Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-12-07
THE VERMONT NEWS.
20 Shots Fired

Before Brave Constable Ti,Ln
three Companions Cap,ur.d t,o,,u, -
"rsi"rs---Two of the Burglars
"o"'ded--- The Constable Hit nv S.
eral Bullets,
ne capture of the four post-oflice bpr-
glars near Rochester last week Thursda..
was even more like wild border taie ,I'"Sy
indicated by the first account. which ai
peared in The Phoenix last week Af,ar
IoOOlng The pOst-Oflice at Ticondaroco N
l., the burglars crossed Lake ChamnIain
10 Larrabee's Point, where thev SILL
.ahu car and travelled on it several miIes
After abandoning their hand car thew v,sro
seen at Brandon. From there they stated
toward Plttsford to throw the officers off
Ihelr Jrall, but turned and went 10 Forrest
uale' Where they engaged Liveryman Sa-
vary TO take them to Rochester DENNY
oherln Fletcher, who traced them TO For.
esVuale, telephoned the facts to Constable
linkham OF Rochester Mr.. Tinkham
Win Edgar Martin, Ephraim Hovt and
FRANK Barcelow, all armed with reyolyers
started out to capture the burglars. They
met MI oaVary team between Rochester
anu west Rochester. Mr. Tinkham spoke
W tne drlVer and then stepping up to the
carriage tolu the occupants they were un-
DER arrest. When Mr.. Tinkham was
asked 10 produce papers he pulled out his
revolver, and replied "This is all the ma
per l need now" The four burglars an
swered by jumping to their feet and pulling
out revolvers. The leader fired three shots
at Mr.. Iinkham, two striking him in the
left side, but he miraculously escaped death
The bullets did not penetrate the flesh
being stopped by watch and a box of car
tridges. One of the bullets was found in
his clothing after the fight and one dis
charge set his fur coat on fire. Tinkham
seized his first assailant and the man who
sat on that side of the wagon, and ierked
them to the ground. The officer could
not use his revolver, while his opponents
discharged their weapons repeatedly. One
bullet tore the skin from his cheek, and
Others punctured his clothing, but, watch
ing their motions as they 70 led and Writhed
beneath him he avoided their shots as much
as possible. The struggle ended when one
OF Ilnkham' aids appeared and shot one
OF the prisoners through the ankle. An
other battle had been going on the other
side of the team. The other two burglars
fired rapidly at the constables assistants,
but one of them was dragged to the ground
and shot through the arm. The fourth
burglar, after emptyng his revolver, fled
through the fields. Martin, of the CON
stables party, was shot through the hand.
The three prisoners were taken to the
house of Frank Hubbard and placed under
guard, there being no lock up in town.
Later they were taken to the house of cor
rection at Rutland. Three men started
after the burglar who had escaped. He
forded the river and ran long distance
but threw up his hands and surrendered
when his pursuers approached near enough
to send two rifle bullets whistling past him.
When the burglars were searched S26l in
cash and postage stamps was found on
them. The leader of the gang gives his
name as George Taylor. He is about 81
years old. One of his companions is about
80 years old and the other two about p
each.
The men are undoubtedly professional
safe-blowers of the most desperate charac-
ter. The officers think they are respon'
sible for many of the post-oiiice burgarie:
that have been committed in Vermont and
eastern New York during the past year
They will probably be taken TO Ticon-
deroga for trial.