Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-05-11
"EYE DOCTOR" IS CAUGHT
MAN WHO OPERATED HERE
FOUND IN NEW JERSEY.
And Is Now Awaiting Extradition TO
Massachusetts Where He Is Wanted
ON Countless Charges Of Obtaining
Money Under False Pretences.

Edward Hans, "the eye doctor
who operated in this section last win
ter, obtaining money under false pre-
lenses from number of aged resi-
dents of different towns by pretending
TO relieve ocular troubles, and who has
been sought since Feb. ., when he es-
capped from state police officer in
Boston, has been captured in Fair
Haven, n. j., and is held there await
ing extradition 10 Massachusetts. In
formation was received from headquar'
ters Tuesday by State Detective Major
James NJ. Mckay of Northampton.
Major Mckay said that he was in re-
ceipt of message announcing the
capture and also of a letter of earlier
date informing him that the police of
New Jersey were cooperating with
Massachusetts officers in locating this
man. and that his arrest would soon
follow. The essential facts leading to
the successful termination Of the hunt
for Haas were furnished state head.
quarters by Major Mckay, who has
had charge of the case from the outset.
Edward Haas, alias DIR. Miller, alias
l.. Martin, alias several other names, is
badly wanted in western Massachusetts,.
The allegations against the man, II
proven in court, will establish his rep
utation as one of the meanest preyers
on the public. His method was TO rep.
resent to elderly people that he had
been sent by a son or grandson or some
other individual affectionately disposed
to look after their eyes. In this way
he obtained sums of money ranging
from $40 up, in many cases from per-
sons not well able to pay them, and in
all cases, it is alleged, for no services
at all. He cut wide swath from Sun
derland to Northfeld, and made cursory
raids in other directions. He got into
the tolls the last of January, and about
Jan. 81 was arrested in Springfield af.
ter an exciting railroad chase that ter.
minated in the Springfield railroad sta.
ton. He was brought to Northampton
and kept over night, and was then
taken to Greenfield. He was held for
the grand jury by the district court
there. Bail was fixed at $400, and was
furnished by Haas Feb. 3. No sooner
was he released than he was re-arrest'
ed on warrant issued in Bristol coun.
w. lie WAS ldhtH W Npithaihptoh gu"
held for few hours in Jail pending the
arrival of an officer. He was sent to
the eastern part of the state in the
charge Of state police officer, but es-
capped on the afternoon Of Feb. ) in the
South station, Boston, by ,eluding the
officer in the toilet room. There are
pending against him three indictments
for larceny presented by the Bristol
grand Jury, and three presented by the
Franklin jurors.
Haas came to Brattleboro Dec. IS,
1905. with a woman and registered at
the Brooks House as "E. Haas and
wife, Boston Two days later he
swindled Mrs. Hannah Winchester and
Mrs. White, both of West Brattleboro,
out of $3.50 apiece, claiming to have
removed cataracts from the eyes of the
women. 1t is also supposed that he Wis.
tied this town week or two later and
worked his game on other local people