The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-06-05
RUG AGENT
RAN AMUCK
Pounded Driver Over Head
With Butt of Whip.
WANDERED IN TRANCE
For Several Hours and Found Himself
Five Miles From Scene Of Assault
Agreed to Settle With Local Livery.
man but Skipped Before Doing So.

Agreed to Settle With Local Livery
man but Skipped Before Doing So.
In a state almost hypnotic due 70 liquor
! alcoholic, Harry Hopkins Of keene, N.
J H., an agent Tor the Economy Hug com
pany oi Lowell, Mass, figured tuesday
night IN an escapade a. mclodamatie as
some OF the "thnllers" seen in an East
Side theatre. Coming into Bratileboro in
the guise oil an ordinary, law. w.abiding trav-
cling salesman Hopkins soon became the
cause OF spectacular runaway that
ended with crash IN front OF the Nicolet
theatre and emptied that amusement place
N twinkling. Next he appeared in
the role of fugitive from justice pur-
sued by a posse OF determined miniops
OF the law, and after wandering in a
trance for several hours allowed himself
TO be captured and brought TO Brattle-
boro only 10 take French leave the next
morning without settling with those who
J had acted "a seene.shifters and property
men in the monologue.
Hopkins reached Brattleboro from
Hinsdale, \. H., early Tuesday evening.
not in a real w. c. 4. L. condition, but
apparently sober. He went to the stable
OF Howard a Yearly and hired single
team and driver 10 take him to Chester
field, \. H., TO deliver a consignment of
rugs Hopkins and the driver. Delmar
Fraser, left the stable about $3.50. In
little less than an hour Mr.. Yearly re-
celyed a telephone message from Fraser,
who was at ;. +. Bothwel's in Chester
held, saying that Hopkins had beaten him
severely over the head with the butt of
the whip and had whipped the horse so
severely that the carriage had been nearly
overturned and Fraser thrown out. The
horse and buggy, according TO the mes
sage, were on their way home and Hop
kins missing. Mr.. Yearly at once hitched
up another horse and started toward
Chesterfield, but he had got but short
distance up Main street when the runa-
way passed him on its way to the barn.
In making the turn at the corner OF Main
and Elliot streets the animal was thrown
but not seriously injured. The horse
seemed little the worse for its long run
although its back was covered with welts.
Messrs. Howard and Yearly, accompan-
led by Deputy Sherf Davis, started for
Chesterfield as soon as the horse ar.
rived, and the three searched every foot
u ground on both sides OF the road from
Brattleboro to the point where the horse
turned around on the hill beyond the s.
l.. Rice place. All they could find how
ever, was felt hat and a pint bottle half
full of whiskey. On their way over the
men met Fraser returning to Brattleboro
with Mr.. Boutwell, and the driver went
back to assist in looking for his assail-
ant.
According to Fraser's story the drum
mer went to sleep soon after leaving Brat
tleboro and did not awaken until the
team was beyond the suspension bridge.
Then he grabbed the whip and began to
beat the horse numerically When
Fraser demonstrated the man said he
wished he had revolver for if he had he
would shoot Fraser in second. Then
he went to sleep again and did not awaken
until short distance beyond the Connell
place. At this point Hopkins began to
beat the horse again and Frasers words
)t caution so infuriated the man that he
.urned on the driver and pounded him Sc
rerely over the head with the butt of the
whip inficting several severe scalp
wounds. On the way up the next hill the
frightened horse left the highway enough
o tip the wagon and as Fraser fell out
lis grip on the reins turned the horse
ompletely around and started him home.
low long Hopkins remained in the ve-
licle is a mystery, but he was passenger
vhen the horse dashed past G. o. Cob
aigh near the Rice place and probably
ept his seat until the Putney road was
cached.
After the liveryman, the officer and the
river had searched for the missing man
ntil nearly midnight, they returned
ONE, Mr.. Howard and Sheriff Davis
tarting out again at daybreak and going
yer the ground still more carefully.
,ear the Cobleigh farm they met w. B.
lien of West Chesterfield driving toward
rattleboro with Hopkins who seemed
erfecty willing to come back. Accord
lg to his story he remembered nothing
ON the time he went to sleep until he
,und himself walking in the highway
ear the junction of the Putney road and
lat which leads to East Dummerston
alton. After inquiring at the nearest
ouse as to the quickest way to get to
rattleboro Hopkins was directed to the
ferry, where he succeeded
awakening Mr.. Allen and getting across
lie river. Allen loaned the man a hat
ID started with him toward this town
,out a. M, reaching the point mention
when he met the Brattleboro men.
Hopkins came to Brattleboro with Mr..
oward and the officer and agreed to set
) for his escapade by paying Sl25. He
emed greatly surprised to learn of his
tions and was extremely solicitous about
e man whom he had assaulted. After
e terms of settlement had been agreed
on Hopkins asked to be allowed to de-
er several orders of rugs and started
to do so. He left some rugs at the
me of Mrs. Henry Willcutt on Clark
eet and then drove back to Main street
tn Fraser, who was again acting as his
ver. At this point the latter said he
shed to go to the stable for moment
d Hopkins said he would stop to buy
ne cigars. He left the buggy on Main
eet and as soon as the team started,
the hotfoot for New Hampshire. That
the last that has been seen of Hopkins,
hough search was made for him be-
cen here and Hinsdale.
hopkins was in Brattleboro a few
eks ago taking orders for cleaning and
aving rugs Before coming to Brattle-
o Tuesday night he is known to have
en several drinks in Hinsdale.
While filling the air chamber of