Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-10-15
Windham County Court.

The closing proceedings of the Sep
TENDER term of Windham County Court
we copy from the Brattleboro Phoenix
as follows
State VS.. John E. Daniels.-This was
an indictment against Daniels for break
ing into the store of o. G. Fits at West
Wardsboro, and stealing therefrom
goods to the value of four hundred dol
lars. 1t appeared that during the night
of Sept. 7th the store of said Fits was
robbed as above stated, and the money
tills were broken open, and two or three
dollars in pennies and five cent pieces
were taken. The robbery was discover
ed the following morning and an alarm
was at once given. A party soon start
ed in search Of the goods, and found
the greater portion of the stolen proper
ty concealed in the woods and bushes
near the highway and within short dis
lance of thestore. The testimony furth-
er showed that the respondent had been,
stopping in Wardsboro. without having
any apparent business, and his conduct
after the robbery was such as to excite
suspicion. 1t appeared that upon the
evening when the respondent was ar
rested he had left two bundles of goods
at house on the highway leading to
Bondville, and these goods were identi-
he'd as being a portion of those stolen
from said store, and the respondent was
identified as the person who left the
bundles. This was the only direct tes-
timony that Daniels was connected with
the robbery. Many circumstances were
shown which affected the respondents
character, such as travelling into differ
ent villages and claiming to be engaged
in different kinds of business, and max
ing inquiries in regard to the situation
of different stores and how they were
guarded nights. The respondent estab-
lished the fact by reliable witnesses that
upon the night of the robbery he was
in Wardsboro a portion of the time. He
showed that he was in the store of Mr..
Plimpton until about eleven o'clock in
the evening, and it was also shown by
Mr.. Watson, the proprietor of the hotel
where Daniels boarded, that he retired
to his room about eleven, and that he
came from his room to breakfast the
following morning Mr.. Fits store is
in West Wardsboro, about four miles
from Wardsboro. Mr.. Daniels testified
that he was born in Maine, that in early
life be was confirmed as a member of
the Episcopal church and that for some
years past he has labored as a mission
airy in said church. He said that he
had lived in New Brunswick, that he had
labored as missionary in South Amer
lea, in the West India Islands, and that
he had been for some time at st. Thomas.
He produced passport from New Ora
NADIA dated in April 1874, and said that
he had one from the authorities in Cuba
dated last spring. During the past
summer Mr.. Daniels preached accepta-
bly, to the people of Nottingham and
left the place the last of August. A
prayer book was found in the respond.
ent's yalise containing the words Rev.
]. E. Daniels, ;" and several literary pro-
ductions were also found among his pa
pers. The respondent denies all knowl-
edge of the robbery with which he is
charged, and denies that he ever saw or
left any bundles containing goods at any
house or at any place. Mr.. Daniels is
young man and of pleasing address.