Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-10-25
Burglars at Chelsea.

Thursday morning, Oct. Is, our village
was thrown into high state of excite
ment on learning that gang of burglars
had raided many of the business places
during the night. Seven different places
were entered by them.
DensmOre's blacksmith shop at the
lower end and Godfrey's carpenter
shop at the upper end of the village,
were both entered and tools taken to as
sist in the work. A. III. Powers grist
mill, 4. n. Woodruf''s market, J. A. X
COIwin's and Townsend & Dickinson's
stores and W. +. Hoods drug store
were all entered and in the same manner
by prying open the front doors, which
were found in the morning carefully
pulled together, but no keys were needed
to open them. Powers suffered no loss
Onlya broken door lock, as he had
neither money drawer nor safe in the
mill. Woodruff lost the change in his
money draw some 50 and a box of eli
gars. His safe was not touched. At
Townsend & Dickinson's they opened
up to show they could do some business
on a scientific basis. The safe was
blown open with dynamite or some high
explosive. About Sl35 were taken from
together with some valuable papers in
an iron money box and tin trunk.
These were opened outside, it is thought
near the Congl church, where they were
examined, the money taken and the pa
lers replaced. These together with the
trunk and box were found the next
morning between Z. w. Mattoon's and
the bridge under the trees down by the
brook. a pile of horse blankets was
put on and around the safe to deaden
the explosion. At Corwin's and Hoods
the safes were not touched but the mon
ey draws and desks were cleaned of
what cash they contained, amounting
70 not over 50 or So in either case. The
Dank books of each were examined by
the burglars and as both had deposited
quite large sums of money the day be-
lore perhaps it was because of this that
inc safes were not blown up, thinking
there might not be enough to pay. Let
lers sealed and ready for mailing were
torn open in Corwin's, one had i'm it a
large check but was not taken. The
burglars wanted only money il SEEM
ed and they took nothing but money on
~ the few cigars at Woodruff7s. 1t was
! sklilfully planned and coolly executed
loD' plainly the work of professionals.
several heard the faint thud of the ex-
piosion but did not think it was any
tnlhg. Parties who heard it said the
CLOCK struck one soon afterwards, so
probably the work was done between
1870 and 100 A. NJ. Undoubtedly the
village was closely watched all day
Ned. and Wed. evening. Strangers
were met about town by different par
ues IN the evening. A man was seen
watching Tracy's shop and two strang-
r. were seen and spoken to on the post
oiilce piazza about 1890 O'Clock. 4. o.
Tracy had Sl400. in his safe and j. Il.
AtWood's safe in the post-Office contain
GU quite sum. 1t seems strange these
places SHOULD escape the raid when from
inulcatlons they were watched for bus
mess. Perhaps they did not get time
after all was closed up around. The
SOhs OF Veterans held a meeting until
10 o'clock in G. A. r. hall. Tracy did
lot close up till after IL and F. l. Whit
ney grocery opposite was open till II
ana after and Mr.. Peters had a lamp
burning all night and it may have dis
outraged them from working these
PAGES IL got so late. If they knew ev-
:. gly mans safe in town as some claim
.hey did they would know that Mr.. At
woods Is MOsier Safe and Lock Co. i'm
proved fire proof safe and has inside a
olfgiar steele chest, which if they could
s saler at all would be slow work requir-
AZ Two or more explosions. As they
ulu not get in the whole town they NAV
S0iiie Oack later, so it is best for all to
Aeep watch of any suspicious looking
es s,44sers' No trace of the burglars
~ oe found. Telegraph and telephone