The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-26
Mrs Annie Malmquist of
g 4aple Avenue Her Own
Detective
HELD PRISONER
TILL POLICE CAME
Morris Guerin, Aged IS,
Pleaded Not Guilty to
Theft Charge

Morris Guerin, an eighteen year-oId
boy, who says his home is in New Ha-
vcn, Conn, is under arrest at police
headquarters with couple Of larceny
charges hanging over his head, while
Mrs. Annie Malmquist of "a Maple ave-
nue and Mrs. Lillian Jones of l6 Central
street believe, with reason, they say, that
the same Guerin who posed as a peddlcr
among the householders of Summer and
Central streets and Maple avenue yester-
day afternoon Is the one who stole S.
bill from the former and hand bag
from the latter. The lad was arraigned
before Judge H. w. Scott in city court
this forenoon and to the two charges
OF petit larceny preferred against him
by States Attorney j. Ward Carver, he
pleaded not guilty.
Shortly before noon, Guerin retained
the services of X. A. Hoar aud the case
was continued until Monday morning,
the defense asking for jury trial. Bail
was fixed at $50 which Guerin was ar
ranging to furnish.
Guerin's alleged operations and his
capture single handed by Mrs Malm-
quist would furnish thrilling material
for moving picture scenario, accord
ing to the story told to officers from
police headquarters. The cinematograph
man wasn't there when Gperin was APP
pretended yesterday, but a good many
neighbors took up the chase and were
Mrs. Malmquist when Officer
Harry Gamble arrived to take charge of
the prisoner.
As the story goes. Guerin had been
all day in the third ward He
carries line of water filters, brass pol
ish and other contraptions and poses as
a peddler. incidentally it may be said
that the officers believe the boy works
the peddling game as cloak for his
daylight depredations III houses where
the tenants happen to be absent when
he calls. Yesterday in the middle of
the afternoon, Mrs. Malmquist started
up street to get some things for sup
per. Her return to the Malmquist home
at No. 81 was the occasion for a chorus
of stories from the neighbors' children,
who told of seeing man enter the
house and then make hasty exit IN the
direction of Summer street. Although
giving the stories little eredence, Mrs.
entered her home to find that
a V-spot was missing from her pocket
book, which laid on the mantel shelf
Realizing that little time could be
lost if she were to regain the alleged
stolen property. she took up the pursuit.
Near the residence of George Hoyt she
,pied the missing Mr.. Guerin, who, to
tell the truth, seemed but little per-
-urbed over the woman's rapid approach.
Mrs. Malmquist is a woman whose sta
-ure couldn't be described as exactly
slight and when she made a lunge for
Iuerin he quickly capitulated. Passers-
~ notified police headquarters, while
Mrs. Malmquist chung to her prisoner.
officer Gamble arrived on the scene be-
lines and took the man to the station,
where a warrant was secured for his de-
ention.
Developments which came this morn
ng led the officers to believe that Guerin
,ursues a systemic game OF operating
Imong tenantless houses in the daytime
While ostensibly engaged in distributing
he handy little articles that you attach
% the nozzle on the water faucet.
someone on Summer street discovered a
rip in George Hoyt's yard. Investiga
ion by the officers showed that it be-
onged to Guerin and closer examine
ion revealed a small hand bag with a
lumber of papers belonging evidently
o Mrs. Jones. When confronted with
his new evidence tending to establish
lis guilt, Guerin is alleged to have made
partial confession. But he had changed
is mind this forenoon, for he told Judge
cott al finding the hand bag near the
azza at Mrs. Jonesl Guerin said he
ad been talking with Mrs, Jones and
ad Just left the house when he stumbled
yer the bag. He was looking for the
wner when Mrs, Malmquist charged him
afternoon, Officers consulted
irs. Jones to-day and she denied having
cen Guerin at all, although she Tecog
lied the bag as hers and said she had
Kissed it yesterday after returning from
neighbor's house. She had left it on
he kitchen table.
The boy SAYS he is without friends in
arre, although two or three of his coun
rymen talked with him about his case
efore court convened. He was born in
ussa, but speaks fairly clear English
nd seemed to understand the court per-
sctly.