Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-03-04

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY AND ARSON IN
WEST RASDoLrn-.A burgla,ious attempt was
made on the store of A. W. Tewksbury & Sons.
of West Randolph, VT, on Sunday morning
The store was entered by a rear door, the bur-
glars cutting their way through an inner door
with a %jacknife. and entering the main building.
They then drilled into the safe, and blowed it
open with a charge Of powder. The charge,
however, proved too heavy, and the noise made
by the explosion attracted the attention of sew
eral people, who had JUST got off from the morn
ing train, at the depot, which is very near the
store. These people seeing the store Illuminated
at that tint of night, or morning, instituted an
investigation, and finding evidences of burgla-
rious operations, Immediately aroused the pro-
p%rietors, who with several other Inhabitants of
the village, entered the store, and found the
safe blown open and the counting-room on fire.
Four buckets of water, however, cxtinguished
the confagration that, five minutes later, would
have defed all efforts at its suLjugation, and
must have resulted in the destruction of the
store and its contents, together with the jewelry
store and Westinghouse Of Mr.. Samuel Bass,
and Gladding's hair-dressing saloon, which were
nearly adjoining, a narrow alley-way only sep
arat'ng them. Messrs. Tewksbury & Sons,
however, sustained no very important loss. A
few dry goods were scorched and damaged,
having been packed around the safe by the
burglars to deadeu the sound of the explosion,
which were found to be on fire.
The burglars no doubt thought from the i'm
mense business done by Tewksbury & Sons, pro-
the largest done in any retail store in the
Stale except that of the Fairbankses, that they
would get a rich haul by opening that safe after
Saturdays trade.
A heavy hammer and chisel, together with a
lot OF fuse, a very peculiarly prepared candle,
mud a green cotton bag were found in front of
The mutilated safe. 1t is thought that the bur-
glars made their escape by the rear door, which
was found to be open, and on investigation
racks of human feet were found leading around
The rear end of the building, which were imme-
lately traced to Main Street.
1t was now daylight and detectives were soon
IN the move. Mr.. Willis W. Morton having de-
ected fresh tracks in the snow some two or three
niles from the village, followed them to a ledge
Ii an old pasture. While investigating this
edge he heard some one cough, and soon dis
severed a man ascending n small knoll about ten
DDS Oft. Being satisfied he had found his man
lie at once accosted him, but getting no definite
'nswer and finding he would give no lucid ac-
cunt Of himself, Mr.. Morton boldly locked arms :
With the stranger and politely insisted on his |
accompanying him to the village, which the i
tranger at last consented to do. He was taken .
o Sheriff Bass and there held in custody until
Monday noon when he was brought before JUS
ice Waite for trial. .
When first arrested he stoutly denied hlvine ;
my carpet Dag; a search, however, brought ,
me 10 hght winch he had been seen carrying. !
There was nothing in it, however. to coi,nect I
nm with the robbery. Further search brouobt +.
o light several drills, two powder TASKS and
Of fuse which exactly matched the fuse .
in the store, These articles were found near :
he place where he was arrested. His boot lust
tied the tracks made by one Of the burglars in
oming out of the store. |
The court was holden in Granite-hall which .
Vas uncomfortably thronged at an early hour h
With eager ara excited men, who crowded around ,
he prisoner at the bar and seemed intent on :.
boxing him out Of countenance, and uudoubt- !
dly would have succeeded had he not been an t
Id and well-tried customer. lie, however, did I
ot finch. =
After the court had been called to order and :
he witnesses sworn in, the prisoner asked to
'aiye an examination, but the court not grant 4
ng his request, he was formally tried and con- !
icted by an overwhelming mass Of evidence, :
nd held to bail in the sum of $1,000 to appear 7
I the County Court next June. The court was h
hen dismissed and the prisoner taken in custo- v
y Sheriffs Bass and Moses, and straightway II
arried to Chelsea, where within those dreary !,
iison walls he will probably find time to con- y
der and regret his unsuccessful endeayor to .
riches in a sinful manner. ~