The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-08
EENALE ROBIN HOOD.
,,,rbi,,n.Yenr-pIh Girl the Captain Of a
C,ns Observation-Disclosures Banqus'hor

p,,bi,rn.Ycnr-OII Girl the Captain of
T,ns ofTobbers -,IIdnight banqne''o or
IN, CotfrI- ~ Thievst
BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Sept 7.-Mln-
r,e grotherton, an eishteen-year-old
,ir, who lives in the woods between
wilton and New Canaan, has been
,,,oced under arrest by Constable Maui
-. Puttery. charged with being the
iasdar OF a gang OF housebreakers ana
thieves. ,,,,,t,,, s,,, mas orreat-
cd charges her with forcble entry into
the house of old Mr.. June, the hermit
- wilton. and she has confessed her
share in the escapade,
The authorities have not placed the
Girl behind prison bars, but prefer TO
zee her as q decoy in the hope OF cap
,rring the remainder of the gang, sew
r,i NJ whom are known, but against
whom there is no direct evidence,
Var some time past the farmers have
raen made the victims OF an organized
land Of thieves, headed by the girl cap
an As a rule the burgiaries have
been petty in their character. Small
sums OF money have been taken, but
nroyIslons seem TO be the greater at
traction for the marauders.
II has been their habit to ransack the
Iarder and hold midnight banquets' AT
which the girl presided and was the
leading spirit in the reckless reVels'
The girl, II Is said, planned the eN-
peditIons and assumed n leadership IN
ali the movements OF the gang On the
night OF a raid It has been her hanlt 10
slip from home, meet her falthiul Iol-
lowers and then the raids wouiu peBlh,
The gang seemed to nave ionuhess
for hams and provisions OF an SINUS,
was a good cook,
ON the night OF the burglary at June's
little Of value was taken away. The
object was TO have a feast. The young
Girl proposed a meal of>hot biscuit, and
while she was making the dough the
men gathered about the table drinking
and telling stories.
Then followed carousaI ana toasts 10
the queen of marauders were drunk
with great gusto.
The girls word Is law with her CHOSEN
band, and II Is doubtful If the plans
of the constabulary to force her TO be-
iray her companions will succeed. She
IA at her parents home, but Is kept
under surveillance
Miss Brotherton is handsome young
woman. Her eyes are large and brown
and the eyebrows arched. Her ears
are thin and well formed. She has a
wealth OF brown hair. which usually
hangs in q half disheveiled fashion, in
keeping with her Wild methods OF life.
She is worshipped by the young men
of her band. Her ambition is to emu
late the heroines Of flashy literature.
Under her direction the gang has
made the most of its opportunities, ana
the peaceful countryside has been fairly
terrorized.
Among the recent depredations traced
to the girl and her comrades Is rob-
berry at the Hawkhurst's, from whose
farm house $40 in money. gold watch,
two hams and q pair OF shoes were sto-
len. Sam" Buttery's house. at Silver
Mines, was also broken into and ten
hounds of pork was stolen. together
with fifteen cans OF fruit The Temple
ton farm house, at South Wilton, also
came In for share OF attention.
When a reporter called at the Broth
erton's the young girl came into the
carpetless kitchen wearing an old alpa-
On skirt, n threadbare black Jersey, and
shoes much run down Mt he heels. At
first she heSItated about telling OF her
connection with the trip to Hermit
Junes house. She had been told to
keep silent.
what made you go with the band,
and break into Hermit June's placer 1
asked.
az didn't know that l was going
there" answered Minnie.
Mrs Brotherton said that she had
lots of trouble with Minnie, and neither
herself nor her husband could curb her.
A few nights ago the barn, about fifty
yards from the house where the Broth
erton's live, was burned to the ground.
Some say the marauders were in the
barn smoking while they were awaiting
for their fair chieftain to join them,
and that the hay caught from the fire
from the sparks from their pipes and
cigars.
Constable Buttery's plans miscarried
few nights ago. Everything was
ready for Minnie to accompany the
gang on another expedition, and the
constable was to swoop down upon
them when they were in the midst of
their orgies. But the astute constable
was disappointed.
Buttery is shrewd sleuth, with typ
ical Connecticut whiskers. He seems
to think that by keeping the girl at her
house instead OF locking her up, the
others Will walk into a trap.