Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-02-12
TWO HORSE THIEVES,
ONE A FORMER BRATTLEBoRo BOY
And the other Captured in Br"ttlcboro
---Thc story of Their Flight.


of horses, sleigh and outfit were stolen from
Liyeryman Underwood of the upper village
at Athol, Mass, by Hosea Richardson, aged
Is. and Warren Williams, aged -. Rich
ardson was employed by Underwood, and
harne,sed the team and departed. VIII
liams formerly lived in BrattlebOro and
later at Hinsdale He went from here
about three years ago His father was for
several years employed at the Church mills
and had previously lived at GuilfOrd. As
soon as Mr.. Underwood found that the
team had gone he notified Officer Mcclure
of Brattlcboro, who, not knowing about
Williams residence here, sent back for
more complete description of the thieves.
ON Saturday night, Jan. 30 Williams APP
peared at Athol, where he consulted law
yer and was advised to leave the state. On
Monday le disappeared, but he was traced
up through Warwick to Winchester by
DEPUTY Sheriff Tyler Of Athol. Williams
arrived at Winchester three hours ahead of
Sheriff Tyler Sheriff RiXford of Win
chester had been informed, and he went
directly to the railroad station, where he
found Williams, who had bought ticket
to Wcsport, a small station between Win
chester and Keene. Williams returned to
Athol with Sheriff Tyler, where he pretend
ed to turn states evidence. He said that
Richardson stole the team and that he
CWilliams) had no hand in the steal, al
though he knew about it. He met Rich
ardson on one of the streets at AthOl and
they started on their way north. Will
liamss story was that they stunned the
villages, and arrived at BrattleborO at
o'clock i'm the afternoon. Williams said
that when he approached Brattleboro he
became frightened and jumped out, telling
Richardson he would 90 no further. 1t
will be seen that Williams was a week i'm
getting back to Athol. He could not ac-
count for the way in which he had spent
so much time, except by stating that he had
loitered on the road
The affair was put into the hands of Dis
trict Police Murray of Worcester it being
the custom in Massachusetts to have the
district police take charge of criminal cases.
Murray came to Brattleboro on Thursday
night of last week. Williams had told him
that the proposed route was through MARI
boro, Wilmington and Bennington to Troy,
\. Y, where the team was to be disposed
of. Murray came here expecting to get
some trace of Richardson.
Mr. Murray consulted with Mr.. Mcclure.
who did not believe the statements made
by Williams, as he thought it probable that
Williams had been in company with Rich
ardsun during the time which he could not
account for. On Friday morning Mr.. Nc
Clure and Mr.. Murray went to Dummers-
ton, where Williams has two brothers liv-
ing. Charles Williams, one of the broth
ers, had seen nothing of Warren, and knew
nothing of his escapade. 1t was learned,
however, that young fellow giving his
name as Proctor, and claiming to be from
st. Adams, had been at the Williams house
on Sunday. He asked for work and said
that he was used to handling horses. 1t
was also found that the youth had made
similar application at Mr.. Browns near bv.
The two officers then went to Putney. but
found no trace of the stranger there. Re
turning it was learned that he had been
seen at George Walkers, that he had come
down the track (having got off the morn
ing train at Putney) and that he first APP
piled for work at the Randall farm. going
from there to Williams's and then to
Brown ;, as above related. and also to the
Dr. Sholes place. The next clue was OBJ
tanned from young man at work at Cros-
by pond, with whom the stranger had
ridden to the Waite farm. Here all trace
OF him was again lost. Later. on enquiry
at the Brooks House stable, it was found
that young fellow answering the descrip
"
quaintance of one of the coupe drivers
with whom he stayed over night. Where
he had gone was not known, but from fur
ther enquiry it was learned that Mr.. Walker
OF the West BrattlebOro stage had seen him
on Mr.. Stattords team day or two before.
II was after dark before the officers reached
MI. stafford farm on the road to Guilford
beyond q. l.. Miners. On entering the
barn the young man was seen with a milk
pail Richardson was told that he might
consider himself under arrest. He deciar-
ed That he would not go, that his name was
Proctor, etc, but he finally accompanied
the officers without resisting.
On the way to this village, after a GOOD
deal Of buster and vigorous Use of ex-
pietives, Richardson told the story of the
stealing and the subsequent PROCEEDINGS
lie declared that if Williams had had any
sand they would have been all right. thai
II he ever went into any such business again
he would have different partner. thai he
would Kill Williams, etc. His story is en-
ureiy different from that told by Williams.
Richardson says that they made their wav
from Athol up through the New Ham,
shire towns, including Chesterfield, West
ihoreland and Walpole, to Claremont. and
from thence into Vermont, where, after
considerable trading they disposed of the
horses and outfit. They separated at Hard
Wick and Williams probably went at once
back to Athol, while Richardson followed
later, possibly intending to meet Williams
in this vicinity.
richardson tells an interesting story of
thelr travels in Vermont how they crossed
the Connecticut after leaving Claremont
Went to Mortified, where they traded one
OF The horses which had fallen sick uettino
some money and watches, and then ,roino
on TO Hardwick, where they beat man oT
a trade lie followed them and Threatened
Inen with arrest, when a second man came
along SAID he knew they were thieves. as
ne mad served seven years himself and
would help them out for $40 and siy
watches, which they turned over 70 him
from HardWlck Williams skipped back to
Athol' leaVlng Richardson in the lurch, the
Uatter gong to Wolcott, where he traded
the sleigh, robe and fur coats to a black
smith. lie then returned to Hardwick and
came back this way on the cars.
AT the hearing at Athol Richardson was
put under $1,000 bonds for appearance he
lore the grand jury next Nav. Williams's
Ease was continued, bail being fixed at 5000
ne mai hearing was Yesterday when
W llllams was also bound over i'm the snm
Jail. viz worcester
W llllams is remembered here as a small
Whlte-neaded boy, who usually accompa.
illeu MS father on the trips about the vii
iaSe with the team from the Church mill
lie was married at Athol about a wear AGO
Massachusetts OfficarS bova IL. = ~,