An account of an article from the Madison Observer on January 19, 1887 stated the town of Madison has a legal protection society which is a terror to horse thieves and other criminals. The society was organized by a special act of the legislature, during the famous Loomis gang robberies, and took a very active part in the enforcement of the law. The twelve raiders of the society have the right to make arrests in any part of the state without a warrant. The present membership of the society is 150 members.
The legal protective society developed from the original law and order society which was organized around 1845 during the days of the Loomis family. The society had headquarters at the Madison hotel. Tradition and legend contends that the society was organized to combat thefts and raids made by members of the Loomis family. The Captain of the riders (Riders was a popular name for the legal protective society) stated," Wash and Plumb Loomis were likable fellows as you would want to meet.
There have been lots of irregularities going on around Madison in those days but they didn't necessarily originate with the Loomis family. The members of the riders can vouch for this". The Captain also stated, "If Manchester (Justice in Solsville) were alive, he could tell you that half the stuff that disappeared around here was never touched by the Loomis family".