Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-03-29
ROBBERY AT STAYE ISLAND.
Fred Stafford of Colchester Arrest
ed For the Crime.
Curtis Pooler, the Westford Murderer,
Says He Went There With Stafford
and Causes His Arrest-Pooler
Had F. II. Wells Revolver.

Curtis Pooler, the alleged murderer of
Aleck DeVino, the young Wcsttord far
mer has added confession Of robbery TO
his statements already published regard
ing the more recent crime. As a result of
this evidence furnished by pooler, Sheriff
Reeves arrested Fred Sanford Tuesday in
this city OH the charge of grand larceny
in entering the cottage of l.. II. Wells at
StaVo Island and removing goods and sup
plies. The goods were secured Tues
day at Safford's home. The revolver with
which pooler killed DcVinO was stolen
from Mr. Wells cottage with the other
goods about sin weeks ago.
/ The robbery at the cottage was discov-
cred Saturday, when MIR. Wells went to
the island to remain over sunday On his
return he reported the loss to Sheriff
Reeves. Suspicion attached itsclf to Pool
er from his possession of costly revolt
Yer and bunch of keys, which were
found upon his person. An examination
of the keys, which had been taken from
the cottage showed several of them TO he
duplicates of those in Mr.. Wells posses
sion. The revolver was also one kept by
him at the Island. Pooler was question:
in the matter by the sheriff aud for some
time refused to acknowledge that lie had
visited Stave Island but after Il time adj
mtted having been there and entering the
cottage but refused to tell who was with
him.
FINALLY the pressure of the sherff's con-
versation with him conquered and he told
how he, with Fred Stafford, had been at
work in this city about six weeks ago and
had gone out upon the lake to skate. They
secured a little whiskey here, which they
drank, and after skating for "a while start
cd for Stave Island on the Ice. They
reached the island that afternoon and
forced an entrance to the cottage where
they remained about an hour and a haf.
They then started for the mouth of the
| IA nil yad
night and the next day at the cottage OF
Charles Robinson to which they forced an
entrance ana then went 10 the home OF
Stafford in Colchester
on hearing the story, Sheriff Reeves Sc
cured warrant for Fred Stafford, mo is
the man to whose house Pooler went aft er
committing the murder and with whom
he left the revolver Early Tuesday
morning the sheriff and his son went &c
Colchester but found that Stafford was in
this city They returned and after open
ing court at 10 O'Clock the sheriff started
out to look along the lake front for his
man. Stafford, has served ycar and 8
half in States prison for breaking into
the Barrows cottage some years ago and
knows the sheriff as we'll as that Office,
knows Stafford. He is also the mar
who escaped from Turnkey Brunette al
the dock "A few years ago and was recap
tured in "A boat in middle of the lake. II
was easy for the sheriff to manufaCtur,
an crrand in that part of the city and he
soon found Frank CassaVoy, who told hin
Stafford was on the Julia. CassaVoy's sluop
which he was to have run this summer i
another engagement had not prevented.
On his way out to the boat the shcr fl
saw Stafford coming, his hat low over his
eyes and apparently in a hurry. He die
not stop to recognize the officer but as ht
passed the sheriff that officer stepped
quickly behind him and to his other side