Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-08-14

inal finally fell into the snare, only TO
die in few hours after his capture.
Charles Rufus Young, who helped
himself in this way TO the best horses
of Vermont, led a notorious career.
! Though the annals of crime on the
western plains and In the Rockies
show more violence they cannot show
a career to excel that of this Yankee
horse thief. In the West Young would
not have lived so long, His story
tends to show that horse stealing Is
a disease that only lynching can cure
and goes far to Justify the summary
western procedure. Young was near
ly &C years old when he died on the
14th of last month. He has passed
more than two score years of his near
ly three score and ten in state prison.
The rest. aside from his childhood and
early youth he spent stealing horses.
He never committed any crime but
horse stealing so far as can be ascer-
tanned. says the Greenfield correspond
ent of the Republican. For that he
served % years in New York, 10 in
Vermont and IL in other states.
Released from the Vermont impris-
onment May 10th with 800 in his
pocket. Young disappeared from the
sight of the authorities till the day of
his capture and death. AS near as
can be learned he went TO New York
to get a partner in crime. In the
hours of his death he lied so stoutly
to his captors that they were not able
TO secure his companion. On June
Young entered the barn Of c. II. La
Cue in Addison county, and drove
away a neat bay mare hitched to a
buggy, belonging to LaGue's neighbor.
Slipping over the hills in the darkness
he appeared the next day at the house
of brother in Winhall and stayed
an hour or two. No one knew whence
he came or whittier he went. June II
he entered the barn of Edgar Davis at
Mill Village, and carried away a
buggy. Again he appeared the next
day at his brothers home and left at
dawn the following morning. Then
he pushed his horses, but giving them
the best Of care. straight for Franklin
Mass
He found in the brothers Wells
Smith and Charles Smith of East
traders ready to swap" for
his Vermont horses and give ample |
boot. But Young enjoyed their COM |
pany and seemed in no haste to leave. |
He stayed with the Smiths several |
days. telling the most plausible stories |
Of his Vermont farm and the horses he |
kept there. Quiet and agreeable in |
he pleased his hosts greatly. |
Though by the time of the death OF |
Young the Smiths had lost several |
hundred dollars by his knavery. he |
had made such favorable impression |
that Wells Smith said the news griev-
I'd him greatly. Young left the
Franklin county traders with prom
se to return with more horses and /
description of what he would bring.
Evidently he had sized up his animals
md decided just where to strike again.
A clerk in a country store picking
up a whip with the name of Wells
Smith on it led to the recovery of the
stolen horses and proved what the
'heriffs had suspected that Young was
he magician who had spirited them
lway. Evidently Young was not sat
SIZED to have his work undone by the
'ecovery of the animals, for on July 10
lie made an attempt to retake the Da-
lis rig. Unsuccessful in this, two days
alter he stole two horses belonging to
Rutland men from the stable of Geo.
2uane in Rutland. With these he
started to fulfil the promises
lie had made the Smiths, for he headed
straight in the direction of Franklin
ounty again.
By this time Young's series of
rimes had thoroughly reused the
of Vermont. Sheriff
Peabody of Rutland county pushed
With great energy for Young's cap
ure. He decided that Young, whom
lie knew by reputation, alone could !
teal horses in that manner. He went
o the brothers at Winhall and learn
d that Rufus had been there. !
Tearing of Young travelling with a
ew team he sent his deputy, E. s.
Whitaker, to Manchester to meet
deputies Giddings and Fish of that
lace to head him off. The chase at
mis- time grew warm and Young just
arely got away before the officers
anne up. Meanwhile Deputy Sheriff
ridges of South Deerfield had Sc
ured the horses in Whately for the
ermont officers, and Young had made
is attempt to take them a second
me. This attempt and the manner
I the Rutland theft again disclosed
lie work of Young to Sheriff Peabody.
II Sunday and all Sunday night he
armed up the telephone wires to