Connecticut western news., 1898-06-23
BOLD HIGHWAYMEN,

Three We'll Dressed Men Try to Intim- idate Citizens and Hold up a Ped dIer.
 Leo Werner, who lives on Main street near the house of James Quinn and Walter Landon, was attacked and call. ed upon to stop by three tramps yester- day morning about ' o'clock. He set out early in the morning with his pack of goods which he sells in the surround ing country, securely fastened to his wagon, meaning to work through Salis- bury toward Sharon on his trip, stop ping at the different houses on his way there. He had only gone as far as Linnehan's crossing when well-dress- ed tramp sprang out from behind car immediately followed by two others. The first tramp who was rather tall, was about 30 years old, weighing about l6O pounds and had black mustache. He wore black cutaway coat and brown faced and was rather short and more stockily built than the first one and wore brown suit. Mir Werner did not see enough of the third one to give any description, as he was very much excited and as soon as the tall one sprang out he called upon MT Werner to stop his horse and give them some money. MT Werner whipped up his horse and the tramp caught the hind wheel as the team went by. MT Wer- ner when he felt this obstruction at once turned and drew his revolver. They. upon seeing the revolver in Leo's hand and also Dr Avis team which they saw coming at this moment, at once let go of the wagon and ran.
 Werner was very much excited by the encounter and at once left his team with some boys and got in with Dr Avis and both drove as fast as possible to the house of Deputy-Sheriff Frank VanDeusen. Sheriff VanDeusen as soon as possible got his revolver and some handcuffs and started out with Werner after the tramps. They had acted 80 quickly that they were only about ten minutes behind the tramps who had taken the road to East Canaan.
 They followed after them and though delayed by the careful inquiries Sheriff VanDeusen made along the way, they they were confident that they were but five minutes behind them when they reached the oil kiln where they lost track of them as several people saw them on the way down there running. They feared pursuit and took to the woods below Judge Whittlesey's house near the furnace, as Tom Sweeny of East Canaan saw them running across plowed field below the Judges house.
 Sheriff VanDeusen immediately noti- fed Officer O'ConnelI of Norfolk to be on the lookout for the men and to noti- fy him if anything was heard of them. la talking with Sheriff VanDeusen yes terday afternoon he said that he did not believe that the tramps really meant any harm to Werner, except to ask him for some money and give him good fright, for he was a very excitable man and is very much afraid of being way laid and robbed. He always carried revolver with him in anticipation of such an event. Sheriff VanDeusen says, however, that if these men are caught an example will probably be made of them for tramps were getting te be quite nuisance here of late.
 It is thought that these were the same men who stopped at Mrs A. l.. Herriman's Tuesday afternoon and ask ed for something to eat. When told that she had nothing for them they be- came very abusive and threatened to to come back at night and burn the barns, but upon Mir Herriman's appear ance with dog who bit one of them they immediately left and threatened to to come back later and retaliate upon him for the injury the dog did. He however told them to come rud the dog would bite harder next time.
 The short fellow called upon Wer- ner Tuesday evening and wanted to bor- row pair of shears to cut their hair with, but he would not lend them any. Some other people lent him pair and they were returned in short time.
 Sheriff Van Deusen said that in his inquiries he found that they spent the night with Joe Owen over at the hand car house, and at this place they were quiet and thanked Joe for what he had done for them when they left. It is sl- so said that on their way to East Canaan yesterday after their trouble with Wer- ner that one of them asked the man at the oil kiln if he could get work, but upon referring him to the boss to see about it, he walked past the boss with out saying word.
 Taking all the circumstances into con- sideration Sheriff Van Deusen says that it is quite probable thst they merely wanted enough money to get something to cat and that they did not mean to do any violence.
 It is thought also that they were in