Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-04-27
BRATTLEB0RO LOCAL NEWS
OFFICERS TOO SLOW
Six Bellows Falls Youths Chased
in BrattIeboro Sunday

Came Here on a Freight Train to See
Their Girls Wild Dash Up Linden
Street in Manley's Big Automobile.
Six Bellows Falls youths with about half
a minutes lead were too fleet of foot for
three Brattleboro police officers Sunday
afternoon although the latter were equip
ped with an automobile in charge of an
experienced chauffeur. The chase was UP
Main and Linden streets to George w.
Pierces premises, where the youths
scrambled up the bank and disappeared
in the woods. 1t furnished amusement for
a crowd of spectators and proved that
the mnions of the law were too beefy to
engage in sprinung contests. The lads
boarded a freight train in Bellows Falls,
it is said for the purpose of making after
noon calls on as many young damsels in
Brattleboro. When the train reached
Putney they were discovered in a box car
by Conductor Abner Blake of Springfield
Mass, who mad charge Of the train. The
conductor ordered the boys to alight but
they refused to obey Then he telegraph
ed to Brattleboro to have officers at the
station on the arrival of the train to take
charge of the "hoboes," as he called them.
Surprising that the young men were
hoboes, Baggage Master d. S. Carey
started for Main street in search of Off
GERS. Tie met r. D. l1dNtlltf VI AAlN AAGlb III
Office force, told him what was wanted.
and Mr.. Lavelie sought out Deputy Sheriff
c. l. Knapp. Constable f. r. Thayer and
Policeman James II. Evans. Deputy
Sheriff Knapp went to his room after his
club, hand-cuffs, etc, and the quartet
started for the depot, followed by crowd
which was attracted by the array of
official personages.
1t happened that the train stopped a
short distance north of the arch bridge
over milestone brook, and that is what
saved the "hoboes." Looking out of the
car. they saw the crowd and the officers
and took in the situation at once. They
jumped to the ground and ran up the bank
by the Episcopal church, the officers
reaching Main street by way Of the earth
works on the site Of the old American
House. The appearance Of the young men
was not very suggestive of the need of
hobo eXterminators, but 1t was too late
for the officers to back down, and the
race began.
Pursued and pursuers disappeared UP
Linden street and then Mr.. Lavele re-
paired TO Manley Brothers garage. A
moment later he and John Manley emery
ed with a big Rambler touring car and
dashed up Main street at a pace which
hardly would stand the application of the
| legal speed test. They overlook the Off
Gals near the hill by the Brattleboro
Retreat, ana mayer ana CHduuCey
| climbed into the car. Evans had soaked
| mis- sweater through by this time and was
ready to return.
Just at this point the occupants of the
| car saw their game disappearing over the
| knoll near where Capt. W. T. Haigh lives
but the road was rough and it was neces-
| sary to make haste slowly. When the
automobile reached the knoll the boys
were just turning into George w Pierce's
| yard on the Retreat farm. Mr.. Manley
| now urged his machine on with all the
| speed that conditions would allow and
| brought up in front OF the big barn just
| as the fleeing youths were lost to view In
| the rear of that building.
Thayer and Knapp got around behind
the barn as quickly as possible and tner
| the scramble up the bank began. In this
| feature of the chase the boys gained @
| decided lead and the two officers reached
the top Of the bank just in time to re-
| ceive a parting smile as the six youths
| entered the woods and found shelter and
safety. "Chauncey' fired a bullet into
| the ground just to remind the boys what
might nave happened to them had their
pursuers seen fit, and then the four re-
| turned to the garage. Mr., Manley was as
much interested as the others, and he
made no charge for his machine or his
| services.
And they say" that the young men re-
| turned to Bellows Falls on the evening
| freight without being discovered.