be.
Camped in an attractive spot Just
off road in the mountains near Lof-
ton, with the stolen horses tethered
nearby, the gray haired man who
gave his name as John West was
just preparing for good nights
rest, when he was come across by his
pursuers. H.A.Davis, of near Green
vile, who was travelling on horse
back found him, and an instant later
he was Joined by Isaac Keister, also
of the county, and Arthur Agnor, of
Staunton, who in his automobile had
been hot on the chase all day, and
who later brought the accused horse
thief to town.
1t was at the Jail that the old man
told the police that his name was
John West" and that he came from
everywhere" That was just about
all that he did tell them while they
went through his clothes to find a
somewhat remarkable collection of
thinos which the old fellow carried
Around him. Among these possessions
were maps OF Virginia, West Virgin
ia, Kentucky and adjacent states,
china cup, a spoon, and a watch,
which by the feeble glow of the
single incandescent on the top floor
of the jail, appeared to be of expen-
sive material.
West also had with him a couple of
popular magazines, newspaper clip
pings, which revealed nothing how
ever, and good supply of matches.
Cash to the amount of about $40 was
also found in his pockets. The old
man wore two pair of trousers, two
shirts, and other clothing, seemingly
more BETTING for polar expedition
that for fy-by-night pursuits in this
depressing weather.
The police here believe that West
is the man who got away with two
horse from the farm of J. Tatnell
Lea, near Ivy about the first of the
month. These horses were recover
ed last Friday by Mr.. Coleman.
who found them tied in a patch of
woods in Nelson county.
When asked last night when he
left the Charlottesville section, West.
after minutes thought. said that
he had not been lover that way" for
more than a year. Tucked neatly
away between the pages of a Rand
McNally guide book that was among
his possessions, however, were two
blotters, distributed as advertise
ments by Charlottesville concern.
Kill More Than Wild Beasts.
The number of people killed yearly