Waukesha County Detective Society
alias
Waukesha County Horse-Thief Society
alias
Waukesha County Anti-Horse-Thief Society, etc., etc.
Compiled, edited and written by Michael R. Reilly, January 12, 2006
Updated 01/17/2006
Late in 1884 or early in 1885, a number of Waukesha County residents, including those from the town of Lisbon, fed-up with the lost of property due to thievery, and apparent lack of response/action by their local constables and sheriff, decided to form a private detective society. It had the spirit of cooperative effort to catch a thief and return the stolen property, as well as an insurance type of policy for the society’s membership.
As the years went on, enthusiasmin the Society lessened, and they attempted to change with the times. Instead of protecting all personal property of the member, the Society developed into one concentrating on horse thieves, and proactively trying to prevent the thieves.
Not all citizens took kindly to being watched by their local “detective”, and public opinion was sometimes against them. Pressure from outside influences, namely the Allan Pinkerton detective company, improved local police forces, ultimately led to their demise. But they lasted over fifteen years. From newspaper articles, or lack of, it’s seen that it’s own membership dwindled, and failed to appear at meetings, and the membership seemed to finally become a village of Waukesha organization (from its officers elected).
Unfortunately for the County’s citizens, criminal offenses, such as horse theft, didn’t diminish over the years, but actually increased at times.
An earlier forerunner of the Waukesha County society was the Vernon Protective Union society; click here for more details on how such a society operated.
Association against Horse Thieves
Forest House, Waukesha, April 2, 1865
Friend Wright: I would beg to suggest through your paperto the farmers of Waukesha county the propriety of associating for mutualprotection against horse thieves in particular, and out-door stock in general, avigilant combination of intelligent men, whose stock is exposed to the midnightoperation of thieves. If organized in time, it will be more than a match for thescoundrels who defy individual contrivances for detection. I would, therefore,propose to those who desire to stop this growing evil, in time, to meet and talkthe matter over at the court House, in Waukesha on Saturday, April 15th, at 2o’clock p.m.
Yours, respectfully,
M. Kilmiste. [Matthew Kilmiste]
[There is necessity for action in the matter suggested byMr. Kilmiste. Stealing horses, and oth stock, is becoming altogether of toofrequent occurrence to be longer submitted to. It is only a few evenings sincethat Mr. Kilmiste had stolen from his premises a valuable span of horses; andscarcely a week passes without the occurrence of similar thefts. Somethingshould be done, and that quickly – and we know of no better method to cure theevil than is suggested by Mr. Kilmiste. Let the farmers meet and talk the matterover. – Ed. Freeman]Waukesha Freeman, April 4, 1865
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Protection against Horse-Thieves, &c.
Friend Wright: I noticed a paragraph in your paper from M.Kilmiste, Esq., requesting the citizens of our county to assemble at our CourtHouse , on Saturday, April 15th, at 2 o’clock p.m., having for its object toperfect an organization for the mutual protection of our horses and cattle, andother valuables, against midnight marauders and horse-thieve.
I felt to exult on seeing this notice – my mind havingbeen deeply impressed for some time past with the importance of having anorganization which, if properly conducted, will redound to our security. The oldadage occurs to my mind, “Lock your stable after your horse isstolen.” An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,” andby acting in harmony and efficiently, having a good corps of detectives andcommittee of vigilance, located in different parts of our county, and have afund ample to defray the expenses that would necessarily be incurred insearching for stolen property and the miscreants who took it.
Such an organization will be a cheap insurance on the”mutual plan;” and I earnestly entreat our citizens to give a seriousthought to this subject, and sacrifice a little time and money with a view toultimately saving a good deal to each. Now, fellow citizens, who see thisnotice, please come along, and bring with you your neighbors, and each at lest afive dollar greenback, to create a fund for an enterprise somewhat of thecharacter to which I have alluded.
It is a subject that has been much on my mind of late, andI have been about making a move in the premises. It is true we are often calledupon to contribute for this and that object, which, in common with oppressivetaxation, makes a grievous burden, – But as regards the matter underconsideration, let us act wisely, and not be a “penny-wise and pound foolish.”
H. V. Prentice
Genesee, 7th, April, 1865.
