The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-02
A REPENTANT HORSE THIEF.
Conscience Making Coward, and the Early
Bird Catching the Worm.

Conscience Making Coward, and the Early
Bird Catching the Worm.
As was stated yesterday morning, horse
was stolen from the barn of Hiram F. But
ton in Clarendon, Tuesday night or early
Wednesday morning, and we have now to
record its return to the premises of its
owner. The loss of the horse was well
advertised and was, therefore, easily traced,
and the result of judcious advertising with
slight pricking of the thef's Coincidence
was as above stated. 1t appears that the
thief-who is described as a man some
twenty-five years Of age, five feet, five
inches in hight and weighing about one
hundred and forty pounds-after possess
ing himself of the horse, went to the barn
of Nathan Smith, who resides on the farm
next south of Button, and there stole asad-
die. With his horse all saddled and bril-
died and ready for ride, he departed and
brings up in Andover, about ten o'clock
Wednesday morning. Here he endeavored
to sell the horse to different persons, rep
resenting himself as peddler from Massa-
chusetts and DESTROYS of selling ont on ac-
count of an intention to change his business,
varying his story with different men and,
even, to the same man, as might suit the
circumstances or as might seem pronotive
of speedy trade.
His contradictory stories naturally ex-
cited suspicion, and, finally, two men more
than limited to him that he was nothing but
a horse-tbief. This induced the young
man to "get up and get," and Andover
saw him no more. About five o'clock in
the afternoon, these same men, who had
not been chary of their opinions, obtained
a copy of the advertisement describing the
horse and offering reward for its recov-
cry, and concluding that here was the
chance to turn an honest penny, started in
pursuit. They soon got track of the beast
and followed it up till ten o'clock that
night, when they brought up at East Wal
lingford, and ascertained that the thief and
horse had only about an hours start of
them. Remaining there over night for
rest and refreshment, they renewed the
chase bright and early Thursday morning,
and found no difficulty in striking the
scent again. Following on down through
the "gulf road" they found that the tracks
led into a pasture owned by John Stewart,
situated about half mile from Buttons,
and then out again, ending at Stewards
barn.
To go back little. 1t should be stated
that early IN the morning of Thursday,
Stewart, on going to his pasture, found the
horse there all caparisoned and quietly
feeding, and took him thence to his barn,
intending to return him to Button after his
work was over. While engaged
in his ordinary avocations, the two An
dover men drove up, accosted Mr.. Stewart,
described the horse and demanded its pos
session. The animal was surrendered, and
the strangers delivered it to Mr.. Button,
receiving in return the promised reward of
fifty dollars, which might have been Stew
arts if he had finished his mornings work
little earlier-thus demonstrating that it is
the early bird that catches the worm. 1t is
supposed that the thief was alarmed at the
openly expressed suspicious of the men of
Andover, and, thinking that his escape
with his booty was impossible, concluded
to take time by the forelock and return it
to its lawful owner. Thus does conscience
make towards of us all.