St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-01-06
from the Montpelier Journal, Dec .
4 Startling Criminal Record.
YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS, But VETERANS IN
CRIME.

YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS, But VETERANS IN
CRIME.
The public in this vicinity are already
aware that, beginning with the breaking
open of Mr.. d. X. Benefits gunsmith
shop in May, 1867, "a series of burglaries
and robberies have succeeded not only
in Montpelier, but also in other towns in
Vermont, and along the border towns of
New Hampshire. which, although of a
bold and daring character, and apparent
ly belonging 10 the same gang of despera-
does. nevertheless baffied all efforts at
elucida,i0n until August last. Fresh
buralaIics at that time in Claremont, n.
H., and vicinity, led to the employment
of a. Z. Squires, Esq, an experienced
detective, residing at Claremont, who
seems to have taken the first steps in the
right direction and the sagacity, deter
mination and untlring vigilance with
which he has followed up the matter,
until the whole uetariOus gang were dis
covered, arrested, committed, and bound
over for trial, mark him at once as a
most skillful detective officer.
CLUE, DISCOVERY AND CAPTURE.
The first suspicion in the case of the
Claremont robberies, as was also true of
those in Montpelier, was that the often
ders were residents of the place, and fa-
miliar with the premises but slight
examination convinced Mr.. Squires th:se
the job was" put up far too well for new
beginners. Finding that the rogues OBJ
tanned large quantity of pennies. among
their booty at Clarcmont, he took his
cue therefrom, and looked in the direc-
ton of the railroads as the most promis-
ing field for discovery. He soon learned
that two passengers on the Rutland
railroad had paid their fare IN pennies
just after the robbery in question, and
had gone in the direction OF Whitehall.
Obtaining u description OF the parties.
he soon discovered the house where they
resided in Whitehall. and where the
stolen property was deposited. Spot
tin. the house and obtaining an assistant
Mr.. SquireS proposed to make Il descent
upon tue premises ut night, hoping to
not only bag the burglars, but recover
their booty. Through blunder of his
assistant, the principal culprit (IIandlon)
escaped to parts unknown; but Devoc-
with such piunder a. had not been al
ready disposed OF, was secured
TIE FIELD ENLARGED.
An examination Of the recovered prop
erty revealed much more than was ac-
counted for by the rohbcries ut Clare
mont and vicinity. Ga inquiry, Dcvoc
said he had learned IRON llandlon that
this other property was obtained by pre-
vious Notwithstanding tn times and
places, and also his Olandlon's) accom-
plicc-. Finding THAI these accomplice,
had not been engaged ii the New lamp
.hirc rubhcIies, IN the interest ol' which
he was thus tar operating, Squires APP
piled to the towns where these former
crimes had been committed for aid in
working up the case; but IN no instance,
with the one hunoratl. exception OF his
own town OF Ciarcmont, did he obtain a
single word, much less act. ct encourage
mcnt until, rs lac cmphaticliiy alleges,
he came To thc Art town OF Montpcl-
ier," whose authorities promptly coop
Grated with him in icrrctin@ out the gang
-plcI.im. 500 reward for Htndlon,
and twenty nvc uuilIrs c;Icn FOR me nc
cnmpllcc~, besides five dollars per day
and expenses III pursuing the latter.
Tne authorizes were also chceriully
backed W 10y responsible private citizens
oi Montpelier. Thus aru cl and encnur-
AGED. he started on the trail of the new
" discovered accomplishment ere long
succeeded in finding and arrc-;ing every
one Of them 81. John in G,if-tuwn, y.
IL. Sattcry in Whitehall, y. Y, Pratt
in Wiruo-ki. VT, and Jones (who is
>,mp!., charged with aiiiug in the dis :
peal al In stolen pr"pcity) in Plat =
hrrgh. y. Y These were all brnu Lht
II Montpelier for examination in y cto-
lvr last.
CAPTURE OF IItNpLON-
Next detective Squjrcs called upon the
Interested towns in New IIsmp >hirc to