Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-09-29
FARM HOUSE RANSACKED
Contents Turned Topsy Turvy in
Search for Money.
When Mrs, j. n. McKccn Returned to
Her Home the Interior Looked AS
Though Cyclone Had
Called.

Sheriff Allen will need TO bring into
play all his Sherlock Holmes proponsitics
in order to solve an attempted robbery
If farm house on the Colchester road,
~ short distance north Of Essex, which
took place Tuesday morning.
The house. which IS owned by Mrs.
J. O. NIeKeen, stands in rather
secluded section, surrounded on the north
bv high bushes The robhcr. or robbers,
who entered tho place some time Tues
day morning between $3.50 o'clock and
noon, made clean sweep of the dwelling
from cellar to garrot, and searched every
nook and corner for money. Just what
they took away Mrs. McNecn Was unable
to determine Tuesday afternoon, but she
says that no money was taken.
Nearly every article in tho housp wIs
overturned and the Interior OF the build
ing looked rs If Il small cyclone had
struck the place. Curtains wee pulled
from the windows. trunks opened. books
scattered about in rrea. confusion and
beds torn apart. \ big feather bed was
carried out into the hallway and thrown
on the floor. Doors we're forced from
their faatcnlnrs ard rolls OF Wallpaper.
with which Mrs. McKeen was about To
paper the house were tumbled about. In
fact hardly a movable piece Of furniture
I'm the place was left in its proper place.
Sheriff Allen was notified shortly after
noon of the attempt ut robbery and he
made n quick trip to the farm house. An
inspection of tho premises showed thnt
entry to the place was made in the rear
through an outside hatchvay. There We're
tracks of a heavy boot leading into the
hatchway. the door Of which had been
| forced from It's hinges.
! Whoever the burglars wore they began
! operations at once. Jars Of fruit were
moved from the shelf over the ceilar-waY
and the first large picture on the wall
that was found was taken down. Tho
bed clothing was thrown in a heap on the
| floor and the large famil" Pibc was
uncasped and the pages open. Ms. Nc
| Keen insisted copy of the Life Of
Grant" had been carried away but the
sheriff was of the opinion that this would
be found. Mrs. McKecn also stated that
| six spoons were missing.
Mrs McNeen left home Tuesday morn
| ing about $50 to go to the creamery.
She left the house shut up ana was gone
until noon. When she returned the out
side doors were found still locked. but
confusion reigned inside. She at once
,elephoncd to neighbors and later to
! Sheriff Allen.
Some time ago Mrs. Mckeen owned Il
great Dane dog which was so powerful
that she was obliged to keep him securely
fastened by a heavy log chain. This dog
she claims, was poisoned. The news that
she no longer had the dog spread about
I, ;. al. taty
tory.
Mrs. McKeen is understood to be quit,
well-to-do and she said Tuesday that
she had been asked on several occasion,
whether she had received the money from
some wood sirs sold. She also said that
it was known that she had recently re-
Ceived "a check.
Three mon We're seen in the vicinity OF
the place Tuesday morning but they arr
not suspected OF HAVING any hand III tht
attempted robbery. Whoever made Tie at
tempt was evidently looking for money
Clothes belonging to Mrs. Mckeen were
thrown about all over the place and al
bore evidence of having been thoroughly
searched for money.
The sheriff has a theory as to who com
mitted tho burglary. on which he is worl:
Ing. Many small jim-cracks lying abou
the house were not disturbed ..mon!
these was a petrifed stnrfish on cente
! table.
1T is d wonder they didn't take that.
was suggested to Mrs. McKeen.
Guess they We're afraid of it, re
: turned Mrs. McKeen graspnG the hume
Of the situation, notwithstanding he
agitated frame Of mind.