Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-05

teams and emitting their return pilfering
provisions from private houses, ETC.. and
extending without interruption over al
period of nearly four years-began with
the breaking open of Mr.. ID K. Benefits
gunsmith shop in May, 1867. This was
done by Handlon and Pratt-the latter.
as Handlon alleges. being the principal
instigstor. The booty here was small
The next was in July following, when
the descent upon Freeman's jewelry store
took place which has ever since remained
SO great mystery. Handlon, Pratt and
Slattery were the operators here, and
probably obtained nearly or quite $500
in goods. This was succeeded by entering
and robbing two stores in Whitehall
Slattery, and one Renway being the op-
orators. Returning to Montpelier in
August 1869, the offices of o. ID. Smith.
Dorbush, and Randall 81 Durant were
"gone through" small amount of plum
der being obtained in the first named two,
though Handlon claims that he obtained
lump of gold worth $50 in DIR. For
bush's. Handlen was aided here by St.
John.
The same parties then went to Bellows
Falls and robbed clothing store; thence
to Putney, where they broke open the
dwelling house of one Roberts, obtaining
$160 in money and gold watch. Here
operations were suspended for time, and
the booty disposed of, the parties stopping
at Whitehall. In June last Hsndlon re.
sumed his old trick by breaking into the
dwelling house of one Eaton in Bradford,
N. H., obtaining 81 and watch next
Redfeld's clothing store, in Claremont,
was broken open and robbed; also the
jewelry store of one Amidon at Bellows
Falls. Smiths meat market in Montpelier
was the next on the list, where he obtained
about So in money, and had his some
what ludicrols las he describes it, inter-
view with Mr.. G. 81. Cross. After this he
returned to Lebanon, where he went
through a grocery, obtaining S15 and q
large quantity of cigars also dwelling,
securing $40. In August, aided by Devoe,
he broke open meat-market
in Brandon; thence to Claremont,
where they tried their hand q
second time upon Redfeld's cloth
ing store, securing several suits of valua-
BILE clothing. A jewelry store in Alstead
was the next to suffer, where "peck-
basket full of watches and jewelry was
obtained, as Handlon alleges; then again
to Newport, robbing a store of iewelry
and $40; thence to South Vernon, VT,
where store was broken into, and money
and goods, including watch, were OBJ
tanned (; then again to Claremont, where
Dickinson's store was robbed of boots,
shoes, and $12 in money; and returning
to Claremont, a grocery was relieved of
$4,000 cigars, pipes. and $40 in money.
Coming back to Montpelier, Benefits
shop was again visited, two or three revolt
vers only being obtained. The horses
Borrowed" by Handlon and Devoe, were
one at South Vernon, it bsing left at
Putney; one at Putney, and one at Clare
mont, both being left at Bellows Falls
and one at Newport, and left at Charles
town.
PERSONAL OF THE ACTORS.
Timothy Handlon calls himself but
eighteen years of age, was born at Win
ooski Falls, but has for several years lived
in Montpelier, where be has brothers re-
siding-his mother living in Berlin,
bearing the name of DAILY, by second
marriage. He has been twice married.
Some years ago he says he attended for q
time "Mr. Bowen's Sunday School," and
he now apparently regrets that the les
sons there impaired made so little i'm
preston. His father died but two or three
months previous to his first steps in this
remarkable career of crime. The old
story of idleness and vicious associations,
tells the tale of his fall. He has an open
and frank couRtenance, betokening moth
ing of the criminal work to which he has
haa ell J. n
with his innocent and boyish look, he lie
said to possess great knowledge of human
nature, an unusual degree of shrewdness,
and judgment far beyond his years. Some
of his exploits have been simply wonder.
full. But his early instruction seems to
have been sadly neglected. He says that
had he the necessary education, he could
write history of his operations that
would astonish the world. We could not
suppress the thought that, had he been
properly educated during the impressible
period of his life, the material for so sad a
record might never have existed. De-
tective Squires speaks in the highest terms
of Handlon's truthfulness in respect to his
criminal doings-his readiness to assume
all the responsibility of his crimes, aud to
treat his comrades fairly and honorably.
He has alao shown the highest degree of
"honor" that prevails with his class, in
the disposition Of stolen property, and
now gives all the information in his DOW
er to aid in its recovery.
Edward Pratt is eighteen years of age,
son of Sylvester Pratt, who has for many
years lived in Montpelier or its vicinity,
but who now resides at Winooski Falls.
Too much leisure in his boyhood, with
too little restraint, unquestionably ac-
counts for his early entering upon what
appears to be systematic criminal course.
Harvey l.. Devoe is eighteen years of age
"a native of Iowa, but long resident of
n. Y. Alvaro ST. John is
in his twenty first year-was born in Can
ada but has long resided in Montpelier
with his father, Dominick st. John. He
says he took his first degrees in crime by
pilfering pieces of lead, and the like, from
the stores about town. He has also two
wives. Thomas Slattery is Montpelier
boy, son of Joseph Slattery, and is about
twenty-one years of age. A youthful CO.
terie, surely, to be guilty of such calen-
dar of high-handed offences against the
laws Of the land
THE FIRST STEPS OF JUSTICE.
On Friday last, at Montpelier, before
Justice Nelson Robinson, prosecutions
were preferred against Handlon by Hiram
Carleton, Esq, States Attorney, assisted
by M. L. Smile, Esq, ex-State's Attorney
of the County. He was bound up in the
sum of 5000, and in default of bail, was
committed to Jail. Pratt was put under
bonds in the sum of $500 in October last,
and increased on Friday, by reason of new
evidence, to $500. He was bailed by
his father in the first instance, and Col
Randall in the latter. st. Johns bonds
were fixed at 81 500. He was committed.
bonds were set Qast fall at $500,
which were furnished by Col E. P. jew
EFT.
ACCESSORY PARTIES.
Those instrumental in bringing the
matter to the light of day, are fully salts
e ed that there are narties in W hifeha1 n