Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-07-14

living, In thrce days his share OF IN,
proceeds from the three successful
breaks existed only In memory. and
Mccarthy was down 10 hard pan. but
the gang did not gather 10 undertake
n break for several weeks. and then II
was decided To make the attempt at
Plymouth. the postofiice picked out by
the APPRENTICE ON his initial trip as
safe breaker.
The trio left Norfolk June 4? but
waited until the night OF the 18th be-
fore beginning their work. The skele-
ton Keys ms usual. were effective In al
lowing entrance TO the place, ana the
heavier tools necessary ON the safe
had been secured AT "A railroad section
house, The first explosion proved suf-
ficient for the vault doors, and the
safe was then broken without difficult
". the ROBBERS finding between $500 and
1900 In stamps and cash after the
smoke had cleared up.
In getting away they headed for the
Roanoke river and took a canoe and
rowed TO Mackey's ferry. about two
miles up stream. where they intended
To strike across country TO the Nor
folk a. Carolina railroad. about 35
miles distant They lost their bear
ings however. and In the morning
found themselves surrounded by
swamps. There was nothing for them
TO do but plunge In and they iioundered
around In the muck and brambles for
two days, with only few berries Ia
eat and no place 10 sleep on the
third night they managed 10 strike the
railroad near Monnomeuse and the
three nearly famished men turned
into a peanut field and RECALLED them
selves. They also found turnip
patch and between the two products
they had their first good meal for
three days. Once on the train there
was no delay In reaching Norfolk, but
the safe breakers, who arrived at that
city of refuge We're tired, disguised
and dirty when they thought of their
experience. Then ensued for Nc
Carthy the same round of soubrettes
and champagne until his profits from
the cash division of the Plymouth
break We're exhausted.
1t is regarded as decidedly more
dangerous TO break safes in
summer than I'm winter. one reason
Is that more people are likely TO be
on the streets at late hours and an
other is that the windows of dwell
ings are invariably left open and 1t is
very easy to detect unusual noises
Accordingly, the trio decided that they
would cease their safe-breaking oper-
atoms until the advent of colder
weather and turn their hands at an
other yegg method of making money.
The stamps secured at the Plymouth
break were not sent to the fence" on
the Bowery in New York. and it was
finally deemed best to deliver them TO
a dealer In "phoney" jewelry in Phila-
delphia, who would allow 70 per cent
on them in trade. Disposing of genu-
Il al, of 1rn hal
negroes of the southern states was
then an easy proposition and permit
ted each member of the party to make
at least SO day during the summer
months. Accordingly, the Philadel-
phia dealer was requested TO send
lot of jewelry to Crewe, Va where
Mccarthy was to call at the express
office and secure it. 1t so happened
that the night the party left Norfolk
for Crewe jewelry store had been
entered at Blackstone Va. and about
So, 900 worth Of watches. diamonds,
etc. had been stolen. The entire
country was aroused, and officers ev-
erywhere were warned to look out for
the thieves and capture them If possi-
BILE
On arriving at Crewe, McCarthy's
two pals went into the woods, while he
journeyed to the express office and Sc
cured the package. He was discovered
by a colored railroad detective. who
called on the town marshal and fol-
lowed him to where the jewelry was to
be parcelled out. The officials came on
the trio when the goods were on the
ground in the process of division, and
sure that they had discovered the per-
sons responsible for the Blackstone |
break, they ordered the men to hold up
IA,. III
did this unhesitatingly, as there was |
no question that the officers had the |
drop on them. They were hailed before |
a justice of the peace, but were dis
when they showed their re-
ceipts and told where they secured the |
goods. They We're very fortunate IN |
Lynchburg, where they sold about S120 |
worth of the stuff to the darkies, md /
Ing no difficulty in getting them 10
buy solid gold CD rings at $3.50, which /
cost the gang q cents each at whole
sale: but at Farmville, a few miles
farther south, they met with an eXpe-
renee which almost completely as
them. and really was the
cause of all being sent to prison.
They were arrested on technical
,barge in connection with the sale of
he iewelry, and appeared before the
nayor of the town. He stated that the
,eonle thereabouts had grown tired OF
he operations of sharpers. and he pro-
,osed to make a lesson of their cases.
rhe officers found on them ABOUT soo
IN cash and jewelry worth S75, which
probably could have been sold for s5oo;
The MAYOR looked the assets over ana
hen stated that, according 10 MS iis
res if he confiscated what they lau
n their possession when taken: ,hes
would still owe him Sl6'to' sun he
aid as he was not inclined to be hog
yish in the matter, and if they would
gree to leave the corporation forth
yith he would not take into consider
zion the s16.75. There was nothing
Of for the disheartened yeggs to 40
md they mournfully footed their way
oward Roanoke. riding snort dis-
ance on few cents they. hao peeh
HE 10 save from the wreck, and re-
,retting that they had not spent more
# their $120 in Lynchburg.
missouri Shorty" was SO disgusteo
# the turn affairs had taken tnat ne
vent hack to Norfolk, but McCartny
md portland Ned" happened 10 nleee
wo old time "yeggs, IN tne pers ..oa os
. ~ Noble and Texas
,,tch ;; at Roanoke. and decided 10 re-
,,ain The two latter said they knew
g a snlendid chance for pete,
rbere $500 could be secured from lhe
'ostoffice. Despite the fact that II was
ummer. this was regarded as 100 gooo
n opportunity to let slide. Inc ms
ution was badly situated, with nole,
=, o,,a side and the police station on
he other, but the large amount 70 p
acured made the risk worth Whiie:
he town was Bramwell, TOWN. " !
,,nut 2 900 inhabitants. in. the heart OF i,
~. oou pocahontas coal fields. The break !
r ru made without difficulty, and for
mne favored the thieves in that
cav freight train rumbled by Just az
he Ioudest explosion was maue, anu
nv of the rOM1. OF