Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-09-05
DARING ATTEHPT


At highway Robbery in Dam ma e ration,
Last Saturday night, at about half past 1
o'clock Is Dr.. c. H. Sholes Of Boston, who has
his summer residence at the old Haven farm
In Dummerston, was coming from the DUN
merstOn railroad station in company with his
wife and hired man, George Cook, who met
him at the depot, a man standing near the
bridge that crosses Salmon brook, between
Oscar Benefits and Nelson Wizards pre-.
scented n revolver in each hand and cried
halt ~ The party at first were inclined to
think the affair joke, but the doctor seeing
by the light of the carriage lamp that the
man wore Il mask and looked as if he might
mean business, told his driver to whip up the
horse, which he did. As the animal spraug
into a run the fellow, now little to the rear
fired four shots none of which took effect SO
far as the party were aware until they reached
home, about half a mile further on when
Cook in putting mp the horse, discovered
that two shots had taken effect near the ami
mails left flank, from which blood was flow
ing. The horse, which was valued at $500.
died in about three hours from internal hem
orrhage. There is little doubt that the OBJ.
Jet of the attack was robbery, as DR.. Sholes
had lately been buying land, and had the fell
low intended murder he could easily have
shot the whole party. As it happened the
doctor had only two or three hundred dollars
with him in available money. The next
morning d. Sholes notified the Brattleboro
officers and efforts were made to get track of
the assailant. 1t was found that he did not
take the Sunday morning train at any point
within p miles of here. Officers Harrick
and Easou found the mask which tn, fellow
used and which he had thrown into the
bushes not far from the scene of the attack
The mask was cut from the leg of a pair of
drawers. Footprints were found leading
south along the highway to the old Birchard
stand, then west on the road toward Slab
Hollow to the Reed Hollow road, and thence
south for little distance, beyond which they
were obliterated by the heavy rain which had
fallen Frank Dodge, young man who &C.
casionally works in one of the Brattleboro
barber shops, went up on the same train
with Dr. Sholes rode part OF the way up
from the depot in the doctors carriage, get
ting out at the Orchard corner to go to Slab
Hollow, and says he heard the shots fired
suspicious appearing fellow came to the
Brooks House by the last train Friday night,
without baggage, registering his name as
John JOsephs, Boston The next morning
he made inquri of one of the hotel at.
taches in regard TO DR.. Sholes, and hiring a
team at Rays, drove up to the doctors place
and had some talk with Cook, the hired man,
pretending that he wanted TO buy some lambs.
He made numerous inquiries, wanted to know
what train the doctor was expected on, and
said that he would come again Monday when
be could see him. After driving about the
neghborhood some he returned with the
team and has not been seen since There is
a strong suspicion that he was the individual
who undertook the robbery. A circumstance
which strengthens the belief that he at least
was not what he should Lave been is the fact
that about month ago a circular was sent
here by New York detectives offering $500
reward for the arrest of man calling himself
John Joseph M,Mahoney. and this John
JOsephs" answered we'll to the description
and portrait sent. The affair of Saturday
night has, of course, caused much local ex-
element. and it is hoped that the assailant,
whoever he may have been, will be ferreted
out and brought to Justice