Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-12-19
From the Free Press
THE BURGLARS OF BURLINGTON


half Of them boys in age, though men in crime,
taking their way, in irons, sulen crew, 10 the
States Prison.
Most of our readers are aware Of the success
sivc convictions at the present term Of the Chit
tenden County Court, of Joseph Laplant and
Joseph Robert (pr Robear,) for burglary at the
house OF Samuel Read,-of Francis Xavier
(alias Nick,) Brunnelle, Henry and John Ro-
bear, Joseph Monarche (or Nlonac) Samuel
ThibIut Cor Tebo,) and Joseph Parker for the
burglary of McI.ane's shoe shop,-and Of Mich
Brunnee Henry Robert, Joseph Nlonatche and
John McCune, (aiias "WhtehalI Jack, y ioi the
burglary al Murphy's store. An account of the
means by which these criminals, more especially
the gang of seven concerned in the two last men
toned rubberies, were brought TO justice, will
not be without interest
For eight or ten years, a succession of petty
robbcries-of poultry. Of clothes hung out to
dry, of articles exposed for sale, and Of movable
property generally, varied from time to time
with more extensive and bo'der burglaries, have
annoyed and alarmed our community. Individ-
uals, including several of the above named wor-
thies hivc at times been convicted and punish
ed for small thefts, but the succession of such
offences has never been seriously interrupt
ed. That the present winter season would
have witnessed still more daring crimes, not even
stopping short of murder, is altogether probable /;
but the law, aided by private enterprise, has at
last resumed its supremacy.
About two weeks since, Mr. Darling, a "de-
tectivc" by trade. passing through Rouses Point,
heard there that lhcns were of frequent and re-
cent occurrence here lie accordingly came
here, took lodgings at the Howard House, learn
ed some of the particulars Of the robbery of Nc
Lanes shoe shop. on the 9TH ult., inUoduced
himself 10 Mr. McLanc, with an offer to secure,
for compensation, the detection Of the burglar
or burglars, and accompanied by Mr. McLane,
went 20 Constable Huntington, to whom he for
mcily rendered his services for the capture of
the set of thieves which infested The town. His
method. he stated, would be TO make the acqain-
lance Of the thieves a travelling member of
the same profession ana receiver Of stolen prop
erty, and having gained their confidence to Sc
cure the evidence necessary TO convict them
lie asked as preliminary simply that nc of
the suspected characters might be pointed out TO
him. lie was informed that that should be done,
and if he could bring 10 the authorities evidence
tha. he bad gained the confidence of the rogues
by bringing information Of their past operations,
his assistance would be willingly received in se-
curing their arrest and conviction. A row on
Water street which Mr. Huntington was called
to quell. and in which several Of the thieves
were engaged, afforded an immediate opp ,rtuni-
ty to pon, them out. which Mr. Huntington did
without exciting their suspicious In the course
of the disturbance Darling disappeared, and was
not seen again till the next day, when he return
cd to Mr. Huntington with the information that
there was an gan zed gang of robbers, headed
by Nick Brunette, that he was fully in their
counscls, which he proved by relating the cir
cumstances of divers past robberes, including
that of McLane's shop,-and that other opera.
fiOns af tho lind In tan
Some slight suspicious Of him had, however,
become excited in the minds of some of the gang
1t was necessary to rcinstate himself in some way.
Accordingly, accompanied bNtick Brunelle, he
went TO Mr. Bcnn,' Clothing Store the States
Attorney and Mr. Benns being privy to the iran
sactlon and its ohject-and ''lifed" pair of
panlaonns. This act completely blinded the
thieves. Mex was delighted with the skill with
which the apparent theft was committed, pro
nounced him valuable accession to tn air com
pany-and even proposed to him to take up
quarters at his (Nlck's) house-assuring him that
they could with ease steal enough to give them
both good living, lie also told HIM, among
many other revelations that The boots and shoes
stolen from McLane's shop were concealed in
the bank of the swamp nea. his house, where
they were subsequently, founl, wrapped in piece
of old carpet torn from a piece found in Nick's
bedroom.
During that day meeting Of the gang was
h. Id at a rendezvous near the Lake. Brunelle,
the two Roberts, Whitehall Jack, Parker, Joe
Monarche, Thibaut aud Darling being present,
at which Nick made speech, calling the six
young men has buys, telling them how he had
brought them upto the trade, and praisng high
y their aptness and proficiency. Darling was
informed that robberies were planned for early
accomplishment, one of Turks clothing store on
College ST.. and another of Mr. A. j. Murphys
store on Water street. They also said that Mr.
Murphy carried money about his person. that
they had been watching for six months for ia
vorabe opportunity TO way-lay and rob him in
the street, AMI that it was the understanding
that if any two should find him by himself, after
nghl.fall, they should attack him and take his
money. McCune was especially desirous that
an occasion Of that kind might fall to his lot, be-
ing anxious to show his skill IN "garroling which
he declared he could do 'to perfection" 1t was
decided then to rob the store on College street
that night but in the course of the afternoon the
plan was chlnged, (some of them wishing to
reconoitre the premises more thoroughly and it
was determined, instead, to proceed with the at
tempt on Murphy's store. Nick's plan for this
was to-enter the store just before Mr. Murphy's
time for closing, to kill Mr. Murphy plunder his
person, rob the store at their leisure, and then
SET HTe 10 II, 10 cover tnt ueeu. Less desperate
couns,ls prevailed, and the attempt was made
on the store alone. During the evening Mr. Dar-
ling slipped away To his room at the Howard
House, where Messrs. Taft and Huntington were
awaiting him, informed the of what was going
on, and returned to his new associates.
The night was dark and stormy. At half
past 1 0 O'clock Officers Huntington and White,
Mr.. Taft and Mr. j. A. Shedd, whose sstance
had been secured, were in shed opposite Muir
phys store, waiting the denouement. They were
Zone too early in fact had but taken their po-
siton when the sounds fir IN across the street,
the sight of dusky forms moving to and fro in
front of The store, in the light shining from the
bar room of the Exchange hotel, told them that
the attempt upon the store had commenced. -
Brunelle and McCune were the principal actors,
Darlina accompanying them, and Joe Monarche
and Henry Robert keeping watch up and
down the street. The iron bar which confined
the shutters Of one of the windows was seized
and by main force, drawn from under the staple
by which one end of it was secured the shutters
opened, and the window broken by Nick's lean
ing against one of the panes and breaking the
glass with his back. He had his hand within |
the window and was apparenty about to hand |