Corrupt Mayor to face justice
By Wylie Frey
Disgraced Mayor Tobin Winfield is behind bars. He was tracked down in Thieves Landing where he immediately gave himself up to the first bounty hunter that approached. As it happened, this bounty hunter was a novice and surprise by this action but went along with along with it when Winfield volunteered to take the bounty hunter to the location of the stolen deeds. He lowered his guard and was killed when the pair were ambushed by criminals hoping to score the deeds themselves. Winfield was taken hostage and only freed by a second bounty hunter who had been following his trail.

She shot first and pulled off a one woman ambush. According to her, the former mayor wet himself during the altercation. The bounty hunter was able to protect Winfield as they recovered the stolen deeds and she promptly put him in a prison wagon after. “It’s for his own protection and any bounty hunter worth her salt knows not to trust a target.” Winfield has pleaded guilty, avoiding a trial. He will be transferred to Sisika Penitentiary where he will serve out his sentence.

Misfits of the West involved in gunfight at the Tumbleweed Saloon
By Jose Chavez
What seemed to be a mundane incident barely worth mentioning that cost the lives of four men, allegedly ruffians but surely unpopular in the town of  Tumbleweed, New Austin, just another tale of violence in this still wild and uncivilized west, has turned into a tipping point for the law in their fight against the ruthless Misfits of the West.

After the likeness of the Misfit leader “Mister T” became known, a victim of what is now called “The Gunfight at the Tumbleweed Saloon” came forward to provide his testimony to Detective Tom Watson of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, in charge of putting an end to the outlaw gang Misfits of the West, linking these Misfits to this shooting. In an effort to transparently inform the public of the ruthlessness of these criminals, Detective Watson allowed us to interview the victim ourselves.

“It all happened too fast” the anonymous victim said, “me and my 5 cousins were drinking when all of the sudden these 4 bastards attacked us.” “This man”, he said pointing at the picture of Mister T, “called his friend ‘Tech’ and pointed at my cousins, and the bastard shot them. I tried to intervene but the old Irishman disarmed me and knock me down. After hitting the floor, I could see 3 of my cousins laying dead, cowardly shot to pieces. I also saw a maniac with a hammer beating one of my cousins to death while the Irishman fought my only remaining cousin, who lost an eye and all his teeth after the fight. All the while the man you call Mister T just kept drinking and smiled.”

Based on the witness’s descriptions, Detective Watson was able to identify Jeremy “Technique” Bentham as the shooter (our newspaper published a photograph of this outlaw on last week’s edition) and thanks to our efforts in compiling all pictures we had on known, old timer, Irish outlaws in the area, a third Misfit has now been identified: John Kelby, also known as Vision, as the person who severely beat the only two survivors. (See picture below)

John Kelby became a feared cattle rustler, horse thieve and stagecoach robber in New Hannover after his family was murdered in an apparent botched robbery by the O’Driscoll Boys in Valentine. He and his brother took up arms to take their revenge. Their response was so bloody and brutal that the law had to put a bounty on their heads in an attempt to stop the public shootings and wanton violence and restore the peace, so the brothers turned to lawlessness to survive. John Kelby (or “Vision” for his amazing skill at tracking) had not been seen in years, after the apparent death of his brother, and was presumed dead until now. He has now found a new family in the malevolent Misfits of the West.

It is our duty, of course, to provide the official report of the shootout provided by the Tumbleweed Sheriff’s Office, which we are assured is backed by many bystander accounts. The deputies said that the victims were lowlifes, possibly Del Lobos, and they were clearly the instigators. They claimed that the man who responded to “Tech” only shot the three men after they reached for metal and tried to draw on him, his back was turned to them but he was warned with a nod  by one of his companions (presumably Mister T). The other victim died in the subsequent fight, although no one mentioned the use of a hammer. This bunch was not detained because of the unanimous opinion that they acted in self-defense. It is important to note that the deputy who gave us the report called the victims “scum”, and he let slip that even the Sheriff of Tumbleweed, Sam Freman, was relieved that he didn’t have to be the one to shoot them anymore, so certain he was that victims were outlaws out to no good, which could make people doubt the impartiality of this report. Many questions still remain. Why is the town so unwilling to collaborate with the investigations on these Misfits? Not one person, except one of the victims, came forward after the identities of these outlaws were revealed; and people still choose to feign ignorance when asked to confirm if the identified Misfits were indeed the men involved in the gunfight. We’ll investigate what causes this reluctance as the weeks progress.

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Man mauled by pack of wolves
By Jane Duran
A casual ride through snowy Ambarino turned fatal for one ill-prepared cowpoke. While riding with a friend, the cowpoke was suddenly attacked by a large pack of wolves. Their horse, an Arabian, immediately bucked the cowpoke and ran off. “There was nothing I could do… The wolves had ’em surrounded. One had an arm and another had a leg. I… I rode off as fast as I could,” said the ‘friend.’ The survivor was shaken, but alive. After a night’s rest he gathered a posse in Strawberry and went to search for the dead cowpoke. “They deserve a proper burial, and I need to gather their effects and such,” the ‘friend’ told me.

