He Turns Trick On The Sheriff Horse Thief, Given His Liberty Gets Busy Again McCarty Is Smooth One Member of the gang of Rustlers, Who Turned States Evidence, Resumes Activity County May Purchase Pair of Man Hunters County Commissioners Willing Submitted by: Mollie Stehno

Harry McCarty is what is known as a “slick one!”

It takes a pretty smooth customer who is held by the authorities on a charge of horse stealing, especially when he has been “caught with the goods,” to effect his temporary liberty to employ it to walk off with a few more samples of horse flesh.

That is what officials declare McCarty did.

McCarty is no stranger of the Anti-Horse Thief Association of Oklahoma. McCarty’s specialty, according to the officials of this and other counties is rustling. IN plain language, that is walking off, or more properly riding off with some other man’s equine pets.

Arnett A Victim

McCarty’s latest exploit, which will probably insure his becoming a charge of the state for a considerable length of time, was hiring and failing to return to O. D. Arnett, a liveryman, of Enid, a sorrel mare, and a sorrel horse which he engaged for an afternoon drive. Arnett offers $50 for his apprehension and Sheriff Campbell of Garfield County, is willing to add another $25 to it.

With three companions, McCarty was caught near Mulhall last June. He and John Lee, Oscar Paul and Lee Terry were charged with stealing two single rigs from Enid. They were brought to Guthrie and a day or two later turned over to Sheriff Campbell who took them to Enid. It is stated that the officials were not one half so anxious to convict the quartet as they were to get “the men higher up” and that upon being permitted his liberty, McCarty turned state’s evidence against a man in Oklahoma City, “well healed,” the officers say, who at one time conducted the “K. C.” barn here on South Division street, almost opposite the officer of the sheriff’s office of Logan County. It is claimed that this man received, clipped and otherwise altered the appearance of the horses stolen by an organized gang of the thieves and placed them on the market at Oklahoma City. Terry was held to be one of the most active members of the gang and the Garfield County officials were particularly anxious to secure evidence, which would convict these two. Hence, it is said, McCarty’s release. The trial of the Oklahoma City alleged go between who is under $5,000 bond, was set for December 3, but owing to his representations that his wife was seriously ill, was postponed.

In the meantime, McCarty was released upon his own recognizance and on Thanksgiving Day hired the sorrel outfit from Arnett and disappeared.

McCarty’s Description

McCarty is a man about 35 years old, weighing 150 pounds and about 6 feet in his stocking feet. He is lean featured, smooth shaven, with large brown eyes and may wear a light brown mustache. He is not a man to be overlooked even in a big crowd, owing to the prominence of his features.

As an aid to the detection of horse thieves and other criminals the Anti-Horse Thief association may be officially asked to countenance a subscription of fifteen cents a member to purchase two blood hounds to become the possession of the county and keep in a place where they will be easily accessible at all times to the sheriff.

The subject has been broached to several members of the association, individually, and they have all expressed a willingness to contribute to such a fund.

Communications have been received from several of the foremost kennels of the country offering a choice of blooded animals to the county.

Young hounds, partly trained, can be purchased for $40 each but if the proposition is endorsed and the money forthcoming, two dogs, with long pedigrees, trained man hunters, valued at $200 for the pair, will likely be contracted for.

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