The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-10-15
Burglary at N0rridgewock

Vicinity hLu came from the NlClHIly VI
Bracket q Russell's store, and a few
minutes later four men accompanied BY
a small black dog, were seen to go bur
rledly up the street, continuing on until
they reached the store of George Haf-
low, which is nearly a third OF a mile
from that of Bracket & Russell. Here
they broke big pane OF glass without
making any attempt of secrecy. The
noise OF the crashing glass awakened q
number OF the people in this section who
got up and watched the burglars enter
this store and return in a few minutes,
and then saw them leave town by the
road to Mercer. Then the telephone girl
came for trouble; fortunately there is q
night service on the telephones, and
word was sent out to all the subscribers
along the line of this road to be on the
lookout for them, and also to the deputy
sheriff at Mercer to organize posse and
come down so as to meet them. Then
Mr.. George Harlow and Mr.. Clarence
Harlow took their team and followed the
burglars. After going out few miles
and making inquiry along the line from
their lookouts they lost track of them,
and, concluding that they must have
stopped somewhere to rest, they decided
to wait until it came a little lighter so
they could see the tracks and stopped
for little over an hour at one of the
houses. AS soon as the first streaks of
day appeared they started again, follow
ing the tracks until they turned off into
Thompson woods. Here they were met
by Deputy Sheriff Varney OF Mercer
with two or three men and they struck
of up through the woods, where they
heard dog barking and which they
rightly suspected to be the one accom-
panying the burglars. A short search
located the men and they were CON-
manded to surrender, but would not, and
started to run. Ivory Tracy, who WAS
one Of the Mercer party, shot one of the
burglars in the leg and injured him sc
severely that he was easily captured
After chasing the others about through
the woods for some time the hunting
party got one of them cornered and
made it go hot for him that he was glad
to surrender.
The other two succeeded in evddine
the officers and made off toward Starks
where they must have crossed the Sandy
river near Buffers ferry, and about moor
they called at the residence of Timothy
Hilton and got something to eat but
declined an invitation to come into the
house, staying out near the road, watch
ing 1t closely all the time they were ea;
ing. Here again the little black dog
gave them away, and Mr.. Hilton knew
they were the much wanted fellows
He telephoned to the officers at Madison
and Deputy Sheriff Dunbar and Mr.
Frank Harding started out with a team
to look them up, and they also succeed
ed in getting sight of them up in thu
neighborhood of the Arson camp grounc
and called them to halt; instead of stop
ping they only made tracks faster anC
took to The woods, again the little dog
following on. They were also seer
again later in the day by a lady wher,
one of them called for food.
The one that was shot gave his nami
as Charles Smith and is young man o
about 20 years of age, good looking, ant
said he recently came from Pittsburgh
N. H, and that he had only recently
fallen in with the others. He haC
Maine Central and Grand Trunk mieag,
tickets and 30 calibre revolver upol
his person. He gave the name of tn,
other one that was captured as Jotr
Morrison and said that he came from
New York, and the other two as FREQ
and John Burns and coming from Car
ada, all young men; also said that they
had only just arrived in town late tina
night, "A statement which is discrediteC
by many of the tewnspeople who hav,
seen them about town for several days
and it is thought by some that the two
Burns fellows were the same two mer
that were discharged from the ston,
work OF the Sandy river dana on Satur
day night last.
Wednesday morning Bracket g. Rus
sized cyclone had passed the front. The
windows were smashed by the explosion
and the platform was covered with glass
while the interior was In worse condl
tlOn than the outside. 1t is the custom
of this firm to leave the outer door Of
their safe unlocked Oh purpose to please
visitors OF this class and keep them from
wasting their powder by giving them {
chance to see the burglar proof box IL
side, and In this case they took sdvsnt'
age of this to view the box, apparently
and must have concluded that good
big charge Of explosives placed In front
Of this steel box and then have the outer
door shut would smash things so that
they could get the money the box cor
tanned for that was just what was done.
The result worked outwardly, the outer
door Of the safe was blown out bodily
against the nice roll top desk In the
Office, completely wrecking the safe and
scattering papers all about the room,
demoralizing things generally. The
burglars were unable to return to the
store to see what they had done on &C
cont Of the quick gathering Of the
people, DIR. j. d. Ames who lives across
the street being almost Immediately after
them with his r fle and others were call
ing from the windows to learn what the
trouble could be.
In both stores they got less than two
dollars for their trouble. In Mr.. Har.
lows store they only broke open the
money drawer and secured the small
amount of change therein.
Sheriff Lang brought the two captured
burglars to Skowhegan yesterday anu
lodged them in Jail and his deputies with
others are securing the country for the