Upon return however, the posse was empty handed. They searched but could not found the dead cowpoke. “Dragged off by them wolves I reckon,” said one member of the search party. This is another story that serves as a reminder that Ambarino is a dangerous place and not the place for a casual ride through the mountains.

Prison Breakout in Blackwater
By Nick McCrary
A quiet day in Blackwater remained uninterrupted despite a jailbreak occurring. Two unknown cowpokes strolled into Blackwater with one going straight into the Blackwater Police Department. “Feller started asking questions about the town, and before a knew it someone grabbed me and I was out,” a Blackwater policeman told me. It is believed the second man sneaked into the police station through he back door before incapacitating the policeman and taking his keys.

The men then freed a prisoner named Sullivan Streight, who had been in jail for indecent acts involving livestock, which he denied. A bounty has been reissued for Streight and the men who broke him out, though they are unnamed and only one was seen. “He had dark brown hair, clean shaven, and he wore an eyepatch,” the attacked police officer described. Any information on Streight’s whereabouts should be sent to the Blackwater Police Station immediately.

Man’s plan to build a home hits roadblock after roadblock
By Alois Burditt
A man from Saint Denis decided to trade in the city life for a life on in the Great Plains “I’m a decent farmer and builder, got some savings too. Figured it was time to start my own adventure!” The man said he went to Blackwater first, where he purchases materials before even having a plot of land on which to build. Here he realized his savings were not enough and he had to take out a loan with the bank in Blackwater.

Undeterred, he continued to the Great Plains and purchased a small plot of land with the rest of his loan. He sent for his materials to be delivered, but this did not go as planned.

“Most of my materials were stolen while on delivery! But I made due and just built smaller. I mean I couldn’t follow the plans no more, but I made it work.” He built a structure that could barely be described as four walls and a roof. One wall was higher than the others, leaning against the shorter walls and extending higher than the roof. Certainly this shelter could not provide adequate protection from the elements. To make matters worse, the man was beset upon by bandits and wild animals.

“I haven’t had much time to do anything except build this home and try to defend it. Hopefully I can make some money soon, gotta start paying the bank back!”

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Pawnee County man shot in Valentine
By Embery Cosberry
A Pawnee County cowpoke, newly set free upon the Five States, found out that strangers are not treated so kindly in Valentine. While moseying about Valentine after a quick stop at the butcher, the cowpoke learned real quick that in the Five States one needs a quick trigger finger. “Thought I’d get myself a drink and this feller just comes out of the general store and shoots me!” said the Pawnee County cowpoke. The deputies reacted quickly and though they did not manage to hit the attacker, they drove him back into the general store with their gunfire. This likely saved the victim’s life.

The shooter was apprehended when a long time Five States resident came in through the back door and tapped the shooters back with a double barrel shotgun. The shooter dropped his gun and surrendered immediately. “Some say he’s a hero, but you know that bastard wouldn’t give us custody until we put a bounty out for him? What is this pre-bounty nonsense?” complained Sheriff Curtis Malloy. Despite the complaint, a bounty was issued and the shooter turned into the authorities. Fortunately for the cowpoke from Pawnee County, they were shot in one of the few towns with a resident doctor.

“Well, I’m alive. Owe the doctor quite a bit a money. But once I heal up I’ll tackle the Five States and pay him back!” said the recovering cowpoke, rather optimistically. In debt and in no condition to work, this Pawnee County cowpoke should not have taken hazards of the Five States lightly.

Le Colosse continues to impress on his tour of the Five States
By Rutherford X Downing
The catch as catch can wrestler Le Colosse, real name Pierre Pons, has performed a feat most thought could only be done in the realm of make believe. After showing off his skills in Saint Denis and taking on a bare knuckle fighter in Valentine, Le Colosse took on his greatest challenge yet: A grizzly bear.

The ferocious beast came roaring from the forest and spooked audience members. Le Colosse taunted the bear into the make shift ring as the audience went silent. The bear stood on its hind legs and roared, which caused Le Colosse’s hair to move wildly. Yet, the grappler stood his ground! The bear lunged forward and Le Colosse met him in what appeared to be a collar and elbow lock up. Le Colosse groaned and strained against the strength of the giant grizzly. The audience watched and spoke in hushed tones, unsure of what exactly would happen next.

Without warning, Le Colosse stopped pushing against the grizzly and instead rolled back. The bear toppled forward, ill-prepared for Le Colosse changing positions. As the bear’s momentum took it forward Le Colosse reengaged the beast and twisted his body at the hips, taking the bear down! The crowd jumped to their feet and screamed as Le Colosse mounted the downed bear and held it down for a full three count. Le Colosse was declared the winner, which pleased the audience. After the match, Le Colosse and the defeated bear posed for pictures.

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Bounty hunter brings in wrong woman
By Aloysius Levron
Etta Doyle remains at large. Across the Five States, this is one bounty most seemed to avoid. “We will not confirm any rumors regarding who orchestrated this bounty. Etta Doyle is a criminal. It is as simple as that,” stated the BHTC Bounty Hunter Liaison. Rumor spread that this bounty was being funded almost entirely by Leviticus Cornwall. Ms. Doyle has in fact robbed many trains and stagecoaches owned by Mr. Cornwall, but another motive may be behind it. Just last week this very paper exposed Mr. Cornwall’s business protecting fugitives from the law, perhaps this was a way for him change the narrative.

