Bandits Horse Thieves

July 14, 1893-Guthrie Daily News--Cleveland County has organized an anti-horse thief association, and comes out with a constitution and by-laws as long as a walking stick. It has already fifty-two members, comprising the leading citizens of the county, and promises to be a very formidable and effective society. One of it by laws says:

"Any person may become a member of this association by signing the constitution and by-laws and paying into the treasury the sum of $1."

The money so paid in will be used to hunt down horse thieves. The society only aids parties who are members of the organization.

Such an organization in Logan county would be a proper thing; in fact, in every county in the territory an organization of this kind would be a great protection, and if they were formed into a territorial union, it would be nearly impossible for a horse thief to escape its clutches.

Horse thieves have been quite plenty all over the country recently, and very little effort has been made to apprehend them or if efforts have been made, little or no result has come from them. It is only recently that Deputy United States Marshal Severns had two horses stolen. He managed to get them back, however, without much trouble. He is a marshal and knows how to take care of his own business. It cost him about $30, however, before he got hold of his animals.

A number of poor men have had both horses and mules stolen in different sections of the county and many of them have not been heard of at all. It was only a couple of weeks ago that a poor widow woman lost her two mules. She had hardly money enough to get out dodgers to advertise them. They were gotten out, however and distributed throughout the county, but her mules were never heard from.

If she had the protection of such a society as we are considering there is hardly a doubt but that her mules would have been in her pasture long ago. This is only an isolated case. There are scores fresh in the minds of our readers and a number of which the press has tended no note. We believe that this territory is as free of horse thieves as any similar community in the southwest. But that is no reason why a protective organization against these kinds of criminals should not be formed. We believe there is a necessity for it and advise its formation immediately.