Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-10-27

BOY BURGLAR CAUGHT
Came to Grief After Entering
Drug Store the Fourth Time.
WnIked in by Means Of Skeleton Key
md Helped lfirnscIf 10 Cigarettes
ana Money from the Cash
UcG1etcf.

Walking deliberately into the place III
broad daylight by way of tho front door
and not more than ~ PAGES from police
headquarters. John Lanou. a young lad
hardly I2 years Of age succeeded In
burglarizing the drug store of j. g. Bell
rose n, Church and Main streets Fri
inv morning at saven o'clork Tho boy
said that he got his idea from moving
picture shows
Johns exploit Friday morning re-
suited in his being nabDed by the police
but not until he had made three previous
expeditions and had succeeded In getting
away with about $@5 in money from the
cash register and number of boxes OF
cigarettes.
Mr.. RellruSc began t. mss cash from
the cash register n week ago He
could not account for 1t. Tine mo sale
lever on tho register had been operated
and some cash was gone each morning.
A number of boxeH Of cigarettes would
also be missing
The affair worried Mr. l5clrose ex-
cecdirsly, as there seemed 10 be absolute
~ no clue to the offenders. Windows
and doors were found TO be securely
| fastened as when left at night and the
were baffed
Careful plans to catch the burglar were
laid. Mr. Bellrose and two of his clerks
remained in the store all night Wednesday
! night and policeman was stationed in
, the office of the Traction company. just
across the street, The watchers in the
store remained until dawn and the police
man watched until six O'Clock d. IN Still
! lI
and the case began to take on Sherlock
Holmes proportions. =
No one appeared about the pla'e and
still the r.xt morning the cash register
would be shy the required amount to
make the ticket balance The register
is located in the large window on the
Main street side.
Friday morning the mystery was
solved. \ policeman wa. again stationed
in the Office across the way and he re
manned iouFor than usual
About seven O'Clock comes young John.
swinging a paper bag neatly tied up in a
roll lie had all the appearance Of the
early bird after tho worm in the shape
of hustl.ng newsboy. However he had
no papers. He took up his station on
the steps of the drug store as though
his papers should arrive
Then the waiting Aooliceman almost
tainted. He could hardly believe his eyes.
John dug down into his trousers pocket
and ishcd up bunch of skeleton keys
such as are used by burglars in effectng
a entrance into dwelling houses.
John inserted one of the keys into the
lock Of the front door. turned it and
rod opI, ia H.,
cash register. where he helped himself
TO handful of cash Then he inspected
the cigarette stock and took few boxes
Of the brand that seemed to his liking
Then he walked--into the arms of an
officer.
The young burglar did not appear dis
turbed over his capture. His cXplana-
ton of his acts were given in Il manner
= that surprised Mr.. Bnllrosc When asked
if he was not afraid some one would see
him tampering with the cash register he
replied, ooh they would think was one
, | of the clerks"
why didn't YOU take all the money
the first tmco" he was asked
II didn't want you To miss il 50 took
a little n, = time" replied John.
John insisted when questioned, that he
was the only ono concerned in the
burglaries Who're he obtained the skele.
ton keys j. question. The police say
they have a theory as TO this feature
Of the affair
When arragued Friday before Judge
Mower in city cour, johns father ap.
peared with him Tho laid did not seen
to appreht nd in the least the seriousness.
of his offcrs".
: R,l al N II,