The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-03-03
TIMBER PIRATES
Get SENTENCES
TO PENITENTIARY
Two Iron County Men Plead
Guilty, Get 2 Years, Third
Given 3 Years.
FEDERAL DAMAGE
SUITS WILL EUENS
Men Were Captured By Geo. C.
Orchard and Sheriff
After Fight.

Three men who were involved in the
Iron County timber piracy uncovered
six weeks ago by Deputy United
States Marshal George C. Orchard
and Sheriff William Blue of Iron Coun-
ty, this week were sentenced to the
penitentiary at Ironton rs a result of
the prosecution started.
Three men were given six months
in Jail and 4 15-year-old boycaught in
the drag net, was released.
Seven more men are under arrest
awaiting their trial in the April term
of Circuit Court at 1ronton. The six
men given Imprisonment sentences
were taken before the tribunal which
sat in special session, called together
at the instance of the prosecuting at
torney, when the prisoners demanded
their trial at once.
As result of the convictions, q
damage suit probably will be filed by
Richard 3. Dalton Of Chicago, rail-
road superintendent, who owned the
timber that was being removed by the
piratical methods, in the United States
District Court against the purchasers
of the timber.
Orchard last night was in the Cape
after having returned from Ironton,
where he attended the trial Of the tim
Der PIRATES, as witness, ard told Of
the outcome. Mach interest has been
attached to the case BY land and tim
Der owners in this part of the state,
for timber piracy at times has become
prevalent in many counties.
The Dalton land where the men
were taking the timber free is located
III the west end of Iron County. About
six weeks ago, Orchard and Sheriff
Blue drove out 20 the place, where they
surprised some Of the men living in
that locality, at work cutting off the
-inber from Dalton's farm.
A revolver battle took place when
the men attempted to fee and four
were captured. Sheriff Blue encoun-
tercd another band who fled before he
got in range.
Information obtained from those ar
rested, LED to the arrest Of fourteen
men in all. al of whom were charged
18th stealing timber Of a value more
han $50 in informations fled against
them b. the prosecuting attorney.
Two Of the men who received peni-
tertiary sentences pleaded guilty on
'ha understanding that their sentences
were to be placed at 2 years. They
we're sentenced to two years. Their
7ones arc Thomas Parks and Peter
Abney.
William Fields, however, insisted on
ICING TO to trial and the jury gave
N FEARS in the penitentiary.
Under the state laws, the prisoners
nay make demand for a trial within
days after his Imprisonment in
!. The seven who We're placed on
al this week made the demand. The
theirs are waiting for the April
term CT court.
= TIE Investigation of the timber
c., the officers found cache" Of
Z 800 railroad ties taken from
Dalton land and being held for
lc.
Dalton. under the law, now can file
t for damages thrice the amount Of
value Of The timber that has been
alIen from his land. The prosecution
+ the timber piracy has been made
through the instrumentality and inter-
st Of Mr.. Dalton and it is expected
- he Will file his damage suits
shortly.