Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-03-20
END OF ROBERT FITToN.
A Noted Criminal OF Windham and
Windsor Counties.

Windsor Counties
Robert Fitton. the most picturesque
figure the Vermont criminal court has
known in many years. died recently in
New York city. A telegram was re-
ceived by his son in Proctorsville, say
ING that the body would arrive there
on a certain date. No name was sign
ed TO the telegram. When the body ar
rived, it was identified by the son and
+. G.. White, the postmaster at Cayen-
dish, who, as sheriff, had arrested Fit
ton several times. Several men who
had known FittOn could not identify
the body, but Mr.. White proved con-
clusiyely il was Fitton's by showing
deformity on one foot which he de-
scribed fully before careful examin-
alton was made.
An autopsy had evidently been per-
formed on the body. The skull mad
been removed for an examination OF
the brain and then replaced by skill
full surgeon. How Fitton died is not
known in Cavendish, although one re-
port is to the effect that he suffered
from Brights disease, and that the end
came when he fell over a railing, strlk-
ing upon his head.
Robert Fitton was at one time a
prominent wooden manufacturer at
proctorsville. His mill was burned,
and in all there were nine fires on
property which he owned or with
which he was connected. Fitton testl-
fed a few years ago in court that he
had received 800, 900 to 100000 from
insurance companies, but IL has been
stated that the aggregate sum was
much larger. He was blackllsted by
the insurance companies for years, and
in one case, when he owned the wool
en- mills at Cambridgeport, in Wind
ham county he got the policies written
by a Brattleboro agent, and before they
could be returned rejected by the COM
panies, the mill burned.
Fitton was at one time accounted 10
be worth 5000, 900, but he lost large
sums in speculation in Walt street.
Twenty years ago he was political
power in Cavendish, carrying caucuses
repeatedly for candidates whose cause
he espoused. He went through bank
ruptcy twice, the last time Tor Sl40,-
600.
The companies contested the pay
ment Of the insurance after the Cam
bridgeport fire, but the case went into
the United States court where II was
finally settled, Fitton receiving Sl6,-
/ 800.
Ina fire at Ludlow, +. c. Wheldon,
plumber, who afterward lived In
Hinsdale, said that the fire might have
resulted as result of his (Wheldon's)
Icarelessness. After the insurance
cases were settled, Fitton brought
action for damages against Wheldon
ON the strength of the latter's affidavit.
The affidavit was written by Fittona and
simply signed by Weldon. Weldon
pronounced the signature a forgery
and the affidavit was ordered 10 be
kept by the clerk of the court. Triton,
knowing that he must secure 1t, made
ont writ of replevin, cut the name OF
Justice of the peace from an old writ,
/ ana pasted 1t on the new one. lie got
an officer to serve the writ on the
clerk of the court, under pretence o.
desiring copy of the affidavit. lie
forciblv obtained possession Of the
original. jumped into carriage drove
hurriedly to the railroad station, and
took the first train for Canada.
He was arrested in June, 1887, while
on a visit to Walpole, n. H.. and was
surrendered TO the sheritfs of Wind
ham and Windsor counties. Wher
arrested he surrendered the stoler
affidavit to the court. The charge
against him was forgery, perjury ant
contempt of court. He was placed
under =, 900 bonds on the charge o.
perjury. He forfeited his bail anC
skipped to Canada again. During thu
next three years he made secret visit
occasionally to his home in Proctors
vile. The house there was surrounded
in July. 1890, by Sheriff Lowell o
Springfield and a posse OF eight depu
ties. When Fitton looked out and saw
that resistance was useless, he shouted
from an upper window, Boys, VIII.
didn't you bring a regiments II yo'
had Yhistled for me last evening,
would have come down" He wa
lodged in the Jail at Woodstock at thi
time. He again secured bail, but iof
feited il and became a fugitive.
Early in 1891 he was mixed up in a