The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-08-07
CONNECTICUT BURGLARS' ASSOClA-
 TION CORNERED.

Litchfeld, Conn. July 6,-The author tiles of Litchfeld county have reason to believe that the headquarters of the "Connecticut Burglars association is in the mountain retreats of that county. The most daring robberies have oc- cured in that section of the state, al- ways So near those fastnesses that the burglars could swoop down upon the store or postoftice upon which they had designs, loot 1t, and return to the hills before the alarm of their depreciation had scarcely been sounded. Highway men swarm in the townships of Sails bury, North Canaan, Canaan, Norfolk. Goshen, Cornwall and sharon, which towns are in the widest section of the state.
 Six months ago the authorities be- lieved the robbers had their rendezvous in New York state, and crossed the bor- der line early in the evening, committed their burglaries, and recrossed the boun- dary before dawn. This theory Is now secuted, for to perform such journey the robbers would require teams, which have been used i'm but a few instances Again, no place across the border line affords such ample protection as the hills of this county. An examination of the northwestern portion of Connec- ticut shows the ground to be broken by hills from three to fifteen hundred feet above the sea. covered with dense forests, and in places almost primeval in their wildness. Mountain streams and lakes are found everywhere, while small game Is abundant There are half dozen abandoned farms here, and the buildings on them would afford ample shelter from the elements. The hills are filled with caves which would afford secure retreats in case the crooks were hard pressed by the police.
 One of the more imaginative of the deputy -sheriffs who is to participate in the war against the outlaws has con ceived this picture of the home of the burglars:
 On the summit of Skiff mountain, in the town of Sharon, thirteen hundred foot above the sea level, he sees cave formed i'm the solid rock, screened in front by bushes, and difficult of access because of the steep cliffs. This cave
 
 finest imported wines and liquors ob tained from some fancy grocery store situated, perhaps, in Torrington or Winsted; and, the choicest viands in the larder obtained from the various stores and farm houses in the neigh borhood.
 Then, the armory of those modern bri gands contains the finest Colts revol- vers, Winchester rifles of the latest pat tern, and the most improved arms of all descriptions. Indeed, from the mar tial display seen by this deputy the place would be well nigh irnpregnable
 But from the nature of the country a band of determined men could defy the law for months, if not years, and just what plan of warfare will be pur- sued by the sheriffs and their deputies has not yet been decided. To go into the hills in band would be useless. some assert, for their advance would be surely detected while by working singly and quietly, it is thought the rob- exciting their suspicion.
 But, whatever method of warfare they adopt, they propose to thoroughly SCOUT the Litchfeld county hills, and if there is band of robbers, or only an anna feur sneak thief, in the whole north western corner of Connecticut, they in- tend to make them, one and all, exam pies of what justice meets out to offen- ders, that shall make other knights of the jimmy and dark-lantern give the good state of Connecticut wide berth in the future.
 Incentives are not found wanting, for rewards untold have been offered by the victims of the robbers. Six hun dred dollars will be paid the person who captures the man who raided Winthrop Cones store in Norfolk recently, five hundred dollars being offered by the town of Norfolk, and one hundred by Cone. This Is but one out of hundred rewards ranging from twenty-five to five hundred dollars. The possiblegain is great enough to more than offset the danger, and the officials are enthus- iastic over their expected adventures hunting burglars in the "wilds of Con- necticut."