The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-01-10
A Gang ofYoung BURGLARS Detected
md Brought to Justice.


In 1867 the towns along the border of
New Hampshire and Vermont were visi-
ted by raiding parties of thieves, who
planned their Operations at a distance,
and swooping down when everything was
prepared broke into banks, stores, etc.,
carrying off everything ofvaluc. Dctcc-
tives were in time put on the track OF
the depredators and the Vermont papers
indicate that all the maraudcrs have been
apprehended. 1t seems the gang was
made up of lads less than 20 years old,
led by an exceptionally able and artful
rogue named Handlon, who seems to be
an incipient Duval in the multiplicity
and variety of his lodges and devices.
The remarkable series of robberies, house
breaking, horse-stealing, etc.. which he
has engineered extends over four years,
and began in 1867 with the robbery of
gunsmith shop in Montpelier, VT The
next was in July following, when the
descent upon jewelry store took place,
which has until now remained q great
mystery. Handlon, Pratt, and Slattery
were the operators, and obtained nearly
$500 in goods. This was succeeded by
the robbery of two stores in Whitehall
Handlon, Slattery, and one Renway being
the operators. Returning to Montpelier
in August, 1869, the offices of o. H.
Smith. Dr. Forbush, and Randall & Du-
rant were " gone through, " small
amount of plumber being obtained in the
frst-named two, though Handlon claims
that he obtained a lump of gold worth
$50 in DR.. Forbush's. Handlon was
aided here by St. John.
The same parties then went to Bellows
Falls and robbed a clothing store thence
to Putney, where they broke open dwell
ing-house, obtaining s160 in money and
) a gold watch. Here operations were sus-
pended for time, and the booty disposed
} of, the parties stopping at Whitehall
, In June last, Handlon resumed his old
tricks by breaking into dwelling-housc
in Bradford, N. H., obtaining 81 anda
) watch next Rcdfeld's clothing store in
: Claremont was broken open and robbed
also a jewelry store at Bellows Falls
/ Smiths meat market in Montpelier was
, the next on the list, where he obtained
about two dollars in money. After thi,
f he returned to Lebanon, where he robbed
a grocery store, obtaining SIS and larg,
, quantity of cigars; also dwelling, Sc
l curing $40. In August, aided by on,
: Devoc, he broke open meat market il
2 Brandon then went to Claremont, wher,
\ they tried their hand a second time upol
, a clothing store, securing several valuable
4 suits of clothing. A jewelry store il
! Alstead was the next to suffer, where
pcck-baskct-ful " of watches and jewel
. ry was obtained, as IIandlon alleges
f then they went again to Newport, Robin
c store of jewelry and SO; thence tc
e South Vernon, VT, where store wa
n broken into, and money and goods, includ
= ing watch, were obtained then agair
= to Claremont, where store was robbie,
: of boots, shoes, and So in money; and
returning to Claremont, grocery wa
o relieved of 10000 cigars, pipes, and 81
d in money, At Montpelier, Benefits sho]
S was again visited, only two or three revo
S vers being obtained, The horses "bol
/, rowed " by Handlou and Devoe were OF
n at South Vernon, one at Putney, and Oh
" at Claremont, two being left at Below
s Falls, and one at Newport.