Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
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Source: October 1982 Volume 20 Number 4, Pages 133–134

A Race After Cattle Thieves

The Jeffersonian : August 24, 1872

Page 133

On the night of the 9th instant, nine head of cows and heifers were stolen from the premises of Mr. Hugh Steen. ... The following morning Mr.Steen, with the aid of several members of the Tredyffrin Detective Association, turned out in search of the missing animals, and succeeded in tracking them to the Rose Tree Hotel in Delaware County, thence to the West Philadelphia drove yard, where they learned much information that fully established the fact that the animals had been brought there and disposed of at low prices by two men named Henry Greble and Rob't Phillips, the former being known in the county as a dealer in old iron, brass and other similar wares.

Upon this information, a police officer was made conversant with the facts, and a telegram sent to Hugh Steen and Henry Root, members of the above named association, who at once responded to the tidings and took the cars for the city.

Phillips, one of the thieves, being a resident of Philadelphia, the police officer at once repaired to his residence and arrested him, and to the charge he strongly asserted his innocence.

At Wynnewood Station, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, when the train containing Messrs. Steen and Root stopped, Greble, the remaining thief also took passage, and was recognized by the party in pursuit of him.

Page 134

Arriving at Hestonville, Greble disembarked, he having no doubt recognized his pursuers, and thought to elude them by quitting the train, but in the movement he was doomed to disappointment, for as he stepped off they followed, and Mr. Root going up to him tapped him on the shoulder, which had the effect to start him on the run, and Mr. Root and Steen followed in close pursuit.

Greble proved to be a good runner, and soon outwinded Steen, who is a fleshy man, but Root was equal to the emergency, and kept up the chase, but without gaining upon the refugee from justice. In the chase a man was met in the road, who seeing the state of affairs, made an attempt to arrest Greble, but succeeded only in getting a bag from his shoulder in which was afterwards found a set of harness which no doubt had been stolen.

On, on sped the pursued and pursuer, each giving evidence of being well nigh exhausted. Passing through a village, the inhabitants divined the probable cause of the chase, and one of their number entered into it, and being of sound wind and limb, and also fresh, he succeeded in bringing Greble to bay, and held him until Messrs. Root and Steen came up and claimed their prize.

The two thieves were brought to West Chester on last Friday, and lodged in prison to await trial at the November term of Quarter Sessions.

We understand since the arrest that two of the stolen cows strayed from the drove on the night of the theft, and were subsequently found at the Leopard tavern, where they were identified and returned to their owners.

The affair caused quite an excitement in the neighborhood, and especially among the people in the cars, who witnessed the beginning of the exciting chase.