Year: 1874

viii be almost sure to result in loss to the
District concerned.


CAPTURE OF A HORSE TH1EF.-On
the lst day of May last. horse owned by
Samuel Akey, Of this county, was missing.
The case was at once reported to Sheriff
Chandler and search made for the horse,
which resulted in finding it traded to man
below Lake City, but no positive clue was,
at that time, obtained to the thief, further
than that Mr.. Akey had employed young
man some weeks before who answered very
nearly the description Of the man who
traded the horse off. Mr. Chandler traced
this man some distance and then lost track
Of him; but the Sheriff, with his usual
forethought, had examined all the baggage
at the depot and found there trunk with
out directions; this he broke open and
found therein a likeness Of the man he
wanted. He took the likeness and closed
the trunk, and not train passed from that
depot from that time until the 23d of July,
without the Sheriff or some one in his en-
ploy being on hand to quietly watch the
destiny of that same trunk. On the 23d Of
July, the following letter was received by
Mr. Prior, who has charge Of the depot,
and it was in the hand writing of letter
partly finished found in the trunk:


NoRTHFlE1D, Mimi, July the Goth.


Not noing your name take the liberty
for you to Express my trunk to this place
1t is at the depot the Trunk has 3 keholes
the middle one has been broken and one on
Each Side Of it Smallish trunk Seemingly
new l left it there with Exspectation of
Sending to St. Paul please Send it or write
soon. CO. D. MARK


The name Of the man who wanted the
trunk is Seth W. Randall, but of course he
forgot to sign this name. On the night Of
the 23d the Sheriff went to Mortified, found
four reliable men whom he took into his
confidence then telegraphed for the trunk
The next night the Sheriff, having left the
young mans picture and given directions to
arrest whoever came for the trunk, returned
home, leaving all the world, except those in
his employ in ferreting out the matter, in
blissful ignorance Of his visit to our neigh
boring city.


The watch was not continued long until
young man called for the property, but
he was not the one wanted and was quietly
released, which latter was contrary to the
design Of the Sheriff, but resulted in no in
jury, as the gent probably thought himself
watched and did not reportto his principal.
In few hours the owner of the trunk
came, and he now lodges in the Goodhue
County jail. He was at once recognized
by the Lake City man who lost his proper
ty by trading for the stolen horse. The
man will have hearing before the Justice
on Saturday. Our Sheriff deserves great
credit for the detective skill, watchfulness
and perseverance displayed in making this
arrest. The most surprising. thing in this
case is that in working it up, although hav-
ing so little on which to work, it is pretty
certain that the Sheriff is on the track of
an organized band Of horse thieves, extend
ing at least into three States. He has the
names Of several Of the men, and his plans
are 50 laid that it is doubtful if they could
elude him were the whole published. Yet
to make more known at present would not
be prudent. It is we'll established fact
that when thief commences operating
within the jurisdiction Of Sheriff Chandler
he is in the way Of doing the State some
little service in the way Of coopering.