Waukesha Freeman, April 11, 1865
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Forest House [Farm], May 8, 1865
Friend Wright – Having, with your assistance, and a few other right-minded,practical men, got the nucleus of an association started, it remains now thatthe ting is cut and dried – not for the farmers to wait for their horses, stock,or property to be stolen, but immediately call at the Treasurer’s office, dollarin hand – and not, when too late, wish they had. There ought to be at least athousand farmers in this County sensible enough to see the importance of a thiefdetective and aid society. Individual reliance in many cases falls through, withno friendly organization to fall back upon for assistance. I lost my horses fromthe stable at night, and being single-handed, have never found them; and so mayit be with others. Therefore, my advice is, avail yourselves of this mode oflocking your stables in time. The first Monday in June is appointed for ameeting of its’ members, to perfect general arrangements, when I hope to see alarge throng of farmers at the Court House. As your paper may perhaps yet reachthe secret hiding hole of my stolen horses, I beg you to insert the enclosed advertisement,the cost of which, and a more effective reward, farmers will see, could be moreefficiently done by the aid of association.
I perceive you are giving insertion to useful andsuggestive matter from Messrs. Marsh and Prentice, which I think is good. I hopeothers will do likewise, and mutual improvement be the result.
Yours, &c.,
M. Kilmiste
May 9, 1865
The Waukesha County Detective Society, meets at the Court House, Monday, June5th. Waukesha Freeman, May 16, 1865
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The Society met at the Court House, pursuant to adjournment,on the 5th day of June, 1865, the President in the cha__.
On motion, the following named __ were elected a Vigilance Committee:
Lisbon – R. Cooling.
All the officers of the Society were authorized to solicitmembers and re___ and pay to the Treasurer the initiation fee. There will be ameeting of the Executive Committee of the Society at the Court House onSaturday, the first day of the next, at one o’clock p.m. It is hoped allofficers of the Society will be present.
Geo. C. Pratt, Sec.
Waukesha, June 6, 1865
Waukesha Freeman, June 6, 1865
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There is not sufficient interest felt in reference to ourWaukesha county Detective Society. It is sadly thru that it is too late to lockthe stable door after the horse has been stolen. I suspect a citizen ofBrookfield, in this county, felt rather uncomfortable when he found his entireclip of wool feloniously taken from him – nearly one hundred fleeces – at leastone-half of the value of which he would save had he paid one dollar, and becomea member of the Detective Society. – We are constantly in the school ofexperience, and wise if we give good heed to its teachings.
H. V. Prentice,
Genesee, June 30, 1865
Waukesha Freeman, July 4, 1865
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The Executive Committee of the Waukesha County DetectiveSociety, met at the office of the Secretary, June 6th, 1866. The following namedpersons were appointed Detectives for the ensuing year:
Lisbon – Andrew Howitt
The following By-Laws were adopted; Sec. 1. There shall beappointed by the Executive Committee at their annual meeting in December, ineach of the towns in the county, one or more persons – members of the society -who shall be known as “Detectives,” whose duty it shall be whennotified that any member of the Society has had any property stolen, toforthwith assist in searching for and recovering the same, and in arresting thethief or thieves, and all necessary expenses incurred by such detectives in thedischarge of their duty shall be paid by the Society.
Sec. 2. No claim or demand against the Society shall be paid until the sameshall have been audited and allowed by the Executive Committee.
Sec. 3. Any member of the Society shall be allowed and paid one-half of thecash value of any property stolen from him after the first day of July, A. D.1866, provided, that he make it appear to the Executive Committee – 1st:That he was the owner of the property stolen. 2nd: That he has made allreasonable efforts to recover the same for at least three months, and that thesame has not been found, The value of the property must, in all cases, be shownby disinterested witnesses.
Sec. 4. The executive committee shall meet on the first Monday in March,June, September, and December, for the purpose of auditing accounts against theSociety, and for other proper business.
Sec. 5. the executive committee may revoke all appointments made by them. Detectivesshall hold their offices for one year and until their successors are appointed,unless their commissions be sooner revoked.
Sec. 6. These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the ExecutiveCommittee by a majority of all the members thereof.
All members of the Society are requested to act as agentsto obtain members, and forward the name and one dollar to John Forbes,Treasurer, at Waukesha, who will by return mail, send a certificated ofmembership.
Geo. C. Pratt, Secretary
June 12, 1866
Note: Geo. C. Pratt probably brother to that “prince of DetectiveOfficers, A. F. Pratt”
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The Annual Meetings of the Waukesha County DetectiveSociety and the County Agricultural Society are held respectively on the firstand second Mondays of December. Waukesha Freeman, November 27, 1866
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Protection Against Thieves – The citizens of Duplainville and vicinity, inconsequence of having suffered the loss by thieves, of several horses, cows,&c., held an adjourned meeting at the Remington Prairie schoolhouse onWednesday, March 4th, and organized “The Duplainville Aid and DetectiveSociety, “ for the protection of its members against horse and cattlethieves. W. T. Donaldson was elected President, A. W. Griswold, Secretary, andThos. Cook, Treasurer. Citizens in that vicinity wishing to reap the benefitsderived from an organization above named, can be become members by applying tothe treasurer. Waukesha Freeman, March 12, 1868
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Our Neighbor – Who Is He?
Waukesha Freeman, December 30, 1869 [an excerpt]
Is that man our neighbor who practices the privatedetective system, and is continually watching our proceedings behind thehalf-closed slats of his shutters? Is he your neighbor who, under the garb of Christianityand the exterior sanctity, entertains feelings of the most malignant hate; andwhose maxim is war – war to the knife, and war to the end, until they havedotted the reputation of their victim with fresh made scars. To such as these Imust say, in the language of Shakespeare, “Miserable comforters are yeall.”
-M.
Genesee Depot, Dec. 27, 1869
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[Editor Note – I believe that sometime between 1867to March 1870, the original Detective Society was dissolved or fell to such lowattendance/enthusiasm that it required a resurrection from the ashes. It’sinteresting to note the name similarities used throughout the Society(s)’history.]
The Plaindealer, March 1, 1870 – Horse Thief Detective Society At a meeting held at the Court House, in Waukesha, on the 26th ult., for the purpose of organizing a county horse thief detective society, on motion Daniel Brown was called to the chair, and W. R. Blodgett appointed secretary, After some discussion, a committee of five, consisting of A. F. Pratt; M. Barber; John Porter, C. A. Blodgett and E. S. Purple, were appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws and report officers &c, at an adjourned meeting. On motion, the meeting adjourned until Saturday next at one o’clock p. m. Daniel Brown, Cha’n W. R. Blodgett, Sec’y
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The Plaindealer, March 8, 1870 – Proceedings of the Adjourned Meeting to Organize a Thief Detective Society The adjourned meeting organizing a county thief detective society, came off at the court house on Saturday, the 5th inst. Mr. A. F. Pratt, chairman of the committee appointed the week previous to report a constitution and by-laws, and to recommend officers for the society, made the following report, which, after considering each article separate, was adopted. Article 1. This organization shall be known as the Waukesha County Thief Detective Society. Art.2. Its officers shall consist of a President, Treasurer, Secretary, and two additional officers as an Executive Committee, who shall be elected annually and hold their offices until their successors are elected and qualified. Art. 3. Any person may become a member of this society by subscribing to the constitution and by-laws, and paying into the Treasury, five dollars. Art. 4. The officers of the society, including the two Executive Committee, shall constitute an Executive Committee for the transaction of the business of the society, with power to audit accounts and direct generally in all expenditures. Art. 5. Whenever a horse of other property of value of $30 or more (except merchandise usually kept in stores,) is stolen from any member of the society, it shall be the duty of each member to aid and assist in recovering it and capturing the thief or thieves, but no person shall be allowed pay for such services unless he acted by the advice and authority of the Executive Committee. Art. 6. The Executive Committee, or a majority of them, shall have the power to assess a tax on members of this society at any time, for the purpose of defraying its expenses or paying for stolen property that cannot be recovered, but shall never pay more than two-thirds the value of the property stolen, nor more than two hundred dollars for articles stolen at any one time. Art. 7. The headquarters of this society shall be kept at the county seat, but whenever twenty-five or more persons join the society from any town except Waukesha, the Executive Committee may appoint a town committee of three from those members, who shall have all the power within their town of the Executive Committee, except auditing accounts. Art. 8. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep the funds of the society in safe depository, and shall not use or pay out the same for any purpose except upon the order of the clerk, with the names of a majority of the Executive Committee endorsed thereon, and shall receive such pay for his services as the Executive Committee may direct. Art. 9. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to record all proceedings of the society in a book to be kept by him for that purpose, which book shall also contain the constitution and by-laws of the society and the names of its members, and the Executive Committee may allow him for his services such compensation as they may deem proper. Art. 10. The annual meeting of this society shall be held at the court house on the second Monday in December of each year at two o’clock p. m., and each member shall be entitled to a vote. Art. 11. Special meetings of this society may be held at any time whenever ordered by a majority of the executive committee, by giving notice there of in a newspaper published in Waukesha. Art. 12. This constitution and by-laws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, at any regular meeting of the society. Officers of the Society President – John Porter Treasurer – Wm. Blair Secretary – W. V. Tichenor Executive Committee – M. Barber, R. B. McCumber. Those present then signed the constitution and paid in the fees, and the meeting adjourned sine die. Daniel Brown, Chan’n W. R. Blodgett, Sec’y —————– The Plaindealer, December 6, 1870 – The annual meeting of the members of the Waukesha County Detective Society, for the purpose of electing officers &c., will be held at the Court House, on Monday, Dec. 12th, 1870, at 10 o’clock a.m. W. V. Tichenor, Sec’y ————- The Plaindealer, November 21, 1871 – The annual meeting of the members of the Waukesha County Detective Society, for the purpose of electing officers, &c., will be held at the Court House, on Monday, Dec. 11th, 1871, at 10 o’clock A. M. W. V. Tichenor, Secretary. on same page, beneath above: A meeting of the Duplainville Aid and Detective Association is hereby called for the election of officers, and the transaction of other business, The meeting will be held at the Duplainville Schoolhouse on Saturday, the 25th day of November, 1871, at 2 o’clock P. M .
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The Plaindealer, September 24, 1872 – On Sunday morning Messrs. Arnold, Fossing and Coleman, of Brookfield, came up here and announced that fact that a horse had been stolen belonging to Mr. W. R. Blodgett, who is a member of the “Thief Detective Society”. In a few moments the officers of the Society, with Deputy Sheriff Jones, were on hand to assist them, and they soon found the horse and thieves at the American House. It seems that two Germans so-called peddlers came along by Blodgett’s and took from his stable a fine young horse, and left theirs – by the road side. They came here about 5 o’clock, got breakfast, and were about starting out when our Brookfield friends arrived. On seeing them the horse thieves took leg bail up the banks of the mill race, one was caught at the upper bridge and the other ran till he was forced to surrender or put into the mill pond, but chose the latter. After being surrounded some time in the pond and listening to “Bob’s” revolver, he concluded to “give up the job.” A majority of the crowd present were anxious to drown or hang the thieves, but they were finally conducted to jail in “good order.” The thieves are two young men who travel the country disguised as peddlers, while their business is that of “petty thieves,” but are not smart enough for horse thieves. This is the first horse that has been stolen from a member of the Society since it was organized, and if the thieves has not been fools, it might have cost the Society several hundred dollars to capture them; but there is money enough in the Society to capture any thief or pay for the property stolen. We feel indebted to “Bob” Jones, the only official who volunteered to assist in capturing the. “Bob” waded through the mud into the river and brought out the head thief, while many on the bank refused to help. Wile we admire “Bob’s” pluck, we are free to say we would much rather shot him while defying us in the river, and taken out his lifeless body. But the best joke of the whole was played on the first one captured. While “Bob” and his crowd were following the last one, we stood guard on the Bridge street bridge over the first one. In the mean time quite a crowd gathered, among was our old friend, Russell Wheller; and we suggested to the crowd, that in order to save expense we must hang or drown him, when some one cried out “drown him,” and in a moment Wheeler caught him from us and threw him over the railing of the bridge into the race, but he caught upon the the timbers and was permitted to “come ashore.” Our by-laws make it the duty of the officers to recover all stolen property and to capture the thieves regardless of cost, and to pay for all property not recovered. We therefore feel under lasting obligations to the citizens here who turned out to aid in this case, and more particularly to Dept. Sheriff Jones, the only officer who volunteered to assist. The thieves gave their names as Charles May, 21 years of age, and of German birth, and Carl Recart Luber, 24 years of age.- They are from Milwaukee, and say they go for Grant for President. We thought so.
[Editor’s Note – The Plaindealer’s editor, Mr. Pratt (ex-Waukesha Sheriff) appears that the people, and himself, would have had no problems with lynching or drowning the thieves on the spot. Fortunately they did have the real law present.]
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The Plaindealer, October 1, 1872 – At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Waukesha County Detective Society, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the officers of this Society tender Deputy Sheriff Jones a suit of clothes of the value of $50, for his timely aid in assisting us in the capture of the thieves who stole a horse from Mr. W. R. Blodgett, of Brookfield, the only member of our Society who has sustained a loss since its organization. A. F. Pratt, President of the Society
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The Plaindealer, October 8, 1872 – After a Horse Thief – Sheriff Graham, of Waukesha, is looking for an Englishman named F. Ottoman, who stole a horse from Patrick McGovern, a farmer in Pewaukee. Ottoman was tracked to a place near this city, and sheriff Graham will no doubt get him. The horse was branded U. S. – Evening Wisconsin of Tuesday.