I spoke to the bounty hunter Nathaniel Cross about this target and he had this to say, “Cornwall is as corrupt as they come, and I know a little something about corruption. I wouldn’t touch that target if you paid me. And they were.” If Mr. Cornwall truly wanted to remain disconnected from this bounty, he has failed miserably. The bounty hunter that did take the job was successful, until a close examination revealed he had the wrong woman.

“She had a scar,” he said. However, this woman was definitely not Etta Doyle. She was a very loyal follower who had scarred her face to protect Ms. Doyle by confusing bounty hunters. A plan that worked. As a result, Etta Doyle remains at large. Her follower is in jail and will remain in jail, however her capture is not one worth celebrating. Especially not for Mr. Cornwall, who as of press time increased security on his trains and stagecoaches.

Saint Denis docks under smoke?
By Ela Q. Asken
Saint Denis is often covered in the smoke of industry, howver it is not that smoke that I speak. I speak of a smoke far more nefarious and deadly, though you may never even see it. A dead body was discovered on the docks of Saint Denis this week. And if I was unsure last week, I am positive this week. The Smoking Gun is in Saint Denis.

The victim of this assault was a dock worker named Marks Van Omaer. The bruising on his face indicates that he was beaten before ultimately shot in the back of the head. No binding with rope this time, but I did find the cigarette filter just like at the other murder scenes. I wonder why he would still leave a cigarette filter behind. Does he not read the Herald and realize he is being tracked? Perhaps he does not care? Or perhaps, he is baiting me?

Because a cigarette filter alone is unlikely to convince everyone, I found out that Mr. Van Omaer frequented an illegal high stakes poker game. Dock workers make decent money, but enough to fund frequent visits to a high stakes poker table? Mr. Van Omaer was in debt to dangerous people. Unfortunately, that is people as in multiple individuals and therefore it is impossible to narrow down who is responsible when many have motive. I am certain, however, that none of the men Mr. Van Omaer owed money too is the Smoking Gun. He is just the hired help.

Perhaps now is the time to avoid gambling and going into debt. It seems creditors are okay accepting their losses and sending in the Smoking Gun to close debtors’ accounts.

Bizarre occurrence at Bastille Saloon
By Mathilde Orry
In the last month Lemoyne has been home to strange and potentially supernatural occurrences. However, the Bastille Saloon hosted something strange, but not supernatural. It was in fact, technological. A father and son duo were performing an experiment to test a theory, which they did not explain, when a curious anamoly struck the Bastille. ” All kinds of people came walking in, demanding five drinks, and marching out,” said Dr. Verne Brown, one of the experimenters. The patrons who responded to the anomaly varied greatly.

“Everyone from the Chinese man running the city’s gunstore to the Cholla Springs Kayaking society to that odd Major that won’t stop rambling about 10 herbs and spices not being enough,” Dr. Brown. With their experiment ruined, both Dr. Brown and Dr. Brown packed up and left before reporting of these events. Interestingly, a warning was offered about a sibling who may try and take credit, another Dr. Brown. For the sake of Saint Denis residents, hopefully the family rivalry between Dr. Brown, Dr. Brown, and Dr. Brown will not lead to increasingly dangerous anomalies. For now, how dangerous is an anomaly that creates a compulsion to buy five drinks at a saloon?

Chinese protesters call for an end to the Chinese Exclusionary Act
By Adam Parvey
The Chinese Exclusionary Act was passed in 1882 in response to growing concerns over Chinese workers taking jobs from Americans. In the 1850s immigration from China exploded as a result of the California gold rush and continued strong throughout the 1860s and 1870s while the great railroads were being built with cheap Chinese labor. Chinese labor grew steadily after the Civil War, as the Chinese workers worked for less than recently freed slaves. Eventually this disruption in the labor market forced Congress to act and so they passed the Chinese Exclusionary Act, which prohibited immigration from China.

For many Chinese people already in the United States this has put an end to their plans to bring family members over. “We worked very hard. We should not be treated so poorly,” one worker told me. The protesters are calling for a full repeal of the Chinese Exclusionary Act. However, they are aware of the uphill battle they face. “We are not citizens. We can’t vote. Congress only cares about voters.”

Boundary dispute in Venezuela showing no end in sight
By Ivy Seager
For several decades the people of Venezuela have been accusing the British of extending into Venezuelan territory. The issue revolves around the border delineations of Venezuela after they claimed independence from Spain. The Venezuelans have long claimed that the British created new delineations that effectively claim parts of Venezuela as their own. In 1895 the United States got involved and demanded the British solve this dispute the arbitration. The British did not take this move by the U.S. very warmly, claiming that the U.S. Monroe Doctrine has no international legitimacy.

However, after Congress passed a law to establish a commission to resolve this dispute and enforce the decision by “any means necessary,” the British relented. Presently both parties are working through this arbitration and hope to have the border dispute resolved late this year.

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