Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-07-14

him under arrest, demanded if he had a
warrant for his arrest. On Cook answering
that he had not, Shelts told him that he
could not take him into custody.
Cook thereupon started for Norwich
VILLAGE to secure warrant, and after he
had gone Brigham again told Shelts that
if he would return the pocketbook and
contents they would let him go. After
some more talk Shelts stepped back, drew
a revolver, and told Brigham that if he
came towards him he would shoot him, and
that he would give him until he counted
three to leave without harm. Brigham
grabbed Shells, who shot him in the right
ear. Brigham loosed his hold and Shelts
took to his heels.
Search Sunday morning failed to locate
him. but Monday morning telephone
message to the officers stated that a
man answering the description of Shelts
had hired team at Thetford and was
bound for Sharon.
High Sheriff Romaine A. Spafford, ac-
companied by Deputy Sheriff George w.
Hoffman, started for Sharon Immediately,
but upon arrival there ascertained that the
suspect had taken the mail train south,
whereupon a message was sent to White
River Junction to have officers search the
train. Accordingly, special policeman
John d. Hutchinson, accompanied by
States Attorney Harvey and Daniel Ahern,
a railroad employee, examined the train
upon arrival, found their man and put him
under arrest.
Policeman Hutchinson proceeded with
Shells to the lookup, entered the front
apartment, and, leaving Shells standing a
little back and on the right side of Lin,
unlocked one of the cell doors. At that
moment, as quick as flash of lightning,
Shells struck Policeman Hutchinson a
terrific blow on the right side of the head,
knocking him insensible into the cell in
tended for himself and knocking out two
of his teeth. Shells then recovered his
revolver from the policeman, locked him in
the cell, took the keys from the cell lock,
removed the shackles from his wrists with
his teeth and took hasty departure.
Policeman Hutchinson soon recovered
consciousness gave the alarm and was re-
leased. Officers in outlaying towns were
warned to be on the watch for Shelts
and Monday afternoon he was again re-
ported to the officers as being located be-
tween Olcott and Norwich village, where he
kept at bay with his revolver parties who
had been attempting to take him into
custody.
Deputy Sheriff Henry H. Peck, Second
Constable Henry A. Armstrong, Special
Policeman Hutchinson and Nathaniel P
Wheeler, formerly constable, Immediately
started for the scene and were followed by
High Sheriff Spafford and Deputy Sheriff
Hoffman Immediately upon their return
from Sharon somewhat later.
Up to last night Shelts was still at large,
1t has been ascertained that Shells has
been intimate with girl working at Han
over; that they met Monday night at the
house of Joel Morrill,, railroad section
man living south OF Norwich village, where
Shells got his supper. The officers
searched the place only five minutes after
he had left. When he escaped Shells
wore black suit, black felt hat, fancy
shirt with fine blue stripes in it and light
tan shoes.
The description of Shells corresponds
exactly to that of William Conroy, alias
Henry Mcdowell, who, under the latter
name, was sentenced by Judge Ross to 2;
years in the state prison for killing Johr
Crowley in Glastonbury. The sentence
was imposed at the December, 1892, tern
of the county court From the state prison
Mcdowell was sent to Waterbury as an
insane person and escaped from the asylum
| there last December.
Mcdowell had the letters V. R. and &
cannon tattooed on his left arm. His story
OF being deserter from the English army
and escaping by the use of dummy tina,
he rugged up is the same he told while il
jail in Bennington awaiting trial. He wa
regarded in Bennington as desperat,
man who would not hesitate to shoot.