Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-09-16
HINSDALE, ". II.
The VIM. b. Adams Persecution
ARREST OF THE SUSPECTED PARTIEs-THE WORK
OF THE DETEoTIvEs-FUBTHER DEVELOP
MENTs PROMISED.

ARREST OF THE SUSPECTED PARTIEs-THE WORK
OF THE DETEcTIvEs-FURTHER DEVELOP
MENTs PROMISED.
despatch from Keene N. H.. to the Boston Journal
Mr.. VIM. b. Adams, a wealthy farmer residing on
Connecticut river, aboun mile and a half from the
village Of Hinsdale has for the past two years been
subjected to great loss Of property as well as annoy
ance, by three persons who according to recent de-
velopments, were prompted by malice. The FIRST dep
relations consisted Of the destruction of fences and
crops, which acts were frequently repeated so that
hardly night passed without some outrage being
committed. In April last q more serious offence oc-
CURED in the burning Of Mr.. Adama's barn, which
contained a valuable lot Of lumber. The FIRE also
spread TO woodot Of nearly 100 acres and the total
loss suffered by Mr., Adams was between $1,000 and
$4,000. In Jnly the knives of two moving machines
stolen, and the top Of buggy carried away
the same night. Soon aterward three tons Of hay
in cock were found deposit ed in brook and extern
sve potato and tobacco patches ruined. This
was followed by the disappearance Of cultivaor,
wheebarrow, and double harness valued at $40. So
serious did matters become that Mr. Al dams feared
personal violence, and sought the protection Of the
law. Accordingly Deputy Sheriff Rice Of Keene
consulted, and on the 18th Of July he went to Boston
and secured the services Of private detectives Wood
and wiggin. The latter Immediately proceeded to
New Hampshire, and, after pursuing Investigation
for several days, became convinced that the guilty
persons had formerly been employed by Mr. Adams
and had left account Of III feeling. II was ascer-
tanned that at one time Mr.. Elbridgc Backmar had
managed one Of Mr.. Adams's FARMS and upon his
being discharged his sons George aud Edward threat
ened to follow Mr.. Adams until he was poor man.
Being satisfied that these two young had carried
out their threats, Mr.. Niggln on Saturday night last
went to Keene and procured warrants for their arrest
and also for that Of another young man. named Mar
tin Elmore, who had had difficulty with Mr.. Adams
while working for him. On Sunday night Mr.. wiggin
arrested George Baekmar at Keene and the next day
he proceeded to Bratteboro VT, where he found Ed
ward Blackmar and Martin Emore, whom he also took
into custody. On Monday night the three prisoners
were taken to HnsdAle, and, waving examination,
were each held In $1,000 for trial before the
court. All the persons implicated made full confess
sion to Mr. Wiggn, and George Blaekmar in addition
to admitting that he had burned the barn. told where
u1IN baa Nn1aw I.1 kaa. .Nal A.
same was subsequently found in q mutilated condi-
ton. HOUSEKEEPING case, which occurred two
years ago. also brought to Light by the arrest and
now deceased was confessed by one Of the men.
Edward Blackmsr was arrested at Vernon,
where he was working as a railroad section
hand. Elmore (or Delmar) was arrested at D.
S. Pratt's, by whom he was employed. Both
men went with the officers into New Hamp-
shire without raising objection. 1t seems
that the detective who worked the case up
first appeared at Hinsdale in the guise of a
man out of health and obtained board at the
farmhouse of John Stearns, Just opposite
Blackmar's, for himself wife and child. He
peddled some plated ware aud contrived to fall
in with the Backmar boys, gaining their con-
fdence by degrees. He was with them and
Elmore at COup's circus in Brattleboro last
month, when his three companions got drunk
and he pretended to do SO. Soon after he
told George Blackmar that he was detective
and his agency wanted to hire a good man
who had cut up enough deviltry to make him
available. This caused Blackmar to 'let
himself out" little, and a few days after the
detective told him he had had letter from
the agency and they must have another man
at once. He told Blackmar il would be nee
essary for him to go to Boston and let the
chief hear his story and see what he thought
of him. The unsuspecting Blackmar consent
ed and went to Boston and there, in the pres
ence of third party, related the whole story
of the outrages on Adams. When he got
back to Keene he was arrested and the other
arrests followed. There are limitations of
other wickedness done by this gang and their
fellows, among which may come out some
facts about fires in Brattleboro.