Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-25
The waltsfleld Burglarles.

Much interest has been manifested, and many
reports circulated in the county relative to the
burgaries committed last winter by Alfred NJ
Badger and Joseph d Robert mot Roberts, ~
printed in many papers,, In Waitsfeld, and some
very erroneous stories have been published, and
are believed by many who have not had the OPP
portunty of hearing the truth in relation to them
Joseph d. Robert, formerly Of Canada tnear st
Iohns), worked last summer for Captain o. {
Wilder, and during the winter boarded at WILDE
Drew's and attended school Alfred NJ. Badger Il
Mr. Drew's step-son, and also attended school
Badger and Robert, and Carpenter, who was ar
rested and held as a witness, the other two having
told Carpenter Of their burglaries in the winter
we're boon companions at school Frank Wheeler.
who caused the arrest of Robert worked at More.
town Hollow for Denison Freeman, during the
winter, and had little or no acquaintance witt
Robert. In the spring Joseph ID. Robert com.
rnenced work for Joseph Sawyer, since deceased
About the first of July Hon J. II. Hastings, ad'
nnistrator of the Sawyer estate, hired Wheeler to
assist in cutting the hay upon the Sawyer farm
He had worked five days and was upon friendly
terms with Robert, occupying the same room and
bed with him. Saturday night, when they were
about retiring, Robert asked Wheeler to help him
move his trunk from the room to the closet.
Wheeler found it very heavy, and asked him what
1t contained He said; MY clothes" Wheeler
knew better, and urged him TO tell what was in
the trunk, but he refused They sat down and
talked awhile, and finally Robert said to Wheeler
that he would tell him what his trunk contained
If he would keep quiet about it, and go with him
self and Carpenter the last Of the week. upon n
trip they would make. lie said: "of course
will not even suspecting what he was promising
to keep to himself Thercupon Robert revealed
to him that he and Badger robbed James S. New
combs shop last winter, taking Newcombs and
William NJ strongs joiner tools that they at
tempted to rob Lewis Ioslins store, but were
frightened away after breaking ont the window
glass; that they planned to rob Captain Wilder of
his money, lying in wait for him, and Of some
other thefts and plans laid by them; and that
upon the last of the week following he and Car
penter would rob Mr.. Olmstead's joiner shop and
Eugene Ioslins tool chest and steal Mrs Joslin's
gold watch and chain-and desired Wheeler to
join them, and all leave for Canada.
Sunday morning Wheeler visited a frend-a
man of influence and position-and asked his
opinion rs to whether he was really bound to
keep pledge of that kind. The man assured
him that his duty to the community required him
to report such case ut once. Early Monday
morning he informed Mr.. Joslin that he wished
to carry letter to his brother, mt Mr. Fisks, and
would he back in two or three hours Wheeler
went to see his brother, and then direct to Mr..
Newcomb's and told him of the discovery he
had made, and Robert was Immediately arrested.
No unpleasantness whatever had occurred between
w Ipplpr and Rpbptt Whpplpr and Rnhprt hot
tell the story as narrated above and both have
over and over again said to your correspondent
that the story OF their difficulty was false in every
particular Wheeler heard the story Saturday
night, asked his friend on Sunday what to do
about telling it, and Monday morning informed
Mr. Newcomb Robert was very angry towards
Wheeler, and threatened him severely, but he did
not duplicate him in any manner whatever in the
robberies. lie said he knew nothing about it un-
til that night and he was surprised that he had
told of him and had him arrested Although
Robert was told repeatedly of Wheeler's duty to
the public, he did not seem to understand that
ANYTHING could release Wheeler from his pledge
to keep TO himself what had been told him, aud
quite number of young people at Watsfield
blame Wheeler for not keeping his promise to
Robert-but AL honest men believe Wheeler felt
it to be his conscientious duty to do as he did
and honor him for it. But for his promptness and
honor and his sense of his duty to the public other
robberes would have taken place, and perhaps
murder committed, as Robert was armed with
pistol, and Badger with bayonet whenever they
went upon their excursions
1t shameful to circulate the story that Wheeler
informed Mr., Newcomb of the robbery because he
.r.,l nh.
place, quarrel whatever and no offence or
cause of offence To influence Wheeler, except that
he did not propose to join "A band of thieves or be
a conidant of thieves believing, rs all honest
men believe, that to know of n theft robbery
planned or committed, and conceal it, makes the
person concealing it as bad the thief, and that
such promise as Wheeler made to Robert, under
the circumstances, had no binding force whatever