Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-12-10
GANG BROKEN UP.
SERESTlNG TALE OF AN INTEREST
ING TRIO OF PRISONERS.

erm of Court-Prisoners Confess to Or
anized Robbcry-Meant to DO More If
hey Hadn't Been Caught.
An interesting case entered for hearing
the December term of court in this
lage is that of the state against a
ng of alleged burglars at the head of
om is a woman. Her name is Minnie
onan, a person whose criminal bump
always been a source of trouble to
r. About five years ago, according to
rec Press special from this place, she
IS employed in family in Burlington,
after working off several forged or
rs on various dealers in town she left
place. officers were put on her
ck and she was captured and kept for
me time in Jail in Burlington. Dark
nplexioned, with a heavy, sensual
bklng face, one would pass her by as
rson of less than average intelligence,
as criminal she shows a cunning
d power over her accomplices which
buld outdo Svengali The head
arters of the gang was at an old house
quiet road in the town of Ferris
rgh. She and her husband, William
bonan, lived there, and it was soon
parent from the class of people who
tied them that it was not suitable
ace for respectable people to visit.
be family were Stunned except by her
nsorts, and with the use of this in
ence, aided by that of rum, she was
lie to plan marauding expeditions to
hearts content, and order them car
Id out by the men who had been en-
Pved by her.
The discovery of this gang came about
follows: States Attorney Fish of
ergennes was notified by a person,
nose name he does not wish to divulge,
at Fred Bailey of Ferrisburgh was
ing to break into the railroad depot at
+ ew Haven, a few miles south of Yer
nnes, blow open the safe and rob the
press company's money. Acting upon
is information, States Attorney Fish
id two officers stationed inside the
pot and two others on the outside.
bout midnight two men came and be-
In cutting away the blinds at the depot.
ne two officers Inside began to move
id this frightened the men away be-
re they could be apprehended.
On the same night the Ferrisburgh
htion, seven;miles north of Vergennes,
T hs broken into and quite a quantity of
bods secured, some of which were of
pall value. \ bottle of ink was broken
bd daubed about on the floor and walls
the station. Fred Bailey was arrested
= e next day on suspicion. Ink marks
hunting jacket which he wore was
i convincing evidence that Bailey be-
hn to want to tell the whole story. He
Mt for States Attorney Fish and told
m that he (Bailey) and one Grant
hickman of Monkton had attempted to
Feak into the New Haven depot, but
ere frightened away. They then came
hd broke into the Ferrisburgh depot
then told States Attorney Fish that a
art of the goods taken from the depot
ould be found at his house in Ferris
lrgh and the rest at Jackman's. OF
GERS were SAINT out who arrested Jack
an and found the goods there and il
errisburgh, Just as Bailey had said they
[ould.
egan to want to talk and he told story
+ hich corroborated exactly that O.
alleys about the depot robbing es
bpades. The next step was prelimi
AIRY hearing before Justice F. NJ. Moul
bn and the binding over of the respond
pts to county court, and in defaul
I. 1000 bail each they were sent to tn
iddlebury Jail.
Confession seemed to be the order o
be day now, and Bailey began to tell o
general career of robbery which hat
cen going on for the last six months il
hich he and the Noonans were impli
hted. The cases are too numerous t
i've details of each, but operations seen
. have been opened on neighbOrs' hel
posts and many farmer awoke in tn
hOrning to find his hens missing. Tn
irgest single robbery of this kind wa
chickens of Mrs. Phoebe Rogers
'hich was confessed by Fred Bailey o
errisburgh, who claimed that Mrs
CONAN aided him in the crime. Officer
'ere sent to the Noonan place, wher
he chickens were found, and Mrs
Toonan was arrested on the charge o
rand larceny and placed in Jail. Sh
oudn't raise the $500 bail which tn
lstice required, so she has long bee
9aiting in AIiddlebury for the assent
ng of county court.
Confessions have not been so much /
ogue since Mrs. Noonan was arrested
ut before she got to jail Bailey told G
reaking into several houses and store
Ferrisburgh and neighboring towns
iedding, silverware and other house
eeping articles were secured, whic
we're taken to the Noonan house. la
esses and robes were also taken, an
)art of them were found concealed abol
he Noonan place. The store of S.
Allen of Ferrisburgh was entere
through a window and dry goods, t
DaccO and jewelry were taken. Mr.
NOonan had considerable time after Il
( first arrests to destroy and conce
goods, so a large amount has never bee