Arizona republican., 1917-08-03
MUT|[AT|ON IF BRANDS UPON
 CATTLE WILL CAUSE R0UND-UP
Consternation Is Caused by
 Act of What Is Now Be Heved to Be Organized
 Band in Southern Arizona

MutilatiOn of cattle brands by a band of cattle thieves in the southern part of the state particularly in Santa Cruz county, and on a scale to alarm the catt emen of that section to prompt action, with the result that one of the alleged thieves is in jail and others are expected to be rounded up within a few days, is reported.
 So widespread has been the work of the cattle thieves in the past few weeks that the large cattle owners have be- come thoroughly alarmed and have urged the state livestock sanitary board to order general rbund-np of cattle in the southern part of the state that they. might learn the full extent of these depredatiOns and also to end the work of these thieves.
 First information of the existence of this band of cattle thieves in Ari- zona came from the southern part of Santa Cruz county where more than score of cattle in one bunch were found to have their brands defaced. Reports then followed from other sec tions of that country to the board, all to the effect that brands had been burned over and otherwise defaced several hundred cattle having been mutilated in the manner and their ownership made uncertain.
 Prompt action on the part of the sheriff of Santa Cruz county and his deputies has resulted in the quick run ming down of one of the alleged thieves, who at present is in the county jail at Nogales. Other arrests are prom ised in few days and it is expected that more than a half a dozen men will be found to be implicated in the brand initiating
 In tn la the defaced cattle and assist in the running down of the thieves in every manner it has been decided by the live stock board that it will be necessary to make a general roundup of all the cattle in the southern part d the state, particularly in Santa Cruz county. Prominent cattlemen have urged the roundup and have promised all the aid called upon to render
 A general roundup of this size will cost considerable, the board antici- pates, but it will cooperate with the cattlemen and promises to meet the expense from the state office with the expectation that the catt .ement will furnish all horses, grub and wagons necessary for the several outfits.
 This work on the part of the cattle thieves has caused the cattlemen to become much eXercieSd and they fear that unless prompt action is taken the extent of the work of the thieves will be very large. ', advance of the general roundup, the board has sent special inspectors into the field with instructions to spare no effort in run ming down the thieves.
 First word of the work of the thieves came from near NOgales. The local inspector investigated She complaint .I1 g,,.t hoo aYA An appeal then was made to the board by Raymond k. Earheart. sheriff of Santa Cruz county; Charles l.. Hardy, county attorney and Jos. F. Wise pres ident of the Cattle Growers association. Their telegram to the state sanitary board is as fo lows:
 We have rounded up g head of cattle with defaced brands which are in the possession of your inspector here We are infolmed that there are many more cattle in the same con- ditiOn and there is great danger if the thieves are not apprehended, of driv- ing away cattle left. Therefore, we we believe it of vital importance and respectfully request that you order inn mediately under supervision of your board a general roundup of cattle in the southern part of the state"
 The board immediately replied that the chief inspector, s. c. Thompson, had been sent to that district to CO., operate fully with the county officers and to advise what to do.
 The Vail company, one of the large catt concerns in that part of the state, also wired the state board to take action to prevent further loss on account of the cattle thieves and to order a general roundup. Also the West Coast Cattle company, rep resenting thousands of head of cattle
 id one of the biggest cattle concerns in the country, wired as follows:
 we are thoroughly in favor of a roundup in this county without delay
 RAMON ELIAS,
 Vice president
 The date for the roundup and full instructions in connection will be made by the state livestock board in a few days.