The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-08-10
WAS CAUGHT in THIS CITY
STOLE A TEAM FROM THE STATE
PRISON Al TVETHERSFIELD.


officer John w. Grant of the central
police station yesterday captured at
the depot in this city the most daring
and nervy horse thief in the state. The
man, who is diminutive in size, gave his
name at police headquarters as Arthur
Perkins, but his correct name is said to
be briggs and he has served a term at
the state prison at Wethersfeld.
About 8 o'clock yesterday morning
two thieves broke into the yard at
the state prison at Wethersfeld, by
climbing the high fence and then broke
the lock of the stable about 100 yards
from where they entered
They took a span of horses, harness
ed them to a surrey wagon and drove
around inside the prison wall They
then cut wire fence, drove across a
field of cabbage and out to the main
rode running to Middletown and Hart
ford. Then all trace of them was lost,
A big mastiff, the terror of Wethers-
field, lay in a stall near the horses
which were stolen, and gave no alarm.
The team belongs to the state and is
worth about 5000 The harnesses have
the coat of arms of the state on the
binders and saddle. 1t is thought that
the thieves are discharged convicts,
owing to their familiarity with the
premises and the fact that the dog did
not modest them. The theft was COM
mitted without being observed by the
Waterman stationed in a tower on the
inside wall of the prison.
Early yesterday morning the local
police were notified of the theft and
requested to be on the lookout for the
thieves, as it was supposed that they
had driven off in the direction of this
city, and this surmise subsequently
proved to be correct. The proprietors
of the local stables were also notified
and asked to be on the alert in the
event of the thieves pulling up at any
of their stables.
Yesterday forenoon the team was
driven to Cruttenden's stables on Union
street, but was not put UP there. The
foreman of the stable Immediately rec
ognized the team and notified Captain
Wrinn that the stolen team was in the
city. This caused the police to be
more than ever on the alert.
After leaving Crittenden's stables the
men drove to Bernard Cannon's stables
on George street. Here an auction sale
of horses was in progress, and the horse
thief entered the team for sale. Among
the bidders for the team was Freder-
lick Potter of this city. The team was
a first class one in every respect, and
the bidding was quite spirited. The
horse thief mingled with the crowd and
participated in the Bidding until the
price was run up to $685. at which
price it was knocked down to Frederick
Potter.
While the sale was going on Bernard
Cannon telephoned to the police and
Patrolman John w. Grant was detailed
on the case. Immediately after the
team was knocked down it was sup
posed that Perkins or briggs became
suspicious and left the stables without
even waiting to receive the proceeds of
the sale. He went in the direction of
Grant and Cannon and one or two at
taches of the stable.
Upon the arrival of the pursuing
party at the depot Perkins was seen
with a companion sitting on truck
and pointed out to Officer Grant. When
his companion saw the party approach
ing he jumped up from the truck and
ran away, thus making his escape.
Perkins was Immediately placed under
arrest and taken to police headquarters
where he stated that his companion at
the depot had nothing whatever to do
with the theft and knew nothing about
the theft. The police have, however, an
excellent description of the man and
will endeavor to land him also.
When Perkins was searched at police
headquarters SIS and a silver watch
was found in his possession. In one of
his pockets was also found a stamped
but unaddressed envelope, enclosed in
which was the following letter to War
den Woodbridge: The letter is written
on a heavy sheet of MANILA wrapping
paper and reads as follows:
"Guess, old man, I will get even on
discharge. Build your fences higher.
Some hogs crawl through windows;
$4,000 for hog pen. I think I will take
a short ride toward Rocky Hill. You
can find team next Wednesday down in
South Wethersfeld Before that time
you can whistle while I thumb my
nose. I shall feed horses, but would
starve you if could. Look out for next
election. So mote it be. Yours truly"
The letter bore no signature. Per-
kins, who was locked UP in a CELL re-
fused to talk in reference to the mat
ter Warden Woodbridge of the Con-
necticut state prison was notified of the
capture and will come to this city after
Perkins to-day.
Perkins was interviewed in his cell in
the lookup last night and stated that
he had served four years in Wethers-
field prison for burglary, his sentence
having expired last winter He stout
ly maintained that his name was Per-
kins and that the man who was with
him at the depot had nothing to do
with the theft of the team. He ac-
knowledged that he had broken into
a house in New London belonging to a
woman named Campbell with four other
men and stole quantity of silverware