Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-04-13
Archie Constable stu Active.

Archie Constable, after an absence OF
several months, made his appearance in
town again the 9th INST, claiming to hail
from Boston. He loafed about the village
for two or three days and then silently
melted away to be heard from next at
Swanton, into which place he drifted
Friday with the avowed intention OF
proceeding to Montreal. The next day be
broke into the cottage OF l.. r. 'rhnyer at
Highgate Springs, abstracting a few
things Of small value, and was traced
back to Swanton Sunday.
Deputy Sheriifs James and Beebe were
put on the case and found the Young man
hiding behind the Boston AZ Maine hand
car house at the east station, where they
took him by surprise. Constable had
fully loaded 32-calibre revolver in his
hand when arrested, but the officers
collared him so quickly that he had no
opportunity to use his gun.
The sheriffs took him to Swanton, where
he had a hearing Monday afternoon in
Il. o. Sturtevant's office before Justice
Gates under tramp charge, and was
taken TO Rutland Tuesday forenoon by
Deputy James TO serve a term OF five
months in the House of Correction.
Constable, who was Is years old the 2lst
OF March, began his jesse James career
in Randolph when he was II by flourish
ing broken down revolver in the school,
room on the occasion OF his being kept
after SCHOOL, by the teacher, tune
honored method OF discipline. March 2,
1904, he was arrested for the theft from the
freight depot OF package OF tobacco be-
longing 20 Charles rhurston. lie pleaded
guilty al bis hearing and WAS sentenced To
the Reform school at Nergennes for the re-
mainder of his minority.
After less than three weeks trial OF the
Reform school, Constable escaped in the
night from the institution with two other
boys, and remained at large two days,
the trio being apprehended then at North
Ferrisburgh six miles away. Three or
four months atef he made another break
for liberty, was reoaptured once more and
sent To the House OF Correction for 80
days. He served this sentence and the
first Of September came back to Randolph,
his 30 days imprisonment having, curious
ly enough, released him from further
attendance at the Reform
school. When freedom can be regained
so easily and years OF imprisonment
shortened to 30 days by merely running
away two or three times, il is a wonder
that all the boys in the Reform school
don't make try for the work house in
that way.
Constable stayed here but short time
before he 1oated up to Highgate Springs
and made bis first burglarlous attempt,
which he has just repeated, on Mr..
fhayer's cottage, entering through a
and taking an old revolver worth
but little. He was caught almost in the
act, but escaped this time with a thrash
i9g administered by his father, which
appears to have been made
4uate, for At first opportunity he tried
the trick again.
HIS taste for wild and woolly literature
Is thought TO have fostered the natural
depravity OF his character, but the books
be reads at the Kimball Public library,
are invariably Of the best class OF boys
stories, so that he isnot entirely without
appreciation OF better mental food than
he dime novel furnishes.