The sun., 1893-06-04
REVELS IN MALICIOUS MISCHIEF.
Come cticut Farmers In Terror ASah-A
stock Poisoner Abroad Now.

Come cttcut Farmers In Terror A%ain-A
stock Poisoner Abroad Now.
W11J1,1ASr1c, June 3.-For several years
| r.ipn Of terror sed the lofty hill town OF
Mansfield in Tolland county. north OF this
borough A rural nrcbuG burned not less than
twelve or nftcen barns. set fire to schooi-
hous es, and dciaced village sanctuaries three
times, so that the farmers in six towns were
in a plight OF anxiety and profound distress
City and country detectives and sherins
secured tho land. vainy hunting the eiusl'e
miscrcant: two towns offered l.ooorewato 10.
his arrest and armed rura! guards patro!ieu
tho country roads nightly for weeks. Flnniy.
n few months ago. officers arrested
wealthy young farmer. Costello OF Mansfield
on the charge OF dctacrg the Mansfield
church, and. though he WAS popularly accused
of doipp all the other malicious mischief. the
accusation was never judcinlly prosecuted
nrainst him. He was in ;ail for short time
on account OF tho church trouble. and thon ne
was let 60 After his arrest tho carnival OF born
burning was suddenly terminated. but from
time to time tho reign OF malicious mischief
was resumed in other ways. Horses ana
sheep were mutilated in their helds. ana IN
several instances cows were disemboWeiied
in distant pastures.
Twice or three times the mysterious man
carried Ills CuuIdlkh ia uSbtSN'S'N~ 49, -
south as towns In New London county. and in
Lebanon and Salem cows and calves were
butchered in the farm lots In every instance.
whether Of mutilating animals or burning
buildings, the operator plainly was inspired by
spite or malice. for there was mover an attempt
to commit robbery. and sometimes 1t seemed
as II the deed was that OF q mndman-
For about two months until few days ngo.
the farmers OF Windham and Tolland counties
had breathed more freely. believing that the
suppressed. and tho result was that the ylgi-
lance with which they had long guarded their
BY night and dny 1o
what careless about padlocklng their barns
In IN ~ midst Of 'Sis fssiins 2, renewed
upon tho country, sldo came q not unfamiliar
incidont; few days ago that has hinng;ssd ;sd
aa5 M % nns Ths
mali ious mischief maker Is at work again
In one day he destroyea by h means 5nsd 9f Paris Paris
cows nine in numter. belonging to L French.
prosperous farmer among the rich; l,lsds ds
roHe c to remote PASTURE at the close Of day 10
call his cattle home. and found the their bodf,s: S:
@ ss.n f wh Of Witch M
on dat stones. whore tho animal would be
man snd valued his nine Deyons at 81. 900.
All the farmers were terribly eXnsperated by
tho net and without my ostentatious demon;
s,raton. but quietly and steTnly. declared
their determination to track the miscreant
down and dispose OF him according to the
Southern shotgun process. Meantime tho
Solectmen called a town meeting on Thurs
day, which was attended hy half tho farmers
in town. and they vo ed reward OF $1,000 to
any ono who may be instrumental In nrrest!nG
and cOnvictinG the poisoner Tho Coventry
authorities have also decided to engage city
detectives from Boston or New YORK. and re.
tain them In their service until the author OF
all tho depredations In the two counties for
tho past three or four years IL brought to
book. Said u Mansfield farmer: We are
Just about tired out with all this trouble and
might as well settle it first "a ast. One thing
is certain. It is useless 10 try to carry on any
farming as long MS this chap Is ut large. for,
II our IuildinGs are to 10 burned with lm-
punity and our stock is to be slaughtered In
tho fields. we might as well give up tho
struggle. 1t Is CHEAPER to settle the matter
now. while we have the money to work with. IL
necessary, we propose to incrense the reward.
and other towns. Il DOZEN Of them. arc equally
interested with US and may offer rewards also.
Why, this reign of misc hief has ALREADY cost
the two counties not less than Slo,OO0 or
S2nOoO In the Inst four years, and the LORD
knows where il will end
Only few weeks ago an attempt was made
to poison the well water OF prominent farmer
in Lebanon. south Of this town. hut the male
factor overreached himself by strewinG part
OF the poison arsenic, about the well curD.