The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-23
VERMONT. FRIDAY, AUGUST %, 1895.
AN EPIDEMIC OF BURGLARIERs
Col. Haskins suffers $3.50 WOrth-Near-
Iy Dozen lOther Attemps on Resi-
dences. without Getting Much-A Two
Nights Stand

Col Haskins suffers $3.50 WOrth-Near-
Iy Dozen lOther Attemps on Kesi-
dences. without Getting Much--A Two
Nights Stand.
Brattleboro has had quite vista
tion from burglars this week. They
seem to have made two nights stand,
as has been their uniform custom in
western Massachusetts, where they
have been operating for a long time
-Four different houses were entered and
at least eight Others attempted, but
the only haul the robbers made to
amount to anything was at Col. X.
Haskins Terrace street residence Mon
day night, where they got over 500
worth of watches, chains, etc, and
some S25 in money.
The performance apparently began
Saturday night when Photographer A.
ID. Wyatt and wife returning from
Chesterfield about | O'Clock saw two
men at work at window of their
North street residence, evidently try
ing to effect an entrance. OF course
they quickly made themselves scarce.
Sunday night Rev. j. III. Babbitt's $
house at the West Village was visited,
and part of loaf of bread and pitcher
of cream taken. E?erything was done
with eXactitude, the doors and even
the refrigerator all carefully closed, so
that the family might have wondered
in the morning If things had not been
mislaid. But plated table knife
with the end broken OFF was found
near the refrigerator and the missing
end was found under screen where it
b.l I,aar hpDl-a.f, IL, m az ~ no
up the screen. The entrance was
effected probably through the bulk
head and cellar, though il is possible
that one of the doors may have been
left unlocked by the boys who went
out late in the evening TO draw in a
buggy. Nothing else was taken at Mr..
Babbitt's. Mrs Babbitt thought she
heard a door open and lighted a lamp
at IL 40 o'clock and this doubtless
frightened the burglars away. But
more or less timid visits appear TO
have been made at several other houses
during the evening. Mrs. w. II. Bo
lander rooming at Mrs. c. X. Evans,
heard the front screen door at that
house open about one o'clock and
lady boarding al l.. II. Stelman's
heard a similar noise ut that house.
Ezra Fisher put some chairs into his
sheds the night before and in the
found them outside where
they had apparently been taken 10
reach up 10 windows
Evidently the burglars did not have
a satisfactory boarding place. for food
was their first object, and Monday
night they entered the houses of Rev.
W. H. Collins and F. W. Putnam on
North street, taking food and little
underclothing from the former and
some food and native wine at the lat
Collins. Mrs. Collins was awake,
heard a rustling and supposing il was
Mr.. Collins. spoke which of course
cleared the house at once. No reason
is known why they should have ceased
further investigation at Putnam's.
At Col. SHaskin's they effected en-
trance through the window Of the
china closet leading into the dining
-oom. A mark is seen On the outside
where rubber boot or shoe apparent
y, slipped on the clapboard, and dirt
racled from the outside was found in
he closet in the morning. Besides, a
Snife and fork left on the window sill,
lad been moved. They eyi
lently went through the house as they
1leased, as parlor matches that had
)een lighted were found in several
ooms. Their chief booty they took
rom the room up stairs where Col.
md Mrs. Haskins slept and fron his
,lothing over chair at the head of
lis bed. They got here fine open
ace Swiss movement gold watch, which |
ewelers isay was the best watch in
own. and for which Col Hassins paid |
;ls5 in 1876, solid square linked
,hain that cost $50 and an attached !
Knights chain costing SO, with his |
pocket book containing either four or
i've s. and one 81 bill. The pocket |
,ook was found in the morning spread |
,pen on a shelf in the dining room.
md they generously left the Colonel |
| cents. In the down stairs bed room /
hey took Mrs. Haskins' gold watch |
rom the mantel but left the chain and |
.lso her earrings and pins which they |
though they rummaged I
through the bureau thoroughly and
vent SO far in their search of the
Iouse as to break open and examine a
ealed package containing Col. Has
ins' will The silver ware in the din
ng room was not touched, though of
luch value, apparently because too
ulky for the robbers an indication
hat they are travelling gentlemen. The
hina closet door through which they
anne is usually locked nights, but it
appened not to be done that night,
'ol. and Mrs. Haskins just returned
rom Block Island. were tired and slept
oundly, besides being both quite deaf.
lie remembers being awakened during
he night by what he supposed to be a
re alarm but concluded was the
histling of trains he heard nothing
nat suggested burglars to him.
Three other attempts were also made
uring the night-at n. /. Hawley's
here a window was raised, but the
lieves scared away for some reason.
t w. III. Minor, s where he heard
lem, got up and lighted a lamp and
'ightened them away and at 5. b.
s on Oak street where the
iris heard some one fumbling over the
'ck in the middle of the night, and /;
erhaps also at Mrs. o. 4. Marshall's.
here window was found raised.
The general impression is that it was
l the work of the western Massachu
tits gang and this is strengthened by 4,
lie fact that no knives can be found
learned of in town to match that
# at Mr.. Babbitt's. But there are ,
me indications of local work which s
ay develop into something definite
ter. l.. III. Barber saw a suspicious,
ting character in Highland Park
nesday night and Wednesday, who I
i
t near, and Tuesday night Barber saw
,lf , loof Of braad an6 cama uipper-