Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-07-02
LAWS VENGEANCE.
Heavy Sentences for Robbers
and MurdererS.
Peters Arraigned for Rape aud Mu-
der Judges Denuncistion.

WAI.THAM. Mass, June 29-Cornelius T.
Hardigan.a pugilist and William P.O'Dwyer,
a compositor. both of whom lived here and
who confessed few days ago to brutally As
saulting and robbing Farmer Chas. II. .Teele,
who lives on the outskirts of the town. have
been sentenced to states prison for life
Had Dwyer kept his mouth shut even after
confession both would have got of with
limited sentence
On the afternoon OF Tuesday. April l3,two
men entered the house Of Mr.. Teele during
his absence. The latter s wealthy farmer,
IS years old. and lives alone. The farm Is
fully half mile from any habitation. Mr..
reele. upon returning, entered the house.
lie was confronted by two men. who covered
him with revolvers. lie was grasped by the
throat. thrown to the floor and dubbed on
he head with the butt end OF the revolver.
He was then ordered to deliver up his
money The PROSTATE man was told
10 turn over the $40 o which he had
received from the city of Cambridge IN pay
nent for certain tracts OF land which he had
sold the city He was warned that II he did
not give up the'muney the robbers would not
hesitate to burn the house and cremate him.
Mr.. Teelc stoutly refusing to accede to the
demands the men began to carry out their
threat. 4 kerosene lamp was secured. and,
,aturatiug haLuEerchief with oil. the men
stuffed the rag into Teeles mouth, and tied
him with rope. In this condition he was
dragged into "A bedroom. dubbed ON the
head, and then tied to the bed. The
floor. bed and Mr. Teele's clothing were
next saturated with Kerosene. Tho rob
Oers next began to ransack the rooms in
search of money, finding none, They ap-
preached the he'd with lighted matches and
again threatened to set fire to the place II
some money was not forthcoming Mr.
Teele motioned to have the gag removed,
which was done. He then informed his
prosecutors that the $4,000 he had received
had been deposited in the bank, but that he
had 5000 in his pockets and there was $50
more in the barn. The men secured the
$3.50 and left. An hour later Mr.. Geele sue
ceeded in breaking away from his bonds.
Two days later HardiCan and John
Briggs who happened to he in SOmerswOrth,
y. H.. were arrested for completely in the
murder of Cashier Stickney. Several arti-
cles were found in Hariigan's pocket which
implicated him in the Teele robbery. Mr..
Ieele identified Hardigau as one OF the rob
bers In the Waltham court Hardigan was
held and Briggs was discharged. The
iay after the Tcele robbery William
P. ODwycr left town. and suspicion was
directed against him. \ few days later
O'Dwyer was arrested in Marlboro
rs a vagrant and was sent to the MiddleseN
house OF correction for three months The
Waltham police were confident that
Hardigan and Dwyer did the TeeIe job.
Working on this basis. Chief of Police
McKenna and Inspector Mckenna succeeded
few DAYS ago in securing full confession
from both men When their counsel visited
them the former were informed of the con-
fession made Counsel therGupOn withdrew
from the case. When the men. unattended
| by counsel, were arraigned for sentence
after their plea of guilty. Mr.. Teeie was put
on the stand and told his story as Il help to
determine the sentence. Up to this time it
had not been officially brought to the notice
OF the court that the robbers were armed.
Several questions were asked Mr.. Teel" hy
the prisoners. especially O'Dwyer, who tried
to be smart" He asked Mr.. Teele why
the latter did not resist them. Mr.. T"ele
answered; How could | when a revolver
was placed at my head?' This statement
the prisoners did not try to cOntrovert. In
passing sentence for life Judge Bond said
| that he could not do otherwise in view OF
| the facts in the case the statute tn that
effect covering the case in question complete
| ly When Hardigan and O'Dwycr heard
| their fate pronounced Hardigan sat down
as if he had been shot. He turned with
haf-crazed smile toward his partner
| 0'Dwyer was as pale as death. and clutchcd
| the rail Of the cage for support. Then they
put their hands out to be manacled and
were at once taken to CharlestOwn.