The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-01-22
now HE KNEW HIS TURKEYS.
Skilled Opinion By . skilful Raiser Of North
ktSnlngton Town.

NORWICH, Jan.0 .-Tho rugged old tow
OF North Stonington. in the southeastern part
Of the county, raises the finest turkeys in the
world and some very dexterous all-'round
thieves. There is q ring Of them, four or five
In number. all Of whom are well-to-dof farmers,
and 1t Is estimated that in the past ten years
their stealings amount toinot less than $4,000.
They steal anything that is valuable, and they
mean to score an average OF about $500 yearly.
They frequently wap farms and usually dwell
together In one habitation that suits their
changing fancy. Sometimes they live in a
white house. sometimes In q yellow one and
sometimes in q red ono. They sally out
with Q team at night and look about farm
houses and outhouses for something to pick
up. II any one challenges them they drive
furiously away The territory which they over
run Ia In shape like . new moon, and includes
portions Of three towns, North S%tonington.
Griswold. and Ledyard. They steal farming
implements, chains. robes, and now and then
break into dwellings in the daytime. II they
know that the family is absent: but their pecu-
liar and ~favorite crime is the despoiling Of tur-
key roosts. They steal poultry enough each
money that New London and Norwich market
men pay them for their booty.
Thisying is = vocation with them their re-
creation Is to do u little work. on their farms.
raise a few crops. attend auctions, and drive to
town to see every show. On their way home
anything portable from roadside farm houses
that attracts their cupidity. They take front
do9ryard gates. bee hives tools, or poultry;
OF goslings. or young turkeys. In the middle OF
the day they take them. or as many OF them as
Al reputable North .s~tonington. Griswold.
and Lsdyard farmers have. been acquainted
with the doings OF this gang for years, and sey-
the act OF running Off poultry, or Juggling away
farm implements; but the band stand firmly
togsther and lie each other out Of court.
William !. Slocum, q member, was caught re-
gently with the evidence OF his crime. three old
turkeys. that belonged to his neiehbor, in his
the Superior Court in this city. The trial was
an interesting one. both on account of the su-
peru and comprehensive mepdacity exhibited
by the defence. and because the old-time North
StoninEton way Of branding turkeys was de-
scribed in court by a. expert. Charles Swan.
a ans adyh Pound gf tR. IDse Or ' th.i ia faeesim lies faS Sie-
Gums fiock, OF tfty-two birds, testified that he
identified them as his property In this way, In
he he n nasa sse q l Bron 1afes sIensthy." a N o ID
Lady," and secondly their hind toes were
SlipPsd ks s!ie 81 b9saa aai Ri sulk tSss 3 si iasb fas T ybst
had come. down to him through several gem
%eraiio ,ppsso Of e, expert si.dt turkey ! raiserS: Mr.: Swan
roosts whom he went 70 bed. and next morning
they we're gone: he strolled over to Mr..
sa[e'S SalIsd' a aat s aSro anaes h iIs sar1sys were sna
"old Lady" and his three turkeys at once
broke ranks from MIR. Slocum's turkeys. trotted
sobbfsd. ~ you go 70 Seq. hlm add sdd M f!u sTsn G in
moderate tones on the witness stand. ~ them
S Sd5 5u wsI. S OF mi f". tsas | ioo or ab IN slSeS%,s
'em. then they was fac-similes clean all the
"aBesidess." Mr.. swan argued. II would hev
known them air turkeys Ia Joppa, or any other
SINGER placs; by reason o Q, th aSr color sdin. and spots;
nm = M nt hAr turk nv IN 4 I Avar aiaad bSnacInl-
colors on Ser back-beiha red. brown, SpeckIed.
old EGo ya Her. green, an apa some other color l don't
On tho other hand, slocpm ayerred not loss
strongly that 2 clipped middle toe was also his
mark having come down By Inheritance through
1,s: e. %Sss Tsnsds'l s.ssila sda sS Has t 81 Mi sfip Stsi
middle toe was his private, mark. and had been
IL the family from time immemoriam." slo.
tSrfes Ss'i that sssf sysa saw saw IN IL lslssu%'.s|
yard was raised from seven old birds ! that
Ssv. ssEsG IT. r.: s Sc nS" yas found 81 r gully H9e and
fined $50 and costs, and he, would have been
s setor nc 'ai w RS' I niss sas fs shat s asflosa%'s Of p ots
old mother would not be able to AXE charge OF
i and G rsiss Nh Mr tp sIosynm without ssSsri h:s s9o 81 h tests1,
cost him altogether not less than $500.
luo uoLoSt NoTtu DtonlukUou lhfultto hio
Disguised with tho verdict. and one OF them
said to q reporter at the close Of the trial: 7" It's
no use: This business Of stealing has been
clear case against one OF the gang, he Is let OIL
with $50 and costs. because OF his poor old
now, Thars got Ter b . hanging II, North
there's got ter be just one. Farmin' don't. pay
In North Stonington when you've got ter divide
yer nayinEs with them air turkey thieves"
The farmers In that town have suffered
grisyously. Not long since Hubbard Brown, g
wealthy farmer Of North stoningtop, lost sl70
due was worth, $500, 70 the g~ang,who broke into
open his desk and stole that amount while he
and his family were on. a trip TO this city; AS
this loss cam right after Mr.. Brown had lost
many THOUSANDS OF, dollars OF deposits and
stock in three Norwich banks by the defalca-
tons Of cashiers. he found himself within q year
hurled down from am lei almost to penury.
The thieves got into tho house of another
resident at about the same time In the day.
broke opsn 2 private secretary and got away
other time they chopped down $50 trees on
Alfred q. Gpile's wood lot and .carted them
AWAY before he found out what they were do
ing Their lrewood they drew from the woods
OF William hiohardson.. and pulled cord after
cord ofit nGhtout OF bis door yard. The farmers
wonder what they will do -naItfnGtaRRar In.