Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-01-27

dale next morning, or rather about
o'clock that morning. The principal
dry goods store had been robbed during
the previous night-the first real rob-
berry known in the annals of the village.
The robber had got in by back window.
There was a private bank in town, and
so he had secured only few dollars in
cast, but he had taken about $500 worth
of silks. Business was practically Sis
pended for half a day. Six funerals,
two circuses and Fourth OF July all COM
ing at once could not have upset the
public more.
ought to have instantly connected
Mr. White with that robbery as a matter
of course, but the idea never occurred to
me- was mystifed, but not suspicious.
He was a prominent figure that day. In
his bygonc days he had been a detective,
he said. He assisted the county sheriff
and town constable with his advice; he
helped them to find clews; he had theo-
ries and plans; he would add ten dollars
to any reward which might be offered.
1t was concluded that the robbery was
the work of a travelling gang, and the
sheriff spent week riding about the
country and then gave up the chase.
Three days after the burglary tin
peddler put up at the inn for the night
He was stranger to ALL but made him
self perfectly at home with everybody
He took a deep interest in Mr.. Whites
washing machine, and about 10 o'clock
in the evening was invited up to the lat
ter's room to inspect some legal papers
connected with it. went to my post at
once, and during the next hour l saw a
bundle taken out of Mr.. Whites trunk,
some money counted down, and the ped
der and the bundle slip dOwn the roof into
the darkness. What astonished me more
than anything else was to see the pair
drink from bottle in possession of the
peddler-a bottle which i believed to
contain whisky. Mr.. White not only
drank, but smacked his lips and seemed
to find great satisfaction in it.
now felt that there was something
wrong with the man, but was not sharp
enough to grasp the situation. If went
to father with what had seen he would
scarcely believe it, and would also be
the spy on guest of the house. After
debating the matter for day or two |
concluded to keep quiet, the more es-
pecially as the man with the washing
machine was now talking of buying a
home joining the church and bringing
on his family from Ohio. 1t was about
a week after the coming and going of the
tin peddler before made any new dis
covery.
Then one dark and rainy evening, at
about 10 o'clock, ! saw Mr. White put on
his disguise and make off down the litch-
en- roof. | at once set out to follow him
but owing to the storm and the darkness
lost sight of him after logging his foot
steps for couple of squares. then re-
turned and went to bed, but kept
awG1-e until he returned, which was at .
o'clock in the morning. He Went to bed
in the dark, and l did not hear him oper
his trunk. Next morning Glendale wa:
upset again. The bank and postofict
had been robbed. The banker was the
postmaster and both institutions were
in the same building
The safe door had been drilled, and THE
robber got about $4,000 in cash, a hun
bred dollars worth of stamps and a dozer
registered letters. He had gained acces:
to the building by means of false key
Mr. White was sent for before he wa
out of bed. and it was the same thins
over again. He practically took charg,
of the case, and under his direction ;
dozen or more men were sent out to picl
up clews. There was talk of getting ;
detective from Boston, but he discour
aged it and kept up the hunt until til,
banker was satisfied that the robber ha(
made good his escape.
was now perfectly satisfied in my owl
mind that Mr.. White was the robber il
both instances, but dared not lisp M
suspicious. ] argued that | would ~
put in prison if l could not prove hi''
guilty. and that some of his friend
would kill me if he was punished on lii.
! evidence. The thing was such n menta
burden to me that went about lookin:
as if had not long to live. One day
when the hunt had begun to grow slack
| was sent by father on an errand to
farmers three miles away. By taking
cut through woods and fields could saw
half the distance.
On creek in the woods was an oil
abandoned sawmill. which had visited
score Of times before. | took it in o.
this trip, of course was close to il
but still sheltered from sight by til
bushes. when heard some one movin
about Creeping forward on hands an
knees. ! discovered Mr.. White just as h
was leaving the place. When he ha
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