Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-01-06
ANOTHER CAPTURED
Only One OF the NeWfane Safe
Robbers Now at Large
oussie DeFord, Arrested In New York,
Was Leader Of the cane-Has a Long
Criminal Career.

Criminal Career.
Three notorious yeggmen were arrested
in New York Saturday through Pinker-
ton detectives who had been following
them several months in the interests of
the American Banking association. One
of the number was Gussie DeFord. alias
Walter Bailey, alias William Smith, who
was the leader of the gang who robbed
the Windham County saving bank in New
fame last August 1t is not probable that
DeFord will be brought to this state. as
the warrant on which he was taken
charges him with robbing Briscoe &
Tupper's bank in Churchville, N. Y, near
Rochester, Nov. 8, when $4,000 was secur-
ed. The safe in this bank was demolish-
ed with nitro glycerne.
Five days before that the First National
bank of Champain, N. Y. was entered
and the safe blown open, but the burg
lars abandoned the job before obtaining
any money. About the same time a post
office at Tannersville, n. Y, was robbed
of $4,000 worth of stamps, and the post
office at Harrisons was entered the next
night and stamps and money to the
amount of $1,000 taken. In both instances
the safes were blown open by experts.
Six years ago DeFord was connected
with the robbery of a bank in Bowman
vile Canada, where 81 600 was obtained.
He is also wanted in connection with the
robbery of a savings bank at Fort Mill,
S. c., in September, 1902; savings bank
in Sandy Springs, Md. May, 1903, and the
Bank of Brunson, in Brunson, S. c., Nov
ember, 1908, where the burglars got away
with $25, 900.
DeFord has had long and varied career
and is said to have been connected with
the robberies of II banks and 20 post
offices in the South. He was known to
have been in Boston last October. About
the time that Chief Watts rounded up the
eight 'yeggs" in Boston, DeFord jumped
toward Canada. Several small banks
were soon robbed In the province of
Quebec, and information is said to have
come to the Pinkertons connecting De-
Ford with these jobs.
DeFord was a pal of William Mowry,
alias Ky Billy" who shot the soldier in
Wise's saloon in Boston last winter and
for which the latter got a long term at
Charlestown. DeFord has been leader
of "yeggmen" in the South for several
years, and his band is said to have been
the most desperate known in this country
in recent years. While robbing a bank
in the South DeFord held up the night
Waterman, but the latter was too quick
for him and sent a bullet into him. De-
Ford. bleeding from his wound. sought
shelter in a schoolhouse nearby. He hid
his glycerine in the teachers desk. While
lying lnsIts week lIOIn lOSS Oh DiOOQ ana
waiting for a chance to get away under
cover of darkness a negro discovered him.
DeFord was fashily dressed and wore a
diamond pin which glistened in the moon
light that streamed into the schoolroom.
The negro's eye detected the pin and he
decided to rob DeFord. He hit DeFord
in the head with an ak, infiicting an ugly
cash, and stole the pin. DeFord was
found the next day in a ptiful condition
and arrested hl1f To
and so far as is known this is the first
time he has ever fallen into the clutches
of the law, although he has been chased
from one part of the country to another.
The American Banking association is
much the same as the United States Sec
ret service in the matter of never letting
up on a criminal, and 1t has followed De-
Ford and his gang unremittingly.
Only one of the men connected with
the break at Newfane is now at large.
His name is Harry Balm and it is thought
that he will be arrested in time, as the
officers throughout the country are on the
watch for him. The man who was shot
through the arm at Newfane was sent
to state prison for not less than 10 nor
more than - years. He was tried as
John Doe alias James Howard, but among
the cracksmen he is known as Calfnger,
that name being given as he mas lost one
finger and came from California. j. F.
McCarty, who was arrested i'm Brattle-
boro the morning of the burglary, made
a full confession, giving the names of his
pals. McCarty was not at Newfane as
he walked to WilliamsYille in the night,
did not find the Others and they went
ahead and cracked the safe without him.
DeFord was the man who did the operat-
ing. McCarty was sent to state prison
al Windsor for not less than nor more
than 7 years.
Harold Holbrook, the trapper, -
another member of the gang, who in the
guise of a begger looked over the bank
ing rooms in planning for the robbery, is
now in jail at Newfane under $1,000 bail.
He will be tried in April. He was round
ed up in a large gang in Boston in
November. McCarty told the history of
all the men who were at Newfane and
described them infinitely. and the infor-
nation which he gave was of great value
in causing the arrest of Holbrook and
DeFord. AS a result of a statement made
by McCarty house was raided in Balti-
more last week and a gang of Is Grimm
ais of various grades of notoriety were
arrested.
Thomas Kennedy, large, powerful
man who was taken with DeFord,
escaped recently from western prison.
His part was to act as guard outside the
bank when a break was being made.
Edward Jones, the third man, is known
as the pathfinder" His part was like
that of Holbrook to act like a beggar,
and to look over scene before the safe
blowers appeared. All three of the men
will be taken to Churchvlle for trial.