Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-10-11
CAUGHT.

Six years ago this autumn, the pco'
ple of two small New England towns
were startled and much excited by O
series of very bold highway robberie'
which occurred on the stage road be-
tween the two towns.
The robberies will, | dare say, be
well.remembered in the county In which
they occurred; for they were the first
on tho highway which had ever been
made in that locality. Up to that
time, the farmers had felt safe jog
ging along that road in tho night as II
at home in their beds.
Yet more favorable locality for q
highwayman's operations could hardly
have been found, for the stagc.road
from NJ, the more eastcrly OF the
two towns, over to R, was much
of the way through woods and across
bushy plains, with here and there sandy
hills, where horses would walk, or
stop to breath. There were not more
than four or five houses on the road
for nearly nine miles.
The first man robbed was well.to-
do farmer of NJ, who for num-
bcr of years had bought stock in the
county, to drive to Brighton. He was
sort of local drovcr among the other
farmers.
Such man, from the nature Of his
business, is known by sight to almost
every one in the section of the county
in which he does business. Besides
drovers usually carry with them con-
siderable sums Of money, since farmers
generally expect to be paid at once
when they sell cattlo or produce.
This Mr.. Adams left R village
and post.oflice, where he had beer
transacting some cattle business, a
about six o'clock one evening in Octo
!. ber, to ride to his home in M.
, Some four miles out on the road
lust after dusk had fallen, as his hors'
!, was walking up sandy incline, HI
overlook two men who seemed to b.
y iourneying on foot. They were talk
: ing loud. There was nothing suspi
> cious about them. One Of them hat
what seemed to be coat on his arm.
As Mr.. Adams horse came up Il
pass them, one of the men said, jovial
8 ly, IF 'twasn't so sandy, I'd beg
ride and with that fell in behind tn
: wagon, and taking hold of the hinde
: part of it.
= Mr.. Adams made pleasant reply
The next thing he knew, the fellov
jumped in behind, and threw blanket
we'll sprinkled with pepper, over hi
head. The confederate then leaped u
f, in front.
In the scuffle all three fell into tn
road. But the rogues held Mr.. Adam
: down and riAed his pockets, takin
from him about two hundred and thirt
dollars.
They then walked unconcernedly of
laughing, and left the dazed and sneez
ing drover to 70 on at his leisure.
: Mr.. Adams was not hurt, save tor
few scratches his clothes were some
what torn. But he was very angry
who would not have been? 1t was
very deh, coolly executed piece of vii
lainy.
| Next morning the story flew fror
| neighbor to neighbor in both towns
/ Mr.. Adams offered hundred an
i fifty dollars reward for the arrest
i the robbers. All sorts of reports wer
! abroad, as to who they were, etc.
Some of the men tried to track ther
: in the road but no true clue was OF
~ tanned.
al The next man robbed was whole
ID ID sale peddlcr of cigar and confectionery
9, q He had been on his usual trip visitin
t. the county stores, and had passe
ID through R on his way to NJ
at about FIVE o'clock on the afternoo
of the 29ih Of October.
1t was dull evening. Six mill
- out of R, just at the foot Of a hi
where there were thick pines, the pei
i'd dler-a Mr.. Carr-overtook two mel
er walking.
$, It was too dark by this time for hi
;. to see the men distinctly 80 that