Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-09-21
Miscellany.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.
BY EMERSON BENNETT.

John Doherty, alias Captain Thunder
bolt, was born in Scotland, somewhere
about the year 1850. In his youth he
was sent 10 school, and received very
good education. He had clear, active
intellect, was quick to perceive and learn,
and, with proper moral balance and fair
opportunity, would undoubtedly have
made man of respectable distinction.
But he was by nature rogue-a rascal
at heart, if not villain. He had some
redeeming qualities, but not enough to
keep him in the path of reetitude- He
was worldly, passionate and licentious,
and could not see the advantage of being
honest for honesty's sake, if dishonesty
would better serve his immediate pur-
pose. He was selfish in his own pleas
ures, and would stop at nothing to gain
his ends and crafty his dominant whim.
He was naturally a great leveler, and
looked upon the stringent laws of society
as made for the benefit Of the rich rather
than the poor, and thought it the proper
course of every man of spirit to set them
at defiance. He had his own ideas of
honor, was averse to cruelty and blood
she'd, and possessed certain chivalric no.
tions of propriety. Through his long
career of vice and crime, it was his boast
that he had never Intentionally robbed a
poor man or female. He was bold and
fearless, and would risk everything to car
ry out some romantic idea, or obtain what
he was wont to term poetical justice.
A case in point. A certain judge once
boasted that he would yet have the pleas
ure of giving Captain Thunderbolt his
death-sentence. A few nights after, a
very staid old Quaker called ON him, at
his private residence, and requested to
see him alone few minutes ON some i'm
portant business. On being ushered into
the presence of the judge, in his library
the stranger very coolly repeated the
words his lordship had used; and then
drawing pistol, declared that he himself
was the veritable Tbunderbolt, and tha
he had come TO lay his lordship under
contribution for making SO foolish boast
In short, he demanded his lordship's
watch, purse and jewelry and having
obtained treasure TO the value of nearly ;
e thousand pounds, he quietly departed
with the threat that, if followed, he woult
J, blow his lordship's brains out the mex
T time they should meet. He was notfollowed
for the chagrined judge, not caring TO b
laughed at by his friends, kept the matte
r a secret for years, and then only reveale
it TO a confidential few.
. Thunderbolt was benevolent in his wa
!. ss.l-that is he would give poor man
: norton of what he had taken from hi
!, rich neiehbor; and whenever he chances
in any of his wild pranks or exploits,
e, ;niure one of the inferior class, he woul
never rest easy till he had made what b
considered suitable recompense to hil
or his family.
At what precise age John Dohert
in took to the road as a profession. and a
m sumed the name of Thunderbolt, whic
n subsequently became such a word of te
ror throughout the United Kingdoms
is England, Scotland and Ireland, does n
Ter appear-though it is certain he commen
Ter ed his wild career quite young, and WI
n. soon discarded by his family and youtht
friends. His wonderful exploits, b