Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 263, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1914 — THIEVES TO CATCH THIEVES. [ARTICLE]

THIEVES TO CATCH THIEVES.

Many Former Bandits Not* In Mexico’s Mounted Police. The Rurales or mounted police have pretty nearly put a stop to brigandage. Several years ago the Govern- . ment recognized the wisdom of the old adage “Set a thief to catch a thief” and offered pardon and protection to all brigands who would enlist as rurales. ’ » Most of them took advantage of the offer, writes Dillon Wallace in Outing, and with these men on the side of law and order holdups soon became infrequent, and the rurales developed into a wonderfully efficient mounted force to hunt down bandits. They are fearless riders, they Know every mountain pass and fastness, and when they once start after a man he is pretty sure to be caught or killed — generally killed. The rurales of Mexico compare favorably in bravery and reckless daring with that wonderful organizatioir\the Northwest Mounted Police of Canada and are by far the best armed force in Mexico. Their calling gives them opportunity for wild adventure, and thus satisfies the craving tor a life of danger, which led many of them to be brigands in the first instance. They are a free and easy lot, quite in contrast to the peaceably Inclined policemen of the towns and the slow moving, indolent soldiery of the regular army.