News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-02-08
HOW A BURGLAR WAS CAUGHT.
Digging Il Pit Beneath n Cash Drawer and
Rigging Trap Over 1t.

Rigging n Trap Over 1t.
A letter from Norwich, Conn, to the |
New York SIM says:-An amusing case
was tried in the Superior Court of this
county. George Avery is a typical
country grocer, and his store III the
ouiet village of Groton has almost as
various a stock of goods as was crowded
into the ark. He IS tail and lean, and
prosaic and methodical III disposition.
He never smiles. No one ever accused
him of humOr or shrewClness. At intervals
of several years his store has been ell
tered by thieves at night and small sums
of money have been stolen from his TIL.
Two or three months ago he lost quite
sum of money and some valuable goods
in this way. Mr.. Avery said nothing
but he took a spade and went down into
his cellar and began to dig hole directly
beneath his money drawer. At odd
times for several days thereafter, when
trade was dull and the male gossips had
fallen asleep on the cracker barrels up
stairs, Mr. Avery toiled at his excava-
tions. When he had finished his work
with the shovel he had a pit four feet
square and eight feet deep. From the
top of the hole to the floor of the grocery
was a distance of about ten feet. MI.
Avery next purchased some OF the
smoothest-matched yellow pine boards
in the market, and with them made a
seamless shaft, reaching from the floor
of the grocery to the bottom of the pit.
He next cut a square hole in the floor
under the till, and rugged in trap,
similar to those used on gallows frames,
directly opening into his eighteen-foot
shaft. He invented a reflex action spring
that, after the descent of the trap, would
carry the door back into position, where
it would be held by a snap catch. Mr..
Avery was now ready for his next burglar.
He arranged his trap during the day so
that neither he nor his clerk would fall
into the bowels of the earth, but IN
variably left it baited when he shut up
store for the night. He waited several
weeks with no result.
On the night of january 2, Henry
johnson and a partner, wandering raS-
Gals from New York, decided to enter
Mr.. Averv's store for pillage. The get
ting in was a simple process. They
quietly knocked in a pane OF glass, amt
Johnson entered He trod safely across
the store and passed behind the counter.
He approached the till. He placed his
hand on the drawer knob and took step
forward. Instantly the trap shot down.
ward with q rattle and bang, and Mr..
Johnson went down straight as plumb
into the chasm. His descent was so
Sudden and rapid that he hadn't time to
inter a cry to his companion. The lat
fer heard the noise of the trap as 1t
strnck AGAINST the side Of the shaft, and
at once made off. The trap, as soon as
if had disposed of its victim, rose swiftly
and noiseIessly into its place, and the
automatic hasp fastened it.
Mr.. Johnson, speaking to a reporter
concerning his downfall, said: 81 thought
7 was going down to the bottom OF the
earth. 1 was surprised. I struck all IN
= heap. It was total darkness. lpicked
myself up after while, and found that
7 was lame. but no bones were broken.
I then began to think of some means OF
getting out. I thought I was III the
cellar and felt around. My hands struck
AGAINST the side of the pit. L found
there was a smooth surface all arouno
me. As high as I could jump 1t was
solid as steel. [ kicked against the
sides. but it was no use [ cussed the
demnition hole. Then [ thought might
dio under the boards, and I went to work
with q will, but after digging for half an
hour with my hands and pllng up 9
mound of earth behind me ncarlya as h1Sl
as my head, the piled-up earth began t(
run back into the hole. [ gave up the
task as hopeless, and waited for develop
ments. [ WIS now anxious to be caught
Anv way to get out Of that blasted pit
which was blacller than midnight.
At an early hour on Jan. } Mr.. Aver!
came down to his store, opened it, an'
at once saw that burglars had paid it
visit, and that the trap had been sprung
Mr.. Avery went about his morning du
ties with his usual composure, sweeping
ont the store and setting things t
RIGHTS He did not go to the shaft t
see whether the burglar had escaped
He had perfect confidence in the trap
After an hour or two, and after returnn
} To his home and eating breakfast, h
l called the neighbors into the store an
. told them about his trap. He adde
that he had good reasons for bellevln
, that there was a burglar in it. All wen
. TO the mouth of the shaft, and NJ
e Avery raised the lid. The party Peere
j down. and dimly deserted Mr.. johnson
+ beorimmed with soil, sitting cOmpli
. Gently on the dirt pile at the bottom
h He looked up at the gathering an
called out
"When are ye goin' ter let me out
this cussed trap?"
Mr.. Avery replied that there was I
Il hurry. A constable was called III, rop
/ were prepared, and after quarter OF {
1t hour Mr.. johnson was drawn up al
~ landed on the grocery floor. He pleadG
|. guilty to a charge Of burglary in ii
). Superior Court, and on Tuesday last W
. sentenced to two years i'll State prise
" His companion. whose namels unknoW
} has not yet been captured. Mr.. Jon
2, son is still lame from the effects of Il
1t fall.