Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-04-06
ND FARMER, FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1888

Hurd's victims-lO or u ia all-held in that
city The facts brought out at this gathering
showed that the thief as here intimated, was
the same Frank Hurd who stole W. II. Bige-
lows team four years ago last fall, and who
was released from the Massachusetts state
prison last August, at the end OF his four
years sentence for that crime. IL appears
that very soon after his release Hurd went to
bridgeport and opened q small eating place as
a sort Of cover for bis future operations, and
then came back TO Brattleboro TO begin where
he left OF in 1873. lie took kingsey's team
on the morning Of October 18th, and the
same forenoon left here with the team as Mt
ted out at Higgins's His route was through
Marlboro Halifax, jacksonville, SadawRa and
Readsboro TO Stamford. From the latter
place he undoubtedly drove directly 10 Bridge
port, reaching there before Saturday night
lie sold the team within q day or two, and
then went 10 Troy, N Y, where he stole a
horse on the 2Jth of October, and ran that
into bridgeport. On the I'd of November he
stole horse at Northampton on the 4th one
at Albany and so on through the fall and
winter 1t appeared that be had stolen and
taken TO Bridgeport and sold eight horses be-
sides the two from here, viz. at korthamp'
ton, at Albany, ] at Troy, / at Hoosick Falls,
j at Lapesboro, N. Y, and ] at Williams
town His tactics throughout the winter
were the same-to come north and steal one
or two horses, drive them into Bridgeport,
and then sell them at a low price under plea
that he had unusual facilities % for getting
hold Of the horses. In one or two cases he Is
said 10 have coolly told customers that If
team which he offered them did not suit, he
would have another one for them the follow.
ing week.
His last theft was the team at Hoosick Falls,
which he stole last week The North Adams
sheriff had been watching these thieving ope-
rations, and had become satisfied that It was
Hurd who was doing the business. When the
Hoosick Falls theft was committed he follow
ed Hurd up sharply, tracked him to Bridge
port. and there the arrest was made
After he was arrested and taken to the po-
lice headquarters he vas inclined to talk free
y admitted what he had done, and described
his operations. He said he had stolen only
one horse that being a fine colt which he
had taken from a mans barn one night and
led into Bridgeport behind a stolen team all
the others he had borrowed from too con
hding lyerymen. He said that in most cases
he had only engaged teams for an hour or
two. As soon as he procured counsel he was
told to stop talking and when brought into
court for examination he plead mot guilty
His trial will take place in May, when it is to
be hoped he may be given a long period OF
rest from his chosen line Of professional
work. His bail is fixed in the sum Of $3.50,
in default OF which he Is in jail and Is likely
to stay there until his trial.
The property which be had stolen was
found scattered about in Bridgeport and with
in a radius of from three to 20 miles. Mr.. Hig-
ginss horse was first sold TO a confectioner,
who soon traded him with a German baker.
The baker disliked to part with him and fin
ally paid Mr.. Higgins S13j for the horse. The
party who had Kingsley horse offered $50
for him but Kingsley declined the offer Hig
gins wagon which arrived home yesterday,
had been sold TO a stage driver 10 miles out
Of Bridgeport. The wagon was minus two
seats and its cover. Hurd pretended that be
had forgotten where they were. The har-
nesses were 20 miles out, and will be recov-
cred in due time. Including the money
paid out for the reward and for expenses OF
the search at the time Of the theft Mr.. Hig.
gins is some SO out Of pocket-a sum which
he Offsets with the satisfaction of having the
matter cleared up and knowing that the thief
will be punished.
It is known that Hurd had a man with him
when he drove over through Marlboro and
Jacksonville, but he makes no disclosure as to
any accomplice.
West BrattIebOrO.
r Z. Hosford advertises his place for
sale.
"A. F. Hill is engaged in carpenter work
at Bellows Falls.
-Elbridge Gerry is about going to live with
a relative IN the hotel at White River juno
ton, and his wife is going to Boston to reside
Al Il i. II