Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-08-07

from a small town in New MEXICO
near the Arizona, Mexico and New
Mexico line. He told lengthy
story Of an interesting circumstance
Cor rather series of circumstances
which took place in that locality
during the year 1916.
He gave his name as Jose Millen
and made the claim that he was at
one time peace officer in Arizona.
I will not attempt to relate the
narrative as he gave it, as he used
the dialogue system to a large ex-
tent.
At any rate, I will do the best
can, considering that I am not a
shorthand artist, and was compelled
to take notes of the facts and strain
my feeble brain to remember the
connecting links.
In the spring of 1906 man named
Brent located in a thriving little city
in New. Mexico, not great distance
from the border. He had only been
resident of the town a short tine
until he had gained the reputation OF
being an all-around good fellow, and
his prestige was unlimited. He
opened up sort of an eating house,
employed plenty of help, and was
doing thriving business, not only
with the people of The town, but
ranchmen and farmers patronized
him freely. He claimed to be heav-
lily interested in several ranches
within the radius Of a hundred
miles of the town in which he con-
Quoted his eating house, had car,
and was absent more than two
thirds Of the time. No one paid any
attention to his periods of absence,
first, because everyone there let ev-
eryone take care of his or her own
business, and, second, because moth
ing out of the ordinary was ever
done by Brent, and there was no
cause for furry or comment. Along
in 1910 a man from New Jersey
came out and purchased ranch OF
100000 acres, located a short dis
lance from the town in which Mr..
Trent resided.
The New Jersey man, H. p. Corn
well, had family, consisting Of a
wife and two children about IL and
IA years of age. The entire family
was on the timid order, but had
plenty of money, stocked the ranch
and got along fairly we'll for two or
three years.
In 1914 some of the live stock be-
longing to Mr.. Cornwell began to
disappear in mysterious manner.
He was located SO closely to the
border that he presumed small
bands were coming over from there.
stealing from his herd and driving
them into Mexico. The losses We're
comparatively small, and after the
first two or three losses he did not
mention the fact to anyone. How
ever, his herd diminished to the ex-
tent of about thirty-five cattle on
one night, and he decided to notify
the authorities. He drove to the lit
tie city, searched for and located a
deputy sheriff, and told him of his
losses. He was given a liberal sup
ply of sympathy, as well as the word
of the deputy sheriff, that his case
would be taken care of. A few days
later Mr.. Brent drove into Mr..
Cornwell's yard, passed the time of
day, and in the course of converse
ton soon preached the subject of
cattle stealing, and he told Mr..
Cornwell that he was not surprised
to learn that thievery was being
started all through the country. Mr..
Brent emphasized the fact that now,
since the Mexicans had begun steal
ing again, it would be hard to break
up the band, and it would probably
take the officers several years to
do it.
A few days later Mr.. Cornwell
was informed by his foreman that
about fifty of his cattle were miss
ing.
About month later, the Corn
well family had gone to town and
did not return until the third day
following. When they drove up
within sight of their home they
found it in ruins.
In the fall of 1914 Mr.. Cornwell
sold his ranch, stock included, for
$4,000 less than he paid for it.
Records went to show that Mr..
Brent was the new owner of the
ranch. Later evidence began to
show that, while Brent did not take
any active part in stealing cattle,
he promoted the raids for the pur-
pose of getting hold of the Cornwell