Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-09
SERVICE IN LtMOII.LE
COUNTY.

In this county detective service to the
amount of approximately twenty-seven
hundred dollars has been used, OF this
amount approximately ten hundred and
fifty dollars was for expenses. The
work in this county was done chiefly by
the Wood Morgan agency, but in one in
lance the sherman Detective agency was
employed and received for services and
expenses five hundred and one dollars and
thirty-two cents. Home grown" detec-
tlves We're paid about fifty dollars.
Two cases involving the writing of
threatening and matchmaking letters
were investigated. In ono case sufficient
evidence WAS not secured to warrant Il
prosecution but in that case the letters
ceased and one-half of the expense of the
investigation was paid by the party en-
tcring the complaint.
In the other case the charg was sending
# threatening letters to II. G. Mcmahon
# stowe. This was a typical blaCkmai-
ing case. This was investigated by the
sherman Detective agency and a confess
sion of the respondent was secured. He
pleaded guilty in Lamoillc county court.
was sentenced to the Stat prison and IS
now serving sentence.
Repeated fires had occurred at the
house Of Mrs Maggie Buck in johnson
and at n nearby house, all incendiary.
Investigation showed that these fires We're
set by Mrs Sarah Collins daughter of
Mrs. Buck, and further that this party
was insane and she was committed to the
state hospital at Waterbury.
In former years many Instances Of
pocket picking had been reported and in
1912 after consultation with local officials
it was thought advisable to employ de-
tectives who were familiar with parties
engaged IN pocket picking to patrol the
fair grounds for the protection of the
public. Two detectives were present
during the fair and no case OF pockctpiCk-
| ing was reported during the fair nor
since.
! Tnanothcr case the respondents charged
| with the crime OF rape. He fled the juris-
! diction and was followed by a detective
! into Canada, back through Vermont and
| New hampshire and was finally arrested
! near Bangor, Me-, ana brought back to
this State without the expense of rcuuisi-
ton He was released on bail Of one thou
sand dollars and the case is now pending
I'm Lamollc county court
one other serious charge has been and
stlN Is under Investigation in this county
or course no statement regarding this
matter can be given.
I Writing Of detective service in Lamoille
county, the States attorney of that
-ounty saws:
II would say that in no case has this
service been used in Lamolle county
without a personal Investigation by ms
of the whole. matter, and not until | was
satisfied that the local officers on account
secure the desired results. No criticism.
should be attached to the sheriff's depart
mcnt as the officers have always beer
willing 10 do their duty and render al
the aid in their power in securing evil
dcnce ! can say further, that In my
judgment based on six years experience
as States attorney, that it would have
been lmpoSshle for the local officers I,
have obtained the results given in YOU
report, and II this service had not beer
used, the case would have remained with
out prosecution on account of lack of ev'
denCe. There can be no honest contradic
ton of the value and necessity of worl
Of this kind if crime Is to be detected an,
the guilty punished"
: What Is said by the States attorney 6
Iamollle county is absolutely true AM
l applies to the detective service used Il
every county in the State,
Respectfully.
r, f.. BROWN,
a Attorney-General