Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-01-27


that section by the Federal officers
win be used in filing suits against the
timber agents who purchased the
stolen timber, which for the most
part, is in the shape of railroad ties,
This evidence will also be used in the
prosecution of similar cases in Wayne
County
The investigation into the Iron
County situation was made by Sheriff
William Blue of Iron County and Or
chard at the importunement of Rich
ard Dalton, of Chicago, owner of a
large tract of land in the Western part
of the County.
I His own Investigation had shown
Dalton that wholesale timber piracy
had been going on in his lands and he
appealed to the authorities to have il
stopped. The timber piracy is done
by bands of mountaineers who oper-
ate under code similar in many esA
sentials to that Of the "night riders
of Southeast Missouri.
Dalton several weeks ago employed
a watchman to watch the timber steal
ing going on on his lands. The
watchman, William T. Dickerson
went to the range and lived in the
house that had been erected on the
place.
Dickerson was not suspected by the
mountaineers as being a spy upor
their operations and was able to get
data on when they cut timber on Dali
TOMS land, how much they cut and
where they sold it. He even obtained
GAta on the checks that were issued
in payment for the railroad ties by
The buying agents at the railroad
stations.
This information he kept carefully
tabulated at his house and continued
to be a watchman living there in the
role Of care-taker. He became ac-
quainted with all the characters in
the piracy drama and thoroughly ac-
quainted with their methods.
At this state, the state officers pre-
pared to take hand in the game and
Sheriff Blue prepared to make trip
into the mountains to make arrests. AT
Dalton's request, United States Mar
shal, George Lynch, delegated Or
chard to accompany Blue on the mis-
sion.
On January 10, Orchard and Blue
went to Ironton where they obtained
team and buggy'for 35-mile drive
into the western part Of the county.
They drov almost one entire day to
get to tie Dalton place. On their ar
rival thare, they held conference
With fDickerson. While Dickerson
was preparing report for Orchards
use, the two officers heard wood chop
ping on a hill densely wooded located
within rs.nge of the house.
They armed themselves and accom-
panied by Dickerson in the rear, the
officers began the actual investiga-
ton.
Orchard and Blue climbed the hill
on the top of which the chopping was
going on and, quietly approached two
of the men engaged in the work. The
ground was carpeted with soft layer
of leaves and the officers, Orchard
said, were able to approach to within
20 yards of the two woodmen, before
the latter became aware of the officers
presence.
They turned, on hearing the foot
steps, dropped their axes and ran.
Blue and Orchard covered them with
their revolvere and the sheriff called
out to them to stop or the shooting
would commence.
The two men stopped and returned
to where the officers stood At that
time, Orchard and Blue heard the
noise of more chopping being done
over the brow OF the hill and by what
seemed to be larger band of men.
Blue left the two prisoners in the
charge of Orchard and walked over
the hill. He came upon a band of
nine men chopping down trees for
ties.
He was able to approach only with
in ABOUT 400 feet Of them, when they
saw him. The alarm was given i'm
mediately and they fed, scattering
through the woods. Blue opened fire
upon them with his revolver but to no
avail. A scattering fire was returned
that was Intellectual.
The sheriff returned to where he
had left Orchard and they took the
two prisoners to the house. They
Immediately set out for Ironton with
the prisoners. Sheriff Blue loaded
them into the buggy with himself,
Dickerson walked with the rig on the
return trip to Ironton. Orchard made
connections with the Sligo railroad, a
lupber road, and after reaching st.
Louis by devious route, returned to
Ironton from st. Louis.
NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT.