The Donaldsonville Chief

Sensation in Springfield, Ill.

LARGE GANG OF BURGLARS ARRESTED.

We copy as follows from the Springfield Advertiser, of the 17th:

The reign of terror is over. The citizens of Springfield who, for the last five or six years, have not rested a single night securely in their beds, have at last been relieved of this constant dread. Houses entered night after night, servant girls choked in their beds, belated travelers assaulted and robbed in our streets, pistol shots penetrating dwellings, have combined to make Springfield shunned by all who desired a secure and peaceful home. Bolts and locks have proved insecure, private watchmen were worthless, and our insufficient police force of no avail.

Public meetings of outraged citizens where fierce and denunciatory resolutions were passed and taxes voted to procure a police force, are events which were called forth by the midnight plunderings of a band of desperadoes who were regardless of life, and would cut a throat with the utmost sang froid. The newspapers have hurled invectives against the Council, and have published petitions from injured parties. It was all of no avail.

Mayor J. J. Hanna, when elected to the office, was aware of its responsibilities. The burglars were holding forth in high carnival. He determined from the beginning to break up the gang. He therefore appealed early to the Council for help, and in its secret session laid his plans before the Council. He proposed, if the Council would sustain him in a financial way, to break up the organized gang, and relieve the citizens from their terror. The Mayor felt assured that the burglars who operated so successfully and in each case evaded detection, had a thorough system upon which they acted. He believed further, that the members of this gang were citizens of this place. The streets were often infested with young men who, with no visible means of support, yet appeared to have plenty of money and lived at their ease.

A man was selected who became intimately acquainted with the plans of the burglars, who met them when they prepared for their midnight excursions. He informed himself of their plans and purposes, and gave them, as fast as obtained, to Mayor Hanna, who detailed special policeman Bruner to watch them. The burglars, when they entered into a house, little knew that a man in a big overcoat, underneath which was concealed a blue uniform, watched all their movements, saw them enter, waited until they secured their plunder, and then saw them depart. Their names were in his possession. For several months this faithful policeman kept watch upon their movements, followed them like a shadow from place to place, haunted them day and night, until cases were made upon twenty of the gang. Some of these were not implicated as burglars, but were equally culpable as receivers of stolen goods.

Mayor Hanna was cognizant of the dangerous character of the villains, and fearful that before his plans were fully ripe a murder would be committed, for they had been seen in their secret retreats to brandish fierce, glistening knives, and swear with oaths that they would sheath them in certain parties whom they determined to visit, if they made the least outcry.

It was determined, finally, to make the arrests of twelve of the ringleaders. The police force were in entire ignorance of the work that was going on; but last evening the Mayor informed the Chief of Police of the arrests to be made. The mine was sprung, and the burglars found at last that perseverance, skill and energy had outwitted them.

"It was a wonder that it was kept a secret so long," was the exclamation heard upon the streets this morning.

The plans had been laid most judiciously. The Council kept the matter a secret, and ably seconded the suggestions of the Mayor, assuring him that they would support him in his efforts to clear the plague spot from the city.

The character of the parties who composed this gang was so well known that it was necessary to proceed with the utmost caution. Policeman Bruner, who has developed the shrewd qualities of the detective, was constantly on the alert, and he, in conference with the Mayor, knew all the plans of the burglars before they were fully carried out.

There was a regular organization, with a chief officer, who directed the proceedings of the gang. The strongest obligations rested upon each and every member. One of their oaths was that if any member was arrested they were to swear him out. The proceedings before the Mayor will begin as soon as possible, and it may be that they will be brought before the Court of Common Pleas at the present session.