The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-09-01
HORSE THIEVES.

n. Y, Wednesday, where he will pro-
cure and bring here to-day or tomorrow
Henry Sargent, noted horse thief, to
await trial at the December term Of
court. Henry L. Sargent, is known
in every New England state as one of
the most sdroit and successful horse
thieves ever within their borders, and in
every one of which there are indictments
against him for that crime.
Sargent is now serving out a term in
the Dannemora prison for the same Of
fence, his term expiring to-day. Sheriff
Wilson, supplied with the necessary re-
QUESTION papers, will be ready to take
him and bring him here, where there are
two indictments against him for horse
stealing, Sargent is the youngest of a
family of brothers, four of which came
to SALISBURY in 1870 from Northern New
York and went to work in the coal kilns
then being operated in the mountains in
that town. The boys were a terror to
this section, and although none of them
now reside around here, the return of
Henry L. recalls them to mind.
+ Henry who is now about 80 years OF
age, came here three or four years after
his brothers, and went to board with a
family in SALISBURY. During the sum-
mer the man and his wife went to Cana
on their return they were surprised to
find that the house had been robbed of
everything that it contained during their
absence. Some time after it was found
that Henry Sargent was the man who.
had robbed the house, and that he had
taken the goods to Arlington. He was
arrested, brought here and confined IN
the county Jail, from which he soon es-
capped and was not recaptured. Five.
years after a man appeared in Centre
Salisbury with five fine looking horses,
which he offered for sale very cheap. A
farmer named Clark Stone, being sus-
picious that the horses had been stolen,
had the man arrested and brought to the
Jail here, when it was discovered that he
was Henry L. Sargent.
For this Sargent swore that he would
get even with Stone when he got out.
Stone advertised the horses, and own
ers were found for all of them.
Sargent was confined here several
weeks. One night he complained of be-
ing sick and asked the jailor to bring
him some medicine. When the janitor
opened the door Sargent pulled him in
side and knocked him senseless with
piece of lead pipe that he had cut from a
pump. Sargent took the janitor's keys,
unlocked the cells containing the prison
ers, and every one escaped, and none
were ever recaptured.
Early in the spring of 1899, Clark
Stone had valuable bay mare, new har-
ness and high priced carriage stolen one
Saturday night A slight snow had fall
len drought the night, and the tracks
were followed through Bennington,
| North and South Adams. over Stamford
mountain, to the Florida mountains in
Massachusetts,, where the pursuing party
gave up the chase.
John Nash of this village was then
sent in pursuit. He traced Sargent to-
within 80 miles of Boston, where he lost
the scent, and was compelled to give up
! the chase. Three weeks from the night
| Stones rig was taken, o. Huntington of
SALISBURY had a valuable horse, with
harness and wagon, stolen under the
| same circumstances. He promptly Of
fered a reward of $500 for the arrest of
the thief and placed the matter in the
hands of county officers.
In the mean while John Nash tele-
graphed State Detective Munyon at
Northampton, Mass, and the chief of po-
| lice in Boston, giving a description OF
Sargent and the team. Three days after
ward he saw notice in a Boston paper
| that Henry L. Sargent, the most noted
horse thief in New England, had been ar
rested on Dover street in Boston by
Detective Abbott, who was obliged to
| shoot twice before he could take him.
He had Huntingtons rig, and in the
carriage was whip, lap robe and blan-
! ket which Stone afterward identified as
being his. Nash and Huntington went
to Boston, identified the property, and
Detective Abbott got the $500 reward.
-, Loo
gent had recently completed term in
the Charlestown state prison for steal
ing horses.
As soon as the news of Sargent's ar
rest became known officers from New
Hampshire, New York and other states
were after the prisoner. He had stolen
pair of horses in Cambridge, N. Y,
and the reward offered for him there be-
ing the largest he was turned over to
officers from New York, tried before the
Washington county court and sentenced
to Al years in prison, his term expiring
as before stated.
Although quite lame, the result of be-
shot by Detective Abbott, a fear is gen.
orally expressed that he may make his
third escape from the Jail here, although
extra precautions will be taken to keep
him safe.
Tuesday night julius Hill of Sunder-
land had pair of horses stolen. The
Journal says: 'Mr. Hill was awakened
by the noise and got out in time to see
the thief drive away. Pursuit was
made as soon as possible and the team
traced to Manchester and up the noun
tain as far as the toll gate, where the
thief had about two hours the start.
Mr.. Hill received telegram Wednesday
at 10 a. M, from South Londonderry,
signed B. F. Bacon, that the team and
thief had been captured and were at that
place. We learn the man caught is
named Rufus Young, and resides in
Winhall."
Probably Mr.. Hills prompt pursuit
has saved him good deal of outlay in
capturing the thief. He followed i'm
mediately and at Manchester got near
enough to grasp the rear end of the
wagon. Young struck him over the
head with the butt end of whip, which
released his hold being partially stunned.
He recovered in time to note that the
scamp drove towards Peru. Pursuit was
soon resumed and the fellow tracked to
Londonderry as stated, where Young
arrest was effected at the point of a re-
volver. Young was brought here by
Constable Early of Londonderry and
lodged in Jail. He is an old offender.
At one time previously in his career he
was found with eight stolen horses, and