The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-09-03
Former Wiliiamsville Minis
ter Winged Chicken
Thief at Coop
MARAUDER LEFT
TRAIL OF BLOOD
Activity - Physician Assisted in
Truitless Search for Victirn-Only
Object Was to End Theiving.

Object Was to End Theiving.
Rev. George e. Webster, pastor Of the
Methodist church in Stamford, former
~ of Williamsville, put charge of bird
shot into a chicken thief Monday morn
ing, and the marauder left trail of
blood to show that the shot took eff
feet. Rev. Mr.. Webster was pastor of
the Williamsville Methodist church
about six years ago. He preached at
the tabernacle meeting at Sunsent lake
recently. The North Adams Transcript
published the following account of the
affair:
REV. G. Il. Webster, Methodist min
lister at Stamford. has served notice on
chicken thieves Of that town that their
activities have got to cease.
lie did it about l o clock Monday
morning with a double barrelled shot
gun. And somebody got his message,
leaving an acknowledgement written in
blood ON the cement walk in front OF
the church.
THE fac that message was sent to
North Adams fer doctor in the early
hours Of The morning, and the fact that
a certain employee of the Stamford
chemical works did not show up for
work the next day has led to pretty
well developed suspicion as to the iden-
/ tity Of the thief, but it is probable that
no official action viii be taken, as the
minister S only object was to put an
end to the thieving.
Several roosts have been robbed in
the village recently Mr.. Webster
/ keeps flock of registered White Wyan-
dottes, Of which he is very proud He
i had been away on his vacation, but re
turned rather unexpectedly Saturday,
and few people knew that he was back.
''On Sunday he came to this city,
occupying the pulpit ut the union ser
\ vices in the Baptist church. lie return
ed home late in the evening, visiting Il
number OF people before reaching the
\ parsonage. He heard of the robberies,
and fearing for the safety of his flock
n decided to be prepared and threw him
i self on his bed in his clothes. About |
+ O clock hc was awakened. Pceping out
+ OF the window he saw the door of his
+ hcnhouse was open. Then he saw the
flash Of pocket searchlight. He quiet
\ ly got his shotgun, removed the screen
from the window, and poked the gun
through. Ready for business he hailed
4 the marauder. y man suddenly APP
\ pearcd at the door. Without a mo
mcnt 5 hesitation, Mr. Webster aimed at
the feet Of the dim figure, and let fly a
charge of small bird shot There was
an agonized howl and the minister fired
another volley over The head of the
fleeing figure.
d" Mr.. Webster Immediately left the
house and aroused Dr.. Wright, thinking
he had probably hit the man in tho
Iect or legs, and that medical assist
ancc might be advisable under the cir
cumstances. The doctor and minister
hunted around a while, and finally, il
the light of their lantern found bloot
on the cement walk in front of the
church. The trail led III the direction
MIR. Webster suspected it might, but Ii
and the doctor decided to follow it NJ
further, the doctor going home feeling
sure that his rest would not be dis
turbcd by Il call. And as he antici
Fatcd, the call came to North Adam
over the telephone.
1.-The physician was out ut the tim
it arrived and it is not known whethe
the wounded night prowler has yet re
! ceived attention.