Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-15
From the Burlington Free Press, 2d.l
lnCeudiarism and Threatening Let
tRraa
ARREST OF THREE MEN--TwO HELD FOR
TRIAL.

The fact, made public in yesterday
Free Press, that some parties have been
arrested, charged with sending letters and
posting placards, threatening our lumber
merchants with destruction of their mills
and yards by fire, for whose detection con-
siderable rewards have been offered by the
city authorities, caused no little stir in
our community. The offense of threaten
ing individual with injury to his person
or property, with intent to compel him to
do any act against his will, is one known
to our laws and a penalty Of impris-
onment in the State Prison for not
more than two years, or of fine not ex-
ceeding $500, is attached to it. The par
ties charged with the crime, in this case,
are Frank p. Proud. night Waterman in
the employ of the Custom House, George
Fl. Snay, Waterman for Role, Taylor 81
Co., and James Farrell, Waterman at
Linsley's Mill. They were arrested yes
terday by Chief of Police Flanagan, who
has been for some time working up the
case, with his well kno WI ability and per-
severance. The letters and placards
threatened destruction to the lumber
yards, unless Mr.. Rufus E. Foy, watch
man in the employ Of Shepard, Davis &
Co., and his brother-in-law Mr.. Lyon,
were discharged from the employ of this
firm. Examination of these showed that
all were written by one hand, and on pa
per Of the same kind. Inquiry at the
bookstores satisfied officer Flanagan that
no such paper had been sold to any of
them. Further investigation disclosed
the facts that paper of the same kind and
with the same makers mark was in use
in the Office of Rolfe, Taylor & Co., and
that the letters were enclosed in white
envelopes, similar to some used in that
Office. Scrutiny of these two peculiar
little identifcations on each envelope, made
probably by the machine by which they
were folded. These marks were found on
each of the envelopes containing the
threatening letters, and on all of the re-
mainder of box of envelopes in Rolfe,
Taylor & Co.'s Office.
1t was also discovered that Snay had a
key to that Office, and that he had a
grudge against Foy, owing to information
given by Foy Of his sleeping on his watch.
But as Snay was illiterate it was plain
that some one else wrote the letters and
notices, and suspicion fell on Proud. The
missing links in the chain of proof were
supplied by written letter to Shay, pro-
Tossing to come from Mr.. Bennett from
Winooski, offering him a situation in
Massachusetts,, the reply to which, (pro-
Tossing to be written by Snay), was COM
pared with letters of Proud's to other
parties; and placards, letters and reply
were all proved to be in the same hand,
disguised in some of them, but showing
obvious marks of identity of authorship.
After their arrest Proud and Snay admit
ted their guilt to Mr.. Flanagan.
The examination of the parties took
place before Judge Shaw yesterday after
noon, in the City Court room, which Wac
crowded to OVERLOOKING with spectators
The examination was conducted by States
Attorney Hard on tho part of the State,
Henry Ballard appearing for the respond
ents. Several witnesses were examined
for the prosecution, and their testimony
was quite conclusive as to Proud and
Snay. No testimony was offered by the
counsel for the respondents, and the case
was submitted to the court on the evil
denoe-the States Attorney first moving
a noile prosequi as to Farrell.
The court thereupon announced his de-
cision to hold respondents Shay and
Proud for trial at the next term of the
County Court in $500 apiece. .
The court then adjourned to evening,
for further examination of the respond
ents on o charge of arson.