St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-05-13
ROBBER IS CAUGHT
Charles Branch Burglarizes Randall
& WhitcOmb's StOre-COnfesses
His Crime.

The mystery of the robbery of the
store of Randall & Whitcomb has
been at least partially solved, by the
confession of Charles F. Branch, a
l6 year old boy, who was employed
in the store after school hours, that
he was the robber. The confession
was not voluntary but made after
Sheriff Worthen had confronted him
with facts that made young Branch
think the officer knew all about the
case and he exclaimed, "You have hit
it just right. Come with met" He
took the sheriff into the basement
of the Randall store and pulled a
loose brick out of the wall and
reaching through pulled out a wo-
mans stocking and money bag con-
tanning the $500 worth of rings,
diamonds and about $40 of the cash
that had been taken from the store.
He admits that he spent $40 of the
cash and burned several checks,
amounting to nearly 500, that he
had taken from the safe.
This does not fully account for all
the property that is missing from Mr..
Randall's stock as he claims that
there were also several watches and
thinks that more cash was taken
than has been found as yet. Young
Branch further admits that he had
been taking money in small quanti-
ties from the store for about year,
the extent of his peculations not
being known.
The entrance to the store without
leaving any trace is explained by the
fact that Branch unfastened a win
i 49, Of %In cfn ho-
fore leaving it, and in the night
raised a ladder to the window in the
rear of the store where he entered
and made the robbery. On going
out he closed the window. He was
at the store in the morning and
while Mr.. Randall was busy slipped
back and fastened the window so
that there was no trace left of how
he got into the place.
He insists that none else was in
volved in the robbery with him but
of this the officers and Mr.. Randall
are not entirely satisfied as they feel
sure that he must have had an ac-
complice to watch while he was in
the store.
He also maintains that he has re-
turned all the property that was
taken in this robbery, with the ex-
ceptions mentioned above. The |
after the robbery he told |
one of his young friends that Mr..
Randall had not lost as much money |
as he claimed and admitted to him
that he made the robbery but claims
he had mentioned the crime to no one
else. He has, however mentioned |
the names of several young men with |
whom he has associated, who should !
receive careful attention on the part |
of their parents if they would have
them escape from serious trouble.
The case is a peculiarly sad one
as young Branch is an only son of
widow, who has been obliged to work |
for her support and the young boy |
has been employed, during his spare |
time from the Academy, which he
last fall, in working to help |
in the support of himself and mother.
Mrs. Branch has just left Brightlook |
hospital where she had undergone |
an operation and left town to stay |
with friends while recuperating from |
her illness.
Charles Branch was taken to jail |
by Sheriff Worthen yesterday morn |
ing, where he was questioned by the |
Sheriff, Mr.. Randall and the States |
1t is expected he will be |
given a hearing in Municipal Court |
tOdav