Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-10
CAUGHT AT LAST.
A Connecticut Man Arrested at Winooski
by U. S. Officers for Fraudulent Use
of the Mails.


of the Mails.
Charles b. Thompson of Bridgewater,
Conn, was arrested in Winooski Tuesday
night by United States Marshal Henry
assisted by SpecialiDeputy Marshal Il. b.
Chapman of Hartford, Ct, and Sheriff
Barton Of this city, on the charge of violat-
ing the United States postal laws by using
the mails for fraudulent purposes. He
was taken before United States Commits
sioner George f. johnson Wednesday and
waived examination, whereupon his bail
was fixed at $1,000, in default of which he
was committed to Jail for safe keeping.
The necessary papers have been made out
and an order is expected from Judge
Wheeler in a day or two, when Thompson
will be taken to Connecticut for trial.
The following statement was obtained
from Deputy Marshal Chapman yesterday
as to the facts in the case: Charles b.
Thompson, who has also operated under
the aliases, Edward Cannon and w. f..
Welles, is the leader of gang of three or
four, two of whom are living in Jail in
Hartford awaiting trial. They began OPP
erations in Bridgewater, Conn, in 1881,
and until within six months have done Il
flourshing business in a great variety of
fraudulent methods.
A favOrite scheme with the gang and
the one that made the best returns was
wholesale dealers doing credit business in
the large cities. The bogus firm had a
large variety of bill heads printed, repre-
senting them to be wholesale and retail
dealers in a great variety of goods so that
they could order any kind of merchandise
that presented itself. The goods would
be received and the firm would suddenly
disappear to appear in another town I'M
der another name.
Another favOrite resort was to send out
circulars stating that the remittance of Il
certain sum would procure valuable in
formation or a certain quantity of goods,
the price of course always being attrac-
lively low.
The operations of the gang have been
very extensive, New York, Philadelphia,
Hartford and New Haven houses having
been the greatest sufferers through buy
ers orders. 1t is estimated that the goods
fraudulently secured by the gang would
amount TO $40, 900 or 500, 900.
The press of Connecticut pronounced the
gang u fraud under whatever name they
appeared, but Thompson had the audacity
to publicly deny the truth of the charge.
Finally the Postotfice department took the
matter in hand and two of the gang were
apprehended, but Thompson, being warn
ed of his danger, fled across the line into
New York state, where he supposed he was
secure.
At Pawling, n. Y, Thompson had rela-
| tiveS, land 1t was there that the officers next
found trace of him. Here again friends
aided him to elude the officers, and for h
time all track of him was lost. BY the
merest chance Deputy Marshal Chapman
learned that Thompson had friends
at Winooski. Arriving at this point
he learned that Thompson had
gone TO Canada. A. Montrea,
then the trail led towards Winooski
again. The officer returned from Mon
treal Tuesday, and satisfying himself that
Thompson was at the house of his broth
er-in-law, Edward Harmon, he came tC
this city, secured the aid of Gen. Henry
Sheriff Barton and number of deputies
Harmon's house was surrounded about Il
O'Clock Tuesday night to prevent any pos
sibility of escape and Thompson was sc
cured without resistance Thompson has
a wife and three children who are said tC
be highly connected in Connecticut. He
has made partial confession and on re
ceipt of the proper papers he will be taken
to Connecticut by Deputy Marshal Chap
man and District Attorney L. E. Stanton
- L. e..