[Editor’s Note – I inserted the above article to show that the elected sheriff did go after horse thieves. The article, further above, notes that Mr. Blodgett was the first Society member to have a horse stolen; not to say that some non-Society members in Waukesha county didn’t.]
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The Plaindealer, December 19, 1872 – On the Road to Waupun – From the Milwaukee News we learn that Sheriff Graham was in that city on Friday en route for Waupun with the thieves who stole Mr. Blodgett’s horse. The News neglects to tell us whether he goes via Chicago or Green Bay. If the object is to make an exhibition of these convicts, or to increase the mileage, he had better go via Chicago and Janesville. Later – since the above was written a friend of the Sheriff informs us that he has no pass on the Northwestern Road, but has one over all the branches of the St. Paul Road, consequently he travels via Milwaukee to Waupun all the way over the latter road. “Nuff ced”.
[Editor’s Note – The appears to be no love lost between the former sheriff and present. The ex-sheriff did have a grudge with the Waukesha County Board of Supervisors, but that a story for elsewhere.]
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The County “Detective Society” held its annualmeeting at the court house, on Monday last, and elected the following namedofficers for the ensuing year: A. F. Pratt, President; Wm. Blair, Treasurer; F;H. Putney, Secretary; Manville Barber and Exra S. Purple, Executive Committee. WaukeshaFreeman, December 12, 1872
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County Detective Society – At the annual meeting of theCounty Detective Society held at the Court House yesterday, A. F. Pratt wasre-elected President, Wm. Blair, Treasurer, F. H. Putney, Secretary. R. B.McCumber and John Porter as additional members of Executive Committee. On motionthe President, Treasurer and Secretary were authorized to loan the funds of theSociety to the Bank, subject to be drawn out on demand. – Plaindealer. WaukeshaFreeman, December 11, 1873.
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The Waukesha County Thief Detective Society will hold anadjourned meeting at the Court House in Waukesha, On Monday, Dec. 20, at 2o’clock p.m. Waukesha Freeman, December 16, 1875
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April 19, 1877 – Article mentions the “Horse Thief Detective Associationof Milwaukee”.
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The annual meeting of the Waukesha County Horse ThiefDetective Society Society was held at the Court House, in this village, on Dec.9, 1878, at 1 p.m.
Meeting was called to order by the President of theSociety, John Porter. It was moved and carried that the Society proceed to theelection of officers for the ensuing year, and that they be chosen byacclimation. Then proceeded to the election with result as follows: R. B.McCumber, President; Wm. Blair, Treas., O. P. Clinton, Sec’y., S. A. Fox and W.R. Blodgett, Additional Members of the Executive Committee.
There being no other business, meeting adjourned sinedie.
O. P. Clinton, Sec’y.
Waukesha Freeman, December 12, 1878
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The annual meeting of the Waukesha County Horse-ThiefDetective Society, will be held at the court House, in the village of Waukesha,on Monday next, Dec. 8th, at 1 p.m., sharp.
O. P. Clinton, Sec’y
Waukesha Freeman, December 4, 1879
Note: No change of officers from previous year.
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Annual meeting of the Waukesha County Anti Horse-ThiefSociety, held at the Court House, December 8, 1884, Waukesha Freeman,December 18, 1884
Note: No change of officers from year 1878.
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The annual meeting of the Waukesha County Anti-Horse-ThiefSociety will be held at the Town Hall in this village of Waukesha, In Monday,Dec. 13th, 1886, at 1 p.m.
R. B. McCumber, Pres.
O. P. Clinton, Sec.
Waukesha Freeman, December 9, 1886
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Met on Dec. 12th, 1887. WF Dec. 8, 1887
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Annual meeting at Court House, on Dec. 10, 1888. O. P.Clinton, Sec., WF, Dec.6, 1888
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The annual meeting of the Waukesha County Anti-Horse thief Society will beheld at the Court House, Monday, Dec. 1st, 1890, at 1 p.m.
