Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-10-07
4 CRIMINAL
With A Very Lengthy Re-
cord
NOW At LARGE
Among The Mountains Near
.. Manchester

Rutland. Oct. 7.-Wandering about
in the mountains east OF Manchester
pursued by sheriff's POSSE, Harvey
Wheeler, who is with one exception,
the most troublesome chronic criminal
10 the state Of Vermont, is trying to
avoid his sixtv-third sojourn behind
prison bars. ....
Wheeler has been for many years, a
thorn in the flesh of the sheriffs OF
Bennington county. Sixty-two times
within the past 15 years they have
arrested him, and 81 times has he
managed in sc me manner to escape
conviction.
Wheeler WIS born in Sande ate about
thirity-two years ago, his faith being
an honest, hard working farmer In
early life young Wheeler showed bad
traits of character, those who were
boys with him saying that he fre-
quently abused children smaller than
himself When he was first arrested
he was II years of age and the charge
against him was larceny, but it was
moi proved. About year later he
moved to Manchester, and before he
had been in that town month stole
a pair of oxen. On that occasion 'e
went into .the barn Of neighbor al
night, yoked the oxen and started
west. Reaching small town in New
York state, he sold the cattle and re-
turned to Manchester. Wheeler was
promptly arrested, but nobody would
testify against him and the case went
by defaulbs.
The only time when Wheeler was
ever convicted was in March, 1895.
At that time he was arrested for beat.
ing boy and was sentenced to IA
months in the state prison.
The crimes for which he has been
arrested lncludeadrunkenness, breach
of the peace, larceny, burglary, arson
vagrancy, liquor selling, and indecent
exposure. He is now wanted Tor as
Sault upon his stepson.
Wheeler, about five years ago, mar
ried n widow with two children. One
of the children, a boy about eight
years old, has been beaten and abused
by Wheeler until his he ealth is badly
broken. Wednesday, he was caught
beating The boy unmercifullg and he
was arrested by Deputy Sheriff M. j
Corey. lie hitched up his team and
With the sheriff and Mrs. Wheeler
drove to the lookup. The justice be-
fore whom he was arraigned plac d
him under $500 bonds to ap
pear in court Monday Wheeler said
be coul not furnish the amount and
prepared to 60 to Il cell. lie then
asked permission to hitch his horse for
Mrs. Wheeler. This was granted and
Wheeler went to the shed where the
animal was hitched went sout of the
other end and fled to the mountains.
States Attorney Frank Archibald OF
Manchester, who has prosecuted
Wheeler over thirty times, said;
"There is not man in this vicinity
who would not like to see Wheeler In
prison, but nobody can be induced to
testify against him. They are all
afraid OF him. He has often threat
ened to kill people and he would com.
NIT murder il he could strike his VIC
tim in the back, but he is coward.
If farmer testified against him that
farmers cattle would be poisoned or
his barn burned before Wheeler had
been free week. The only man in
the state who beats Wheeler in the |
number OF times arrested is John
Shannon of Rutland, who has been
arrested over hundred times. His
crimes have, however, been far less
heinOuS.