Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-01-30

tho shoes to Harry Rosenberg's store he
hoard Rosenberg say he knew the shoes
were stolen. The witness said that wher-
ever he went to sell stolen goods he told
the merchants that the goods were stolen.
He said the plan was to tell all the men
he dealt with that the goods to be dis
posed of were stolen
"I told Rosenberg after he got through
talking with Hooper the day we delivered
tho shoes. that Hooper was a thief and
that the goods were stolen goods.
."How many times was Sam Alpert
present when you went to the Hope Out
fitters?"
'Dvery time
Howe said the trade about taking the
tperfumery was made with Louis Albert
He said Hooper told Rosenberg the goods
were "smugglcd," but he OIowe) correct
ed this statement and told Rosenberg the
truth about the goods.
Attorney Bulard questioned Howe at
some length In an effort to have the wit
ness fix the dates of the car burglaries
In no instance could Howe remember
when the burglaries took place, his most
definite idea being that they happened
near the time Of the Westport fair and
the Plattsburgh fair. lie fixed the dates
that way, he said because he had money
from the sale of the stolen goods with
which to go 10 the fairs.
Howe admitted under close questioning
that he was only the driver of the team
and knew very little about the money
that was paid over to Hooper for the
goods Howe said that the method of
n
the goods and leave them in the bushes
near the lake until the following morning
Then team would be hired and the
goods taken to their destination after
they had been taken out of the cases
These latter were sometimes burned to
avoid discovery.
The witness readily admitted that he
was not "thc brains" Of the gang and
took what was given him without ques-
ton. He said, however, that he had
learned since his arrest that Poirier had
stolen some of the booty that belonged
to the gang and disposed of It on his own
account.
PORTER A RAPID FIRE TALKER
Frank NJ. PORTER, who was the second
witness called by the State, proved to be
Court StenoErapher Mimms had to work
at high speed in order to understand and
follow him. Poirier bit off his words like
steel trap and began answering the
questions almost before they were put by
the lawyers Two rows of cleaning
white teeth. raven black hair and a
steady gaze at his questioner, helped to
accentuate Poiriers appearance on the
witness stand. and his testimony was fol-
lowed closely by the crowd in the court
room
This witness said he could not remem-
Der the circumstances under which he
first met Louis Alpert. He said he met AL
pert when he Polrier) came back from
serving sentence at Windsor Alpert
he said, knew of his prison record and
told him he was foolish to go down the
line meaning to prison, when he could
stay here "and do business" with Alpert
Porier. according to his own testimony
| has been a soldier of fortune and an ad-
venturer. He enlisted in the army at Fort
| Ethan Allen and later went out West Or
| his return to Vermont he began a career
| Of theving which landed him behind the
| bars. He talked glihly OF his prison rec
Billiard caused some laughter in the cour,
| room, which made it necessary for Judge
Taylor and Sheriff Allen to rap sharply
| for order.
Have you studied out during you,
career Just what a successful thief has
got to do?'' demanded Attorney Billiard
Yes, he will have to do time" replied
| the witness.
|
| Polrier testified that he had sold Alper
500 worth of goods at one time and tina
Alpert had told him they could do bust
ness." The witness said he had had sew
eral talks with Alpert and that the latter
wanted merchandise that was beins
shipped to Burlington for the Red A
clothing store. Turks. the Daylight stor,
and the Syndicate store. Poirier said Al
pert told him the Red 46 store had larg,
| consignment OF goods on the way anC
! that he (AlperD would let PORTER know
when they arrived and whore to fine
them. He never received further instruc
| tons, however. The witness testified
| that he had seen names and addresses
scraped off the cases of goods that haC
| been delivered to Alpert's store. In ever.
talk he had with Alpert. he said, Alper
| had expressed a desire to get Red I
goods in preference to all others
In the direct examination, PORTER toll,
much the same story as that related b.
| Howe. He said that the money transac
| tons were conducted by Hooper and tina
he waited nearby for his share, after see
ing the team drive into the alley next &
the Hone Outftters. on the occasion
when one lot of clothing was taken t.
the Alpert store. the witness said h.
went to the store to find out how mucl
money had been paid Hooper because h
thought Hooper had "nigged" him
on cross-examination Mr. Billiard aske,
Porter If he was not giving evidence jus
to involve all the people in bad deal tina
he could Poirier replied that all h
wanted was to tell the truth.
when did you make up your mind tina
you wanted the truth asked NJ,
Bullard.
After | was 'pinched the last time"
(Which do you consider the most dis
honorablc, TO steal or commit purjury +?
ITO commit perjury" replied PORTER.
The court excluded further question
! along this line
Mr.. Bulard proceeded to questio
Polrer for nearly an hour concerning hi
connection with the fake detective agenc
at Rutland, his movements near that cit
and his alleged burglaries in this sector
, PORTER answered readily except when
, came to giving dates At no time coul
Mr.. Billiard pin the witness down to an
specific date, his reply each time bein
81 cannot remember" He said he ma