The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-07-16
RUsTLERS WORK
IN SOUTH Dakota
EXPERT THIEVES RESUMED
OPERATIONS IN WESTERN
PART or THAT STATE.


Sioux Falls, s. D.. July 16.-The
passing OF the great cattle ranges OF
western South Dakota has not AFFECT
ed the work of the expert cattle rus
tiers whose operations, since the
steaders, have been confined to the
Wiping out of the big herds by reason
of the occupancy of great parts of the
former great cattle range by home
herds Of the small cattlemen or
ranchers as they are termed. These
men own from 100 to 200 head of
cattle each, and in the aggregate their
herds, would make a respectable
showing compared with the big herds
of he great cattle companies which
formerly were engaged in the cattle
raising business On a big scale In that
part of South Dakota lying between
the Missouri river 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
rustlers became 50 annoying and
caused such heavy losses to cattle
known as the Western South Dakota
Stockmanes association was organized.
Funds were raised for putting an end
to the operations Of the rustlers, and
many of the thieves were either lodg-
ed in the pe~nitentiary or compelled to
leave the county. With the passing
of the big herds the operations Of the
rustlers for a time ceased. only to be
resumed when the small cattlemen or
erly included In the great range and
their small herds commenced to be
seen in every valley and on every hill.
New Foes to Rustiers-
TO cope with the new conditions,
what is known as the Fall River and
Custer County Live Stock Owners
Protective association was organized
with headquarters in the frontier
town Of Buffalo Gap, in the foothills
of the Black Hills. This association
now has taken It's place as perhaps
the leading anti-horse and cattle
thief association in the United States.
The president is william M. O'Ban-
ion. Dan Mosier is vice president, @.
s. Isham is OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, and
j. s.. Godsey, one OF the most fear
less men in the west, is chief captain,
Upon Captain Godsey falls the chief
duty, when rustlers made a raid on
the cattle herds of ranchers In the
territory covered by the association
the evidence which will convict them
when they are tried in court.
Funds for the prosecution of the
~rTstlers are provided by the mem
bership fees and by assessing mem
bers a certain sum for each head OF
cattle owned by them.
The most recent exploit of the as
ISOLATION in the prosecution line was
the arrest of three men-John Rush,
Joseph Norman and John Ashbault-
on the charge of rustling cattle be-
longing to members Of the an~ti-cattle
thief association. The juries, after
only a few minutes consultation, re-
turned verdicts of guilty against
them. Rush was sentenced to a term
of our years in prison at hard labor
Norman was given three and on-hali
years, while Ashbault was sentenced
to three years.
Raiders Quickly Followed.
The anti-cattle thief association has
representatives in even he most re
mote parts of the territory covered
by 1t, and when a raid is made by
rustlers the officers are promptly
notified, and within a remarkably
brief time posses OF heavily armed
men have started from different di-
rections to close in on the rustlers
and prevent them escaping with the
stolen stock. The long distance tel
ephone lines which now extend from
the frontier towns through the sur
rounding region are proving very val
liable in enabling the officers to take
the trail OF the rustlers with the least
members of the various closing-in
posses informed of the movements OF
the rustlers after they have been To-
Gated in a certain district.
The organization of the Western
South Dakota Anti-Cattle Thief as
ISOLATION Is so thorough and it work
in running down rustlers performed
with such promptness and effective-
ness that it has attracted the atten-
ton Of cattle and horse raisers in
other western states, who are organic
the methods of the South Dakota or
ganization.