Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-08-08
DR.. Jekyl and Mr.. hxde.

~. oGNyI anu W.T..
Vermont may prove this famous story
to be true one If the reports from Ches-
ter are to be relied upon. Last week the
Register, in common with other state
papers, reported the holding up of Clar-
ence Adams, one of the leading citizens
of Chester. by highwaymen. and that he
was shot and seriously wounded. Since
then he has been arrested on several
charges, alleging that he has stolen great
quantities of merchandise.
A search of Adams premises reveals
many goods that have been missed from
various places in the past few months.
Among them are bags of phosphate from
Merchant Bacon of Londonderry, two
barrels flour from Burditt Brothers,
barrel of sugar from the Weston Cash
store, a silver watch from NJ. Soules, the
Rutland railroad station agent, harness
belonging to II. b. Booth crate of
canned turkey marked .Dorand Bros,
and 20 meal bags Unidentified by w. L.
Ware & Son of this village The lot is
supposed to have been taken within 10
months, A gold watch-chan, taken
from the house of the late Ira II Adams
on Main st II years ago has been identi-
fled by the son, Sam Adams, as the one
lost.
Most of the goods found have been
moved to the house of Constable Bond,
where they will remain for safe keeping
for the present.
In 1894 Adams represented his town in
the legislature; has served two years as
one of the selectmen and with the ex-
ceptiOn of one year, has been on the
board of trustees of the public library
for II years and is holding the position
at this time.
The same night that he alleged that he
was shot, spring gun, set in the Water
man grist mill, loaded with bird shot,
was discharged. The alarm was given
but the would-be thief had escaped.
The fact that the shot with which this
gun was loaded and those taken from
Adams limbs were the same, first excited
suspicion and led to search of his prem
ises. and his subsequent arrest.
At the Waterman mill, where the
spring gun was discharged, it seems al
most impossible for one to effect an en-
trance, as the window is 20 feet above
the water and reached only by climbing
on a shed with an iron roof and then
reaching several feet over the water in
order to raise the window. Marks are
plain on the iron roof where 100 or more
shot struck after passing the person at
the window. The arrangement of the
gun was such that when the window was
raised about a foot the gun would be
discharged.
Mr.. Waterman says that he has missed
grain from his mill many times during
the past year, and resorted to the gun
arrangement ia the hope of detecting the
burglars.
Adams has made over his entire prop
artt Oh, ic hi
Herrick of Chester Depot, and the
amount of bonds, $4,000, Mr. Herrick is
surety for. Adams is not married, an
other point of similarity with DR.. Jekyl.
He made a partial confession to the
officers, covering his stealings for the
last six years, although he says he has
followed up the business for the last Is
years.
On the night he was shot, and before
he went to the mill, Adams says he took
his team to the town hall sheds, which
are quarter of a mile from the mill.
Returning, he climbed on to the roof, and
in raising the window he received the
charge of shot in his left leg.
He managed TO get off the shed and
walk back to where his rig was, but feel
ing exhausted and being in much pain
he lay down in the grass by the side of
the road to rest. While he was there
Gardner Waterman, who had heard the
discharge of the gun and was going to
the town hall to notify his father, passed
and Adams says he recognized him.
Adams claims TO have reached his rig
without assistance and to have driven
alone TO his home, which is mile and
q half from the depot. Adams further
admits entering the store of Adams 81
Davis, w. l.. Ware & Sons grain mill.
Pollard & Carpenters dry goods store
(twice) and taking the crate of canned
turkey from the railroad station
addressed to Dorand Brothers of Chester.
He also admits stealing bundle of
whips from the store OF K. j. Davis in
the daytime.
In regard to the two barrels of flour
which were found in his house Adams
declared that he bought them of f. A.
| Leland, but when Mr.. Leland questioned
him he said, you may have the -four
Mr.. Leland, have no claim to it,
Adams, when young, conceived the
idea of entering the detective business,
but his parents discouraged him.