Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-05-14
BOY BURGLAR CONFESSEs
Martin Ryan, Aged 16, Admits
Stealing Much Property.
Was Caught Wednesday Might While
Robbing n CoIchestcr Store and
Owns Up to Many Other
Thefts.
There was lodged in Chittenden county

There was lodged in Chittenden county
Jail in the early hours of Thursday
morning a young man named Martin
Ryan. who confessed that he was the
person who broke into and despoiled
the cottages at Starr Farm Beach last
winter. also entered the store Of Ray
mond Bedding near Ethan Alien Park in
this city recently. where he took some
merchandise and also stole a motorcycle
from the SpaudinS farm on North
avenue.
Ryan was arrested while in the act of
robbing the store of H. L. Wolcott at
Colchester Center late Wednesday night.
Mr. Wolcott had noticed, earlier in the
evening. that a man was hanging around
his store and his suspicious were aroused
to such an extent that he kept watch
after he closed the store. About eleven
o'clock he saw man inside the build
ing lighting matches. Mr.. Wocott imme-
diately aroused his neighbors and they
surrounded the store. after sending n
message to Sheriff Allen at Essex juno
ton. Sheriff Allen at once started in
his automobile with officer Demag but
before ne arrived, Ryan, who was the
man inside the store lighting matches
started 10 get out OF a WlfluOW Will us
bag OF "swag" The people who were
watching caught him and waited the ar
rival of the sheriff, who was soon on
hand to secure the man.
Ryan had his plumber In a meal sack.
1t consisted of clothing, shoes, watches,
rings, baseballs, and, in fact, little Of
everything that goes with general store
in the country. He had made his
entrance to the store through a window
he had broken.
Chief of Police Russell interviewed the
boy Thursday and Ryan confessed that
he was the one who committed the
burElarics at Starr Farm Beach last
| February Ryan said that he stayed in
| one of the cottages two DAYS. At the
! time five cottages were entered but there
was no great loss of property Ryan
| also said that he broke into the Bedding
| store at Ethan Allen Park on Thursday
night, April 20, when he stole tobacco
| cigarettes chocolates. etc. He had
| secreted a large box Of cigarettes in a
| barn on the Otis Reynolds farm on the
interval. The chief went down there
with Ryan but when they came to the
| place where the prisoner said he had bidder
| the cigarettes they latter could not b,
| found. Inquiry developed the fact thai
they were discovered by a hired man
| who at once produced them, and they
are now in possession of the police. Ryar
| said he also stole the motorcycle at the
| Spaulding farm. He wheeled 1t dowr
| the Stamford road and from there tc
North avenue and to Ethan Allen Park
where he abandoned 1t because he die
| not know how to run It. The motor
| cycle was discovered the next day after
1t was stolen. Tho straps that went with
| it were also found with the package OF
| cigarettes at the Reynolds farm.
| Ryan Is but 16 years OF age. He seems
| to have no home in particular but OF
late he has been living in Grand Isle
| where he has been at work. He has beer
in the vicinity of Burlington for about
a week. He says he has been sleeping II
barns. HIS father now lives in this city.