Our Jack Shannon And How He Captured The Thompson Brothers, Henry County Desperadoes (Defiance Democrat 21 Aug. 1902)

    The Toledo Times has been having a talk with Jack Shannon. The following is the result:

    It transpires that the Thompson brothers, who shot Sheriff Barnhill and made their escape, are much wanted individuals by officers of two or three counties are not unknown in the criminal annals of Northwest Ohio. Jack Shannon, of Defiance, Ohio, who was deputy United States marshal with Headquarters in Toledo, said that he had experience with Aleck Thompson, one of the brothers, at his home in Cecil four years ago. At that time Thompson was a member of a gang of counterfeiters, who were operating in Paulding and Defiance counties. They had some sort of a secret organization and compelled all members to take an oath which was most binding, the penalty or showing the white feather being death. Shannon, accompanied by Sheriff Eiser, of Defiance, went over to Thompson's house in Cecil, Paulding county, to effect his arrest. They surprised him and Thompson was covered by revolvers before he had time to make resistance. He however flourished a inevitable he handed the gun to his wife with the remark "keep this until I come back. You may need it." He came to Toledo without resistance and was tried and convicted in the United States court and was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary. He was an inmate of the county jail when the wholesale escape was made under the regime of Chas. Stager and refused to leave as he had only a short sentence to serve. He has a brother who has served time in the penitentiary and who is now out on parole. This brother has a wife in Sandusky.
    It is thought that Thompson is accompanied in his flight by the paroled prisoner. Jack Shannon regards the Thompson brothers as desperate characters who would not hesitate to fire to kill if brought to bay. He is of the opinion that they will soon visit Cecil, the home of Aleck, and that they will; be captured there. 
    The Thompson were at the head of an ingenious and daring band of counterfeiters and they gave the authorities no end of trouble. Their modus operandi was to visit small towns and pass the money on saloon keepers and restaurant men, buying small quantities and getting the spurious money changed. Soon after the arrest of Thompson the organization was broken up, for it lacked a leader who could direct their movements. With his arrest came to light the oath they were required to take and it was one of the most unique and blood curdling obligation ever taken. Thompson remained taciturn during his trial and confinement and did not implicate any others of the band. Shannon regards him as one most dangerous counterfeiters that ever operated in this section.