St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-07-13
RY, VERMONT. WEDNESDAY, JULY 1s, 1910
BURGLARY.
Unknown Robbers Blew up Safe in
McLeOd'S Mill With Nitro
glycerine.-GOt no
Booty.

About 1.30 o'clock Saturday morn
ing a telephone call took Officers Mar
den and Finlay to McLeod's mill,
where it was found that burglars had
forced their way into the office and
ruined the safe with nitro-glycerine.
They entered the office by prying open
the window and in their attempts to
get next to the contents of the safe
had blown the heavy outer doors
apart, scattering asbestos, com bina-
ton and hinges all over the room,
but nothing was taken. When the
officers arrived they found tools, in
Guiding two chisels and hammer.
but no trace of the burglars.
The break occurred within a little
while after Officer Finlay had tried
the door on his rounds and the ex-
plOsiOns were heard by several people
in that vicinity, and even so far away
as Henry EStabrookS on Main street.
Mrs. Plant, who lives across the track
from the mill, went to the window
when awakened and saw a man run
down Hooker's hill and disappear
from view, but no others seem to have
got a view of the culprit. Ralph
mind. and at the sound of the ex-
plosion, telephoned the police, who
in turn, notified Mr.. Mcleod.
1nfoe 1fd11DS caught
Saturday afternoon trainmen on
the north bound Newport extra noti-
fed the police of this place that they
had as passengers three hoboeS. Com
ing so soon after the Mcleod mill
break this information caused quite
a stir around the station house and
Sheriff Winch and Officer Marden
went down to the yard to investigate:
There they found CaliXt Bertrand of
Nashua and Eli loyal of Lowell,
Mass, enjoying their morning siesta
in an empty coal car. Both men re-
sponded when called by Marden and
were escorted to the station, but their
Alphonse Gion of Lowell, evidently
was notCSPrepared and lodged past
the sheriff in an attempt to escape.
1t is said by witnesses that he made
the first 100 yards close to record time
and the fusilade from Marden's gun
seemed to accelerate rather than
retard his progress. Leaving the
railroad yard he led his pursuers,
now numbering nearly 40, merry
cross country chase via Pearl street,
Academy hill, Main street, and thence
to Sand hill where on the edge of
the cliff he made his final stand.
George Robinson, employe at the
freight station, who had held second
place with Gion first, since the run
began, came up and demanded an
unconditional surrender, emphasizing
his demand with a suggestive motion
toward his gun hip. Gion carefully
measured the distance down the cliff
to the St Johnsbury and L. c. road
and then surveyed the stern counten-
ance of his captor, with the result
that he chose to take his chances with
Robinson and accompanied him back
to town and was taken in tow Ky the
officers.
The incident caused unusual excite
ment as the majority of the people
did not know why the men were
wanted, and the shooting in the rail
road yard started a flood of rumors.
An examination convinced the auth
critics that the men were not i'm
plicated in the break Saturday morn
ing, but they were held for a hear
for stealing rides.
James Lynch, a vender of novelties.
was arrested saturday. charged with
peddling without a license.