Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-06-17
OFFICER SHOT DOWN
Deputy Sheriff Murdered in Mon.
roe, Mass, Sunday
sllas Phelps, Fugitive In Woods Four
Days, Gave Himself Up When Overcome
by Thirst and Hunger.

Sllas Phelps, fugitive IN WOODS Four
Days, Gave Himself Up When Overcome
by Thirst and Hunger.
Murder was committed in Monroe,
Mass, the first town over the Vermont
border south Of Readsboro, early Sunday
morning, Sias N. Phelps, an employe of
the James Ramage Paper company, firing
a charge of shot through the heart OF
Deputy Sheriff Emmett F. Haskins of
Charlemont, Mass, killing him almost in
stantly. The officer was trying to arrest
Phelps for stabbing Superintendent will
liam Penman OF the Ramage Paper COM
pany the night before, Soon after the
tragedy Phelps escaped into the woods,
where he remained in hiding until Wed
nesday afternoon when an intense thirst
for water compelled him to make known
his whereabouts.
Phelps has had the reputation Of
being bad man" In Franklin, county
He and Penman had an argument while
on the road Saturday night concerning a
criticism of Phelpss work at the mill,
and without warning Phelps drew knife
and made lunge at Penman, making a
long wound in his right side Then he
drew another knife and with a knife in
each hand he walked home, no one dar-
ing to oppose him.
Constable NJ o. Hicks Of Readsboro no.
tilted Deputy Sheriff Haskins by tele-
u,
l.. W. Sears Of Charlemont went to Mon
roe Bridge, where the paper mill is To-
Gated, and swOre in several citizens that
night, one OF whom was Charles F. New
ell, son Of Deputy Sheriff Bradley New
ell of Rowe, formerly Jacksonville's mag
neuc healer The posse reached the
Phelps house soon after daybreak Sun
day and forced an entrance as Mrs. Phelps
would not open the door.
Deputy Sheriff Haskins crossed the
Kitchen and opened the door Of the only
stairway in the house, which led to the
attic. Standing at the foot Of the stairs.
with Phelps at the top armed with a
shotgun he said: Quit your blufing 81.
and come down" His answer was fatal
charge Of shot in his breast, and with
the exclamation, He's got me, boys"
the officer fell back dead.
His companions dragged the body to
the porch and Mr.. Newell stood guard
until Phelps shouted from upstairs that
he would begin shooting again in one
minute whereupon the party left. About
an hour later Deputy Sheriff Bradley
Newell reached the house and demanded
admittance, believing that Phelps was
| still there. Stepping over the dead body
Of his friend. alone he searched every
room in the house, including the attic,
| discovering Phelps's tracks leading
| toward the woods In the direction Of Yer
mont. From Mrs. Phelps 1t was learned
that after the first party went away
| Phelps reloaded his shotgun, picked In
| his rifle. equipped himself with ammu-
| milton for both weapons and enough food
| to last several days. said Good bye" to
| his wife and six children and disappeared.
| County officers, state detectives and
| citizens In large numbers were on the
| scene soon after Deputy Sheriff Newell
! arrived. They searched the woods in
various directions, but without avail and
| on Tuesday morning Sheriff Smead of
| Franklin county ordered Company L
| of Greenfield to the hunt. The men We're
| instructed to take Phelps alive II posi-
Bile, but to get him alive or dead. The
| searchers worked under the supposition
| which proved TO be correct that Phelps
would not waste his time in blind flight.
but would stay near his home. his only
| base OF supplies
The soldiers found no trace Of the MUIR
| derer. but on Wednesday afternoon Nature
| forced him to come out OF his lair He
was caught at 80 in a dense thicket a
mile and a half from HIS home Not a
] shot was fired Phelps was weak from
| hunger and was so nearly crazed by
| thirst that he dug n hole several feet
deep in the ground with his hands in an
| effort to find water. He called to a
| farmer. Nathan Tower, who was at work
| in field. to fetch water, and Tower
| sent his son to the military headquarters
| with the news. Deputy Game Warden d
| ?. Shea Of Ware volunteered to go into
| the woods II another man would go with
| him to be ready to shoot. That plan
| was adopted and soon they came upon
| the murderer. who was digging for
| water Phelps made no resistance and
he was taken to the Greenfield Jail. The
| selectmen Of Charlemont offered a re-
| ward of 800 for his capture
Phelps is 9S years old and has been en-
| Moved n stationary eOpiuapr hoo
| been in the state reformatory in Concord
| and in the jail in Greenfield where he
was a troublesome prisoner. While In
jail he boosted that he never would be
arrested again, and after his release he
wrote Deputy Sheriff Hasklns a threat.
ening letter, stating that the officer would
be liable 10 lose his life If he attempted
TO arrest him again
| Deputy Sheriff Hasklns leaves a wife
also two children by n former marriage
He was So years old and a competent OF
ficer.