Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY

"Other, bay mare, weighs about 1,300, white snip, right hind
foot white, a peculiar white spot on one hip, small star in forehead, about 12 years old. Both horses shod in front, barefoot
behind.
"The same night the same thief stole from John S. Sweet, in
the southwest corner of Delhi Township, this county, one Coquillard lumber wagon, sold and warranted by Knapp and Carr of
Eaton Rapids. Six unmarked grain bags in wagon. The thief
is evidently making north to the pinery. Last heard of him he
was in Eaton county going north.
"I will pay $25 for the thief locked in any jail in the State, also
$25 for the horses and $10 for wagon and bags.
"J. C. Squiers, Deputy Sheriff, Mason, Ingham Co., Mich."
On the morning of October 2 Mr. Adams went to the pasture to
get his team in order to take some friends to the early train going
north through Mason, and not finding them thought at first they
might have wandered from his place during the night, but when he
was looking for them he found that a neighbor on an adjoining
farm had discovered that a part of his harness was gone, and a few
hours later he learned of the theft of the wagon and grain bags,
and decided that his horses formed a part of that oufit that was
seen traveling West. The trail was followed as far as the Eaton
county line and there the travel of the morning had destroyed it.
It was reported that the thieves had headed for the north woods,
and the hunt was directed that way. Descriptions of the horses
were sent in every direction, the peculiar markings of one of the
animals leading to the belief that it could be easily identified.
Although it was undertsood that there was a lair for horse thieves
in northern Indiana, in what has since been known as "The Limberlost country," not much attention was paid to that fact as the
course taken by the thieves was in the opposite direction.
When five days had passed without anything being heard of the
missing horses, Mr. Adams gave up all hope of ever seeing them
again, but on the morning of the sixth day a peculiar incident
occurred.
A farmer living near Kalamazoo happened to wake about one
o'clock at night, and as he turned his eyes toward the window, to
his surprise, he saw someone light a match at the door of his barn
across the road. With the thought of incendiaries in mind, he
called his hired man and they started out to investigate.