The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1906-04-25

Ramsdell pointed an empty shotgun
at him, and the outlaw shot at his
host. Taylor Eecame so active that a
systematic hunt for him was started
by Hampton county officers the first
of last week. The Ramsdell hold-up
Tuesday night and another hold-up
Wednesday night on East Hill in
Monson aroused strenuous efforts for
the capture of the disturber. Thurs
day there were about so men out in
Monson and vicinity searching for
him Deputy Sheriff Studley of
Springfield, who had been out night
and day for about ~ hours and W no
had charge of operations while he
was in the field, gave up the chase
Thursday afternoon. He said that
they had traced him as far as State
Line, and was satisfied he had escaped
into Connecticut. By hiding in the
woods days and moving nights the
hold-up man made it very difficult
for officers to find him. 1t was re-
ported that Taylor had been seen sew
eral times in this vicinity since he
left Massachusetts,. 1t is said that he
entered house at Orcuttville and got
food last Friday night. 1t is thought
that he was seen at Ellithorpes and
Evergreen park, and one report is cur
rent that he was seen at the Stafford
Springs cemetery. Late Friday after
in IF
Charles Hancock's house, which is in
the north part of the town, near
Peaked mountain He had on his
mask and had his rifle. The Hancock
family thought it was a joke, and
started guessing which one of the
neighbors was doing the masquerad-r
ing. After the family had a few
guesses Taylor held his rifle on Han
cock and demanded his money. The
latter yelled, "Where is my axe?"
and rushed by Taylor to the woodshed
to get it, The highwayman did not
wait to receive the axe, but beat
hurried retreat. Whether he was out
of ammunition or nerve is not known.
Saturday afternoon Elliott's barn in
Brimfield was burned. AS a result
of report that Taylor was seen on
Crow Hill, a posse of Springfield and
Monson officers, with a few citizens,
we're out all day Sunday searching
for him. The next definite know
ledge of his location was gained Mon
day evening, when he called at the
home of Fenner Angel, who lives on
the Three Rivers road, about one.
quarter of a mile off the main road
between Palmer and North Wilbra-
ham. Mr.. Angel went to his barn
about 3 O'Clock to get down some
rowen for his stock. This was in
the loft. While there he noticed a
man crouched in the hay. 1t was
dusky in the loft, and Mr.. Angel
could not get good look at the fell
low. He asked him what he was
doing there. The man replied that
he had orept in out of the rain. As
it was then raining pretty hard, and
was cold outside, Mr.. Angel did not
accepted the explanation, got down
his rowen and returned to the house,
leaving the man in the loft. A short
time later Mr.. Angel had occasion to
again visit the barn. AS he entered
he was confronted by a man armed
with q rifle, which he held with the
muzzle toward Mr.. Angel, aimed as
if to fire. He wore a mask, apparent
~ cut from the felt of an old hat. He
demanded of Mr.. Angel that he give
him money. Angel is about 10 years
old, and in no physical condition to
attack the fellow, even without the
rifle. He told the highwayman that
he had but little change with him.
The man told him to hand that over,
and Mr.. Angel did so. 1t amounted
to SO cents. The man then demand
ed food. land lot of it. too - There
was no appeal, so Mr. Angel walked
to the house, the man in the rear,
with the gun pointed for action.
Yrs Reed, Mr.. Angeles daughter,
lives with him. To her Angel pre-
ferred the highway mans request and
she saw the wisdom of not insisting
upon the rights of the household.
Bread was produced and the man took
nearly three loaves of it, slowing it
into burlap bag which he seemed to
have brought for the purpose. Eggs
were his next demand, and they must
be cooked. Mrs. Reed therefore got
out the frying pan and fried dozen
eggs, under the all-seeing eye of the
rife. They were added to the bread
in the bag and milk was requested.
Milk was produced, and the man not
only drank about a quart, but asked
for a can in which to take away the
rest. This was not refused him. The
highwayman on his way out turned
and said: 'There was a barn burned
over in Brimfield last Saturday night,
Well. you people and lot of others
want to be careful what you do or
there will be other barns go up" He
then took his leave, making off rapid
ly in the direction of Red Bridge.
The man had hardly gotten out of
sight when Mrs. Reed started for the
house of James Morgan, a quarter of
"a mile away. From there word was
telephoned to Palmer to Officer James
Manning. Manning, with Selectman
John Twiss, Deputy Sheriff Bills,
Officer Crimmins and Deputy Sheriff
H. A. Northrop, at once got under
way, all heavily armed. They were
soon Joined by others, and the man
hunt was renewed with vigor. Dur
ing the evening Taylor entered the
home of W. NJ. Woods, near Red
Bridge. Woods is in charge of the
Ludlow associates electric plant at
Red Bridge, and his wife was spend