Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-05-21
HE SAFE CRACKERS
Try RussclI's JcwcIry Store at
Fairfield, Sunday Night.
Three Of Them Frightened Away by
Officer Pcrry's Pluck.
Nearly Wing The officer and Wrcck Sale, but
Secure No Booty.


cries, oaths and the sound of running
men was what the town woke up To.
this morning. Another visit had been
received from the gang of burglars
that has been working the state and
once more their plans were thwartcd,
though they just escaped committing
murder. The courage of Officer Joseph
Perry made this possible and the poor
aim of the burglars alone prevented it,
There was Il short. sharp battle in
which eight shots We're exchanged. one
OF these going through the t:ouscr leg
of the officer. two over his head and
one just by his breast. The other three
did not TAX" effect. so it is not known
where they went.
officer Perry was on his usual beat.
Sunday night. with everything serene.
\ crew Of men was ut work over 1T the
power station of the Waterville < Fair
field Railway and Light Co. and teams
| were passing back and forth all night
hauling rock and gravel. There was
more than the usual amount of noise
| and confusion for so late an hour. Sun
day night. and it seemed as if ii was
altogether unfavorable for a break.
| 1t was about 1890 when the officer
passed down Main street TO 90 up
| around by the Maine Central freight
| office which is on his usual beat. While
on the way he met an employe return
! ing from the pulp mill. where he had
| been at work ana everything was then
| quiet on the street.
The officer went up Railroad street as
| far as the freight Office and started
| back. Something attracted his atten-
tion, SO instead of going back along
| Main street he went down behind the
| stores along a sort of allcyway.
| When in the rear of Lcarncd's store
| lie heard the explosion. lie was then
| about halfway through the alleyWay
| and ran the rest of the way, coming
| out onto Bridge street by the corner
of the brick block and the engine
| house
| He saw three men on the street, one
| in front of Hatch's store, diagonally
opposite to him, a second by the old
| flag pole just beyond Burgess store
| and the third on the corner in front of
| the Burgess store.
As soon us the officer appeared from
|
| two of the men opened fire on him with
| their .evolvers. The first two evidently
intended to scare him as they were fired
over his head and took effect iii the
corner of the engine house. They were
| in range all right but over his head
The officer, although he was facing
| three rcvolvers in the hands of dcsper-
ate strangers, never flinched. He kept
| advancing slowly towards the men. one
of them yelled to him:
| stop you or well blow your
| d-n heart out"
But the officer was not frightened so
| easily as might have been expected.
! Two shots had whistied over his head
and there was a good prospect of more
| coming. Still he advanced.
Two more shots were fired. one going
| by his breast and through window
| in the basement of Nyes store and
the second through his left trowser leg,
blowing UP the mud in the street at a
| great rate.
| Then the officer brought his revolver
| into action The weapon is cheap
| one, fit more for moral effect than ac-
tual damage, so. although it spoke
| Twice. no udiiidSc NdS uoii'-
The officer then for the first time be-
| gan to retreat. He was getting INTO
the light, within short distance of
three men who had shown a disposi-
ton to wing him if possible A few
steps more would have placed him un-
der The glare of an arc lamp and with
the men on three sides OF hin' WIN
every advantage of getting a fair shot
In, hn l.
ows and he in the full glare OF the
light.
He retreatcd slowly. walking back
wards and yelling for help. George
Pratt happened to be in the engine
house at the time and hearing the sho'S
and the officers cries for help "cht
to his assistance although he had 10
weapon. The explosion. shots and crles
had aroused the people sleeping III thc
vicinity and the windows began 10 80
IN and heads come out in all dlrcc-
tions.
The men on the Hatch and burgess
corners. so far as the officer rehici''-
hers. did the shooting. while thc oiio
by the flag pole kept watch.
A family lives over Gregory stoi
and n man stuck his head out OF 'n
window there. The burglar by the Po..
ordered him to pull it back or ne "''''
shoot him. Everywhere hea" "
reared the burglars, with oan','
threatened to plug it if it WASH ',a'1-
ed back. The heads We're haule" "a y
all right but the owners, as soo'.
they could get into their clothcS'
out onto the street.
Officer William Harrington
lives near, was one of the fifst ~
rive. AS soon as the burglars rea,
that they had aroused the neIE"o.
hood they made Il break Tor ii' ~
scattering in different directions
men who had been aroused gaNe
but the men all escaped. Eight So.
were fired in all, six by the pu'
and two by the officer. ,,.r
The first thought of Officer ~,
when he heard the explosion va
,>,,+ ffar he cpOEp OF O"'''