The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-21
EIGHTEEN YOUNG THIEVES.
THEY PLUNDERED A CONNECTICUT
TOWN AND HAD A HIDDEN DEN.


Merchant. OF the Old Town, Putnam, Were
Robbed Night Arer Night, and CouIdn't
Solve the Mystery-A French Canadian
Caught Band OF the Towns Own Boys.
PUTNAM. Conn. Oct. 2o.-Durlng the past
two months the merchants OF this beautiful
village among the Windham county hills have
been greatly disturbed by a series OF mex
plicable burRaries. and the officers OF the law
were at their wits end to discover the thieves
The burglars evidently were both bold and
crafty. and they entered tho most strongly in
trenched stores with dexterity. " Everything
was grist to their MILL" said Putnam mer-
chant to-day: they stole anything and every
thing they could lay their hands on. and they
got away with their booty so swiftly and silent
~ that they left no clue to track them by"
Often half a dozen shops were riiled ip week.
and sometimes two or three in single
night Lately most OF the depredations wero
committed at tho Upper Village" so-called,
and part OF a wagonload OF plumber the rob-
bers took out OF one store was ferrets bottles
ofbeer. cigars. plug tobacco. and household
rugs. Finally tho exasperated shopkeepers
engaged sharp-nosed French Canadian.
Beaulia, to trap the miscrcants. and Beaulia
promptly laid his plans to do it. Beaulia has
not described his campaign as yet, but during
the past ten days he has been ostensbly the
most idle and unconcerned citizen OF Putnam.
He strolled about the lower streets OF the
placea great deal however. and became, as
.Sashny rendE Win ell srts Of odd char
he suddenly, unmasked his battery; The
thieves were local gentry. solely. and they had
ORGANIZED wonderful rural school OF outlaw
Beaulia arrested Just eighteen youthful Put
quietly to the local merchants: :" s'pose You
drop down street ind see my bag of your
ddsss at xS so all Ss s bS are sSs 5h
exposing his detective methods. Beaulia mar
rated the history IL Of the burgaries The boys
ganized their enterprise about two months ago
on the plan Of the Jesse James robberies. The
secrets, OF their trade. and never to peach
Death" was always pronounced BY the mem
bers OF the band in ind OF a husky whisper.
it hes
lished camp in a deep and unfrequented
raye amHPg the ,sI hills dense forest mile
fsty STYLED The
quarters" The youths operated iG against stt the
business men OF Putnam with considerable
robbsrs.' who we're selected by lots. to I pil-
iage the t shops ops on one evening" The booty
to the headquarters, and secreted there. and
after each successful marauding expedition
the outlaws had grand roundup with cards:
hiarity."
The headquarters was warm and roomy
stolen from lumber merchants. and it was per-
fectly screened with q thick copse Of witch
rough, couches Of stolen blankets or led
protruded through the shanty root. a lot Of
chairs. benches. a table. and stools. while the
ns n and
the hold boy bursiar Of Pafnam @ Village. s and
officer Of the law or a wrathful merchant who
would have dared to beard the village brother
Beaulia. however. tapped this rendezvous OF
juvenile village crime but. out Of respect for
ping In the daytim when only few of the
outlaws the most docile ones. too We're Mt
o orFeS nnd aaa
supple lieutenant. 50 his alleged daring in;
yasen of the was what he Local
snyhow:" the boys said afterward. sneerineiy:
At any rate. Beau la nabbed the whole gang at
or danger t To himself han lie
farmer W il Go1 1p sheep for their
this presumptuous French Canadian detective
went down Main street. Putnam. ana into JUS
tie Of the PesGs sGurt end
wasn't quite ready for the Whole band, and
tried only NV w no was called
and he promised to attend to the re ct OF the |
culprits by wholesale method Just as soon as |
he had time. He fined Deadwood Dick Corey |
81 and costs sent him to Jail for thirty days. |
and charged the costs OF prosecution to his. |
Correy's. account
On the same day Beaulla. with company OF |
curious Putnam citizens merchants. and 9TH |
ers. visited the interesting headquarters in |
the wood. and the officer recovered In the |
shanty q cart load OF loods-sledgeh ammers. |
spades. pickaxes. shovels axes. hoes. saws, |
and so on-all OF which were fruits Of robberieS
in all parts OF the town. One member Of the
band. escaped. but no was arrested a day or
two later in Norwich.
The hut in the forest was abundnnty stocked
with dime novels. including the Thrilling
OF Jesse James" and The I.ifo |
and Daring Deeds OF Bob Ford" and Capt.
Corey admitted that the gang imhibed their
outlaw motive from those literary we'll springs.
BeAula found beneath a pile of hedcothes in
ono corner OF the shanty Just $50 dime novels
in one lot.
BRAT7ON IVES ELECIhD PRESIDENT.
The New Northern PacIhc Dlrectors Elect