Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-21
N -lT7 IN ~. - 9a-s1s I17g l-
TEDIOUS CHASE
But Rest Of Norrldgewock
Burglars Are Captured.
0yerlaken by Officers Near Canadian
Line, After Long Pursuit.
One Shot in Legal Said to Be
Wanted Criminals.

North Arson, Me-, Oct. 20.-After the
most exciting and tedious burglar hunt
in the criminal history Of the State.
deputy sheriffs and a posse succeeded.
today in capturing the remaining two
of the four men who escaped from the
clutches of the 200 or more armed citi-
zens of Norridgewock, Mercer and adj
jacent towns, last Wednesday, after
they had blown a safe and robbed two
stores. The men were taken at a re-
mote point in the wilds of northern
Maine, about so miles northwest of
North Arson and 90 miles south of the
Canadian boundary. Before they sur
rendered the posse in pursuit was
obliged to fire on the fugitives, wound
ing one of them in the leg. The other
man was not hurt, nor was any of the
officers injured in the fight.
1t is learned that the robbers are not
Fred and John Burns, as was stated by
the other two of the quartet who were
captured after a running fight of sew
cral miles. in Mercer shortly after the
burglaries in Norridgewock. The au-
thorities here state that the fugitives
taken, today, are no other than John
Reynolds and his brother Fred, alleged
criminals hailing from Colebrook, N.
H., and for whose capture for offences
said to have been committed in that
state the authorities some time ago
offered a reward of $3.50 each. The
correct names of the two men captured
are George M. Coville and John Nut
ting, and they hail from northern New
Hampshire, where they are wanted for
crimes alleged to have been committed.
Early last Wednesday morning. resi-
dents Of Norridgewock We're aroused
| by terrific explosion in the general
store of Bracket & Russell. where
four men had blown open the safe and
| a few minutes later entered the general
store of George Harlowe and proceed
| ed to rob that also. More than 100 citi-
zens in the town left their homes and
armed with rifles and shot guns has
| tened to the scene. They chased the
burglars for several miles, keeping up
4 running fire. and finally captured
| Coville and Nutting, who We're removed
to the jail at Skowhegan.
| The Reynolds brothers, however, led
their pursuers merry chase and for
Inearly week have. eluded capture.
They headed for Starks and Arson and
were believed to be making for the
| Canada line SO miles to the northwest
of here.
Deputy Sheriff Varney of Mercer viii
lage. was in charge of the man hunt
up to Wednesday night, and he, with a
dozen other deputies. several constables
1 - <,t<f hoy oil nn1
tinued the search. Frequent reports of
the whereabouts of the fugitives were
received by the officers from people
where they had called for food, but who
were afraid to attempt their capture, as
the men were heavily armed.
During the past day or two, the off,
GERS had reason to believe the men were
nearing the Canada line and were prob
ably not q great many miles from
Beaver pond, which is south of Lowell
town. on the Canadian Pacific railroad
near the Quebec boundary.
Learning of their presence in that vi
cinity and judging that the fugitives
would attempt to cross over into Cana
da, Deputy Sheriffs Wallace Emery OF
North Arson, Frank Durgin of The
Forks, and Priest of Pittsfield made
a detour and went into Quebec PROVING,
In order to head off the robbers. The
latter We're followed in the rear by Dep
uty Sheriffs Dunbar of Madison, and
Fred Milley of New Portland, accom-
Ipanied by small posse and guided by
John Parnell of Eustis. Occasionally
this party discovered traces of the fugi-
tives, but their movements after leav-
ing the end of the telephone system are
not known in detail
Tonight, a telegram was received
from Megantic. Que. signed by Deputy
Sheriff Emery. 1t Stated that the posse
lon the Maine side headed by Deputies
Dunbar and Millay had located the
burglars in the wilderness. When call
ed upon to surrender they opened fire
with their revolvers, but the shots went
wide.
The fire was returned by the deputies
and one of the fugitives was hit in the
leg. Both men then surrendered. This
message stated that the capture was
made at a point about 20 miles from the
tCanadian line which would make the
ldfstance about 80 miles northeast OF
North Arson.
Owing to the almost impossible
nature Of the country between the
point where the capture was made and
Skowhegan. the prisoners will be
brought here by way Of Lowelltown, on
the Canadian Pacific road. thence over
the railroad to Greenville. The out
laws We're taken to Megantic. Que. to.
night, and 1t Ia expected would be plac-
ed in Skowhegan Jail some time. tomor-
| row. In connection with the capture oil
the dog which has accompanied the
Reynolds brothers most of the way
from Norridgewock no mention was