Marietta Daily Leader

RIVER THIEVES
Traced to This City But Are Not
Located As Yet.

Samuel Westwood, ex-chief of police
of Martins Ferry, and Mr. T. E. Clark,
of near that city, arrived in the city
Wednesday noon in search of a gang
of river thieves, who have been robbing stores and houses all along the
Ohio river from Pittsburg to Marietta.

Mr. Clark keeps a general store
about two miles above Martins Ferry,
and on Sunday night, Sept. 18th,
thieves entered the building and carried away a large portion of his stock.

Mr. Clark immediately employed Mr.
Westwood, of Martins Ferry, a man
who has had a large experience in
chasing and capturing robbers, and a
careful search was made for a clue.

They learned of three men named
John Gear, John Davis and Wm. McKnight, who were living in a houseboat, and they immediately gave chase.

They succeeded in following them
along the river and found that they
had stopped at several points where
robberies had been committed, but
when they got to within a few miles
of Marietta all trace of them was lost.

The men are living in a shanty-boat
named Edna. It is painted a drab color and is said by those who have seen
it to be well stocked with goods.

All of these men are well known to
the authorities at Martins Ferry, and
Officer Westwood has on three occasions sent McKnight to the penitentiary on a like offense.

It is thought that these are the men
who have been committing the robberies which have taken place along
the river in the recent past and a careful search is being made for them.