R. B. McCumber, Pres.
O. P. Clinton, Sec’y
Waukesha Freeman, November 27, 1890
The Vernon ProtectiveUnion society which recently passed into history, as the inevitable result ofthe advent of the “horseless carriage”. was organized by citizens ofBig Bend and vicinity, in 1854. at the home of Prucius Putnam, Big Bend, Wis. The object of the society was the protection of horses and detection ofhorse-thieves. Six years after its organization, mules, were brought within theprotection of this society.
Hezikah Mason was calledto the chair at the first meeting, and Edward Reynolds was chosen Secretary.Jesse smith was elected president and Leonard Martin, secretary for the ensuingyear. Prucius Putnam was elected Treasurer. Jesse Smith and H. R. Burrill wereappointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws for the government ofthe society. At an adjourned meeting, held two week later at the Leonard Martintavern; H. B. Barritt and George Shepard were elected vice-president, andLorenzo Ward, collector. Charter members numbered about fifty. The headquartersof the society were located at Prucius Putnam’s store; later the location waschanged to the Big Bend bridge. The limits of the jurisdiction of theorganization were within a radius of 12 miles of said location, comprising partsof Waukesha, Racine, Walworth, and Milwaukee counties. The area was divided intotwo districts, and the president appointed a vigilant committee of five membersfor each district, whose duty it was to start in pursuit of a horse-thief at amoments warning at any time, on being notified that a horse had been stolen fromany member of the society.
The first vigilant committee appointed for the northerndistrict included H. B. Burritt, chairman; Finley McNaughton, O. W. Shepherd, RobertWeir, and Leonard Martin. For the southern district, the town of Waterford, F.D. Merrills, I. H. Rice, Archibald Cooper, Charles Moe, and D. Gleason, served.
The society met and elected all officers and appointedcommittees annually, holding its meetings at the house of Jesse Smith, Dodge’sCorners from 1857 until 1871. Meetings were thereafter held at the house ofLeonard Martin, Chamberlain, until 1898, and thereafter at the Literary hall,Big Bend.
A few adjourned meetings at an early date were held at theschool house near Webster’s. Webster occupied the house which is now the home ofEdward Raht, Gutherie.
Jesse Smith served continuously as president of thesociety until 1876; then he declined re-election and Asa Wilkins was elected tothe chair and served until 1883. Succeeding presidents were, J. C. Counse, PerryCraig, S. B. Smith, C. W. Rose, and V. J. Stickney. Royal Bailey was one of itsearliest secretaries and compiled the records of the society for many years.
In 1872 the society comprised six districts, and vigilantswere appointed for each district. These appointees were: …
At this time the society numbered 193 members and 483horses valued at $64, 294 were registered.
Records giving these facts were signed by John Park,secretary.
A few resolutions from the records of the society may beof interest: “Motion made and carried that the secretary be authorized tocause to be published in the Waukesha paper the proceedings of this meeting andconditions of same provided the publishers print same free of charge.”
“Male members who are unable by sickness, to attendthe society, and “lady” members shall have the right and authority tovote by proxy. (Why the proxy for lady members?) Several ladies were at thattime members of the society.
No registered horse was reported stolen from a member ofthe society but there were instances where a horse was stolen from a member’sbarn, but in each instance it was an animal that was not registered. [EditorNote: This sounds a little suspicious to me. How were unregistered horses onlytargeted unless someone knew what to look for?] It often happenedthat a member neglected to keep his horses recorded up to date so that a thief,if he took pains to find out, might know which were registered, and which werenot. The effort to recover a registered horse would have been greater than onenot registered.
A horse was hired at the Warren Smith livery stable [seebelow], Waukesha, and was not retuned. After waiting a reasonablelength of time the “Riders” as they were called, were sent tohunt horse and driver, which were soon located, and it was found that the driverhad no intention of returning the horse to its owner.
This society served well its members as long as the needexisted, and its records will be of great interest in years to come.
Jessie A. Clark
Big Bend, Wis., Feb. 25, 1925
Source: Waukesha Freeman, February 26, 1925
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One hundred dollars is the reward offered by the VernonProtective Horse thief Association for the conviction of the thief who hired ahorse and buggy from the livery stable of W. H. Smith, of this village, onSaturday, Sept. 7, and failed to return it. The horse was a gray mare nine yearsold and weighing 1,000 pounds; the buggy, a side bar spiral spring. They werehired by a young man who registered at the American House as C. Foster ofChicago.
Two days later after the theft, Mr. Smith got track of theproperty in Milwaukee, where the thief had tried to dispose of it. Further hehas made no discovery. Waukesha Freeman, September 19, 1889