Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-08-28
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY.
The Night Clerk at the American House
Assaulted An Attempt to
get at the Safe.

AssnuIted-Au Attemptto
get at the Safe.
An unknown man called up Oscar La
fountain, night clerk at the American
house. shortly after - Thursday night,
and asked that the safe might be opened
so that he could deposit there four or five
hundred dollars he had with him, for
safe-keeping at the same time stating
that he was Il guest of the house in room
thiftv-seven. The clerk told him he would
have to goover to the Van Ness house and
started to go to his room again when tle
stranger seized him, threw him down and
choked him. After choking the PROSTATE
clerk for Il short time he asked him if he
would open the safe then, when Lafoun
tain gained his liberty sufficiently to en-
able him to shout for help which he did
Justify. His assailant Immediately took
to his heels and ran out of the front
fountain proceeded to the police Office
and after recovering himself sufficiently,
informed Officer O'Callaghan of what had
occurred. BY that time the man had dis
appeared and although diligent search
was made he could not be found. Lafoun-
tain was quite severely handled during
the scut1ie. a cash about two inches long
was cut on his right arm little below
the shoulder and his face was badly
scratched. He describes his assailant IT'S
man OF apparently thirty NttlS VI dEc,
about five feet eleven inches tall and
weighing one hundred and siXty-tive
pounds He wore long chin whis kers and
gold eye glasses and was evidently dis
guised At the time of writing the officers
are still searching and are in hopes to
secure the wOuld-De robber, who 1t Is eNl-
dent was not an expert
DIR. CIark's Retreat Entered An Unsuc-
cessful Attempt Made on King
Street Residence.
1t seems that in addition to the attempt
ed robbery at the American house Thurs
day night, burglars We're at work in other
parts of the city before or after that
episode. The Waterman at DR.. Clark S
Retreat on North avenue mad occas-
ion to leave his quarters between the
hours of tea and eleven that night and
during his absence some epicurean indt-
viduas broke into the store room through
basement window. The room happened
to contain provisions, and either daunted
by the sturdy walls which enclosed it, or
preferrlng Il square meat to any other
kind of plunder, they fell TO and destroyed
a prOdgious quantity of crackers, pre-
serves and sweet meats When the watch
man returned his visitors were gone, evil
IDENTIFY disturbed by his temperance.
An attempt was also made early yester-
day morning to rob the house, number -
King street occupied by MI :. P.Mc keal.
The domestic was aroused about 3 O clock
by hearing the gate open,and upon getting
up saw IL man enter the yard and mON Z
around to the front of the house. Board
ears ON the second floor We're aroused by
hearing Il key crate III the door, and Mr..
Lee, one OF the boarders, stepped to
the head of the stairs and asked
who was there, and if anything
was wanted. No response being received,
search was made when it was found that
part of the outside moulding on the door
had been removed. The girl who saw the
man enter the yard described him as being
tail and slim, and from her description il
is supposed he was the same person who
attempted to rob the safe at the American
house.
1t was learned Friday that man
whose appearance answered exactly to the
description of Lafountain'S assailant
called at the residence of Mrs. O. A. Bur
ton Thursday morning with two boxes
of blueberrieS for sale. The idea of
man we'll dressed as he was and wearing
gold eyeglasses, peddling blueberries, eX
cited the suspicion of Mrs. Burton ant
maid, and they recognized him at once
from our description of the Americat
house intruder in yesterdays issue. Tn,
officers continued the search Friday
but no clue to his whereabouts could bC
discovered.