Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-06-26
BURGLARY!
A Daring Robbery and an Excit.
ing Chase.

W. J. McManus and John Scott are
in Guildhall Jail to await the action of
the grand jury. Last Monday McManus
forced an entrance to the Stewart House
bar-room by squeezing himself between
some bars. He evidently had assistance,
as it would seem impossible for one to
accomplish this feat, the window being
five feet from the ground and the bars
six and half inches apart. Gaining
admission he emptied the money drawer
and proceeded to make his exit by again
squeezing himself between the bars, hur-
ried by the approach of the clerk, Asa
French. He was seen in the act of get
ting out of the window and hue and
cry raised He dropped all the silver,
but crammed the bills into his pocket
and fled. Then commenced an exciting
chase, which led over the hill, back to
the bank near Nathan Hobson's into
the railroad yard, thence across the
Dyer meadow, having to swim two
brooks. His pursuers had dwindled to
one, VIM. j. Burns, who was pressing
him hard. Burns unfortunately fell,
and seeing the thief headed for Derby
street gave the alarm, and several took
up the chase through Pleasant street,
and when near the new cemetery he
turned aud ran towards the pond. The
pursuing party then surrounded him.
He reached the pond and finding escape
impossible he crawled under the root of
a tree, not large enough to cover him,
but ostrich like he thought if his head
was concealed that was all that was nee
essary. His pursuers soon reached the
place and Augustus St. Pierre seeing
his boots protruding under the root
bounced on him and held him until
deputy sheriff Stevens came along and
handcuffed him. In his pocket was
found Sll in bills, and this sum, with
the silver picked up near the Stewart
House would make about $lS, thu
amount estimated to have been il
the money drawer. When charged he
declared they had got the wrong man
/, "the other fellows got the money.
5 Deputy sheriff Bemis then arrested two
S men who had been in the prisoner:
: company that morning as accessories
$ These two gave their names as Johr
0 Scott and John Hall, the three claiming
2 residence in Sherbrooke. They regis
S tered at the Central as from Sherbrook
t when they came to Island Pond Sunday
S Later they gave as their residence Bar
: COR, Auburn and Rumford Falls, Me
0 and claimed they met each other to
V the first time at Montreal and came her
). together. A fourth man called at tn
Re cage Monday night and entered int
|, conversation with the prisoners, and tn
d latter gave him money to purchas
/. some "moxie" and this cowardly snea
n stole the money and made his escap
T. Great credit is due to Mr.. Burns fl
,e so persistently following his man. Ha
d. it not been for his zeal in this respe
O. the man would undoubtedly have g
as into the woods and escaped. The thrt
e, prisoners appeared before justice Pa
an sons Wednesday afternoon, McMan'
,g charged with burglary, and the 9TH
Ir. two as accomplices. McManus refuse
It's to plead and was held in the sum
ID. $500 for trial Scott and Hall pleade
lst not guilty. After hearing the latt'
ul was acquitted and Scott was held
$500 for trial.