Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1881 — Frontier Criminals. [ARTICLE]

Frontier Criminals.

The different kinds of criminals in New Mexico and Arizona are given distinguishing names. “Rustlers” are thieves who steal cattle on the United States side of the line, run them into Mexico, sell them there, and then load themselves with Mexican plunder for the return trip. “Cowboys ” are those who earn an honest living by herding, and behave well enough when at work, although when in the towns for a holi day they commit all manner of outrages forfun. “ Card jerkers ” are professional gamblers who cheat those with whom they play. “Dinglers” are stage robbers. ‘ ‘ Notcliers ” are men who wantonly take human life, apparently with the sole object of gaining reputation as desperadoes. They are the terror of the border, and little is even done to bring them to punishment except by sudden resentment of a mob. Silver City, however, is an exception in this respect among border towns, for it has a District Attorney who prosecutes vigorously and a Sheriff who does not let his prisoners escape. The trials are queer, the jurors often being unable to undestand anything but Spanish, while the speaking is done in English ; but that does not seem to hinder convictions, for sixteen condemned murderers were in jail under death sentences only ten days ago. Virginia {Nev. ) Chroniele.