The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-15
RUSTLERS WORKING
IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Expert Thieves Resumed
Operations in Western
Part of the State.

Sioux Falls. S. D., July 15.-The
passing of the great cattle ranges OF
western South Dakota has not affect
cd the work of the expert cattle rus
TIERS whose operations, since the
wlping out Of the big herds by reason
OF the occupancy of great parts of the
former great cattle range by homo
steaders. have been confined to the
herds of The small ca1tlcmen or ranch
ers as they are termed. These men
own from 100 to 200 head of cattle
earh, and in the aggregate their herds
would make a respectable showing,
compared with tn" big herds of the
great cattle companies which former
~ were engaged in the cattle raising
business on a big scale in that ~'rt
OF II Dakota lying between the
Missouri liver and the Black Hills and
north of the Black Hills.
In the old days OF cattle raising on
a large scale the operations of the
ru*tiorS became so annoying and
caused such heavy losses to cattle
owners that what has since bee.
known as the Western South Dakota
Stockman's association was organized.
tniids We're raised for quitting an end
TO the operations of the rustlers, and
MANY OF the thieves were either obliged
in The pe%nitentiary or compelled to
lave the county. With the passing
Of the big herds the operations of the
rrstlcrs for a time ceased. only to be
resumed when the small cattlemen or
ranchers occupied the country for
merry included In tn" great range anG
their small herds commenced to be
seen in every valley and or every hill.
New Foes of Rustlers.
To cope with the new conditions
what is known as the Fall River and
Custer County Live Stock owners
Frott ctive association was organized
With Headquarters in the frontier town
of Buffalo Cap. in the foothills of the
Black Hills. This association now has
taken its place as perhaps The leadin;;
and cattle thief association
is William NJ. O'Banion. Dan Mosier
is vice president. c. S. Isham is sec
fetarN-u easurer, and j. S. Godsey. one
OIL the most fearless Men in the west,
is chief captain. Upon Captain God
seN falls the chief duty, when rustlers
made a raid on the cattle herds of
ranchers in the territory covered by
me association to run down the rus
tiers and procure the evidence which
will convict them when they are tried
in court.
Funds for the prosecution Of the
rustlers are provided by the member
ship fees and by assessing members
a certain sun for each head Of cattle
owned by them.
The most recent exploit of the asso-
citation in the prosecution line was the
seph Norman mt John .Ashbault-on
the oharge of rustling cattle belonging
to members of the a%nti-cattle thief
association. The juries. after only a
lew minutea' consultation, returned
verdicts of guilty against them. Rush
was sentenced to a term of four years
IN prison at hard labor. Norman was
given three and one-half years, while
was sentenced to three
years.
Raiders Quickly Followed.
Inc ~anti-cattle thief association has
representatives in V the most re-
mote parts of the territory covered
by it, and when a raid is made by
rustlers the officers are promptly mott
ned and within a remarkably brief
time posses of heavily armed men
have started from different directions
10 close in on the rustlers n pre-
vent then escaping with the stolen
stock. The long distance telephone
lines which now extend from the from
tier towns through the surrounding
region are proving very valuable in
enabling the omcers to take the trail
OF the rustlers with the least possible
Ella and in keeping the members
OF the various closing-in posses in
formed of the movements of the rus
TIERS after they have been located in
a certain district.
The organization of the Western
south Dakota Anti-Cattle Thief asso-
cation is so thorough and its work
IN running down rustlers performed
with such promptness and effective
ness that it has attracted the attention
OF cattle and horse raisers in other
western states. who are organizing
associations and adopting the