Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-11
AttOrney-General Tells What
Sleuths and Sleuthing Cost
in Addison.
state OHiciaI shows That $4,000 Was
Expended In Getting Evidence
against and Securing Arrest
of Men Charged with
Crime.

DeCn received.
In Addison county two alleged crimes
have been the subject of detective in
vestigation. During the night of Decem-
Der ., 1912, Henry W. Ward, a man near
~ eighty years of age who lived alone
in his own house near the railroad sta
ton at New Haven Junction, was muir
dered and a large sum Of money, prob
ably more than two thousand dollars, was
taken from his person.
The autopsy showed that the old man
had been choked and his throat cut with
a razor which was found near the body.
The situation showed that this was one
of the most brutal murders ever com
mitted in Vermont and that the sole
motive was robbery. The local au-
thorities were unable to determine the
identity Of the murderer or to furnish
any clue that proved of any worth.
The States attorney of Addison county
asked for assistance in tracing the 1ur-
derer. The Wood Morgan Detective
agency of Boston was called upon to in
vestigate and every possible clue fur
nished by the local officials and even by
interested citizens living in the vicinity
was thoroughly and carefully followed
out. For months patient service was
rendered am nothing substantial dis
covered and so far as the prosecuting
officers were concerned, practically all
hope of tracing the perpetrator of this
foul murder was abandoned. Accordingly,
about September /, 1913 1t was decided
to discontinue detective service on this
case and that was done. Later on, in the
| fall of 1873 through the untiring efforts
! of the States attorney of Addison coun-
| ty. what was believed to be a substantial
clue to this mystery was discovered and
| the detectives were again put to work
with the result that on March Is, 1914,
| n special grand jury was called in
| Addison county for the purpose Of
presenting the evidence obtained in the
! Ward case and also in the case of an
incendiary fire which will be referred to
again in this report.
At this session of the grand jury the
evidence obtained by the detectives was
presented and Guiseppi Colombo and
/ Giovanni Colombo, brothers, were indicted
for the murder of Henry w Ward on
the night of December .. 1912.
In the meantime, these two men left
| this country and returned to their old
home in Siracusa, Sicily. Just prior to
their return to Sicily, these two men
We're living on Cherry street, in the city
of Burlington. They had both been in
the employ of the Rutland Railroad com
Il pany and worked on the section which
included New Haven Junction station
and were both acquainted with the MUIR
dered man and had knowledge of the
fact that he constantly carried on his
person large sum of money.
| Space will not permit going into the de-
tails of the evidence secured against
these men. 1t was sufficient to convince
the prosecuting authorities and grand
jury in Addison county, that they were
guilty Of the murder of Mr.. Ward. As
soon as this evidence had been secured
H. w Morgan of the Wood Morgan
agency was sent to Sicily to trace these
men and secure their arrest, which he
did.
To anyone acquainted with the charac.
ter Of most Of this nationality and the To-
calty which Mr.. Morgan was required
to visit in performing this service. it is
needless to say that in undertaking such
a mission, the little English detective tool
: his life in his hands
For nearly three months these two mer
have been in prison in Sicily waiting tra
for this murder. All of the evidence
against them has been put in proper form
and forwarded to the Italian authorize:
and there seems to be little doubt but tina
, these men will be convicted and pay tbs
penalty of their crime.
+ For services in this matter the Wood
Morgan Detective Agency has been
| pald..... ...... ....... .SiSl6.U
For necessary expenses in the per-
Torrance Of their services. 1862
Making total of...................$7,9S 49,. 2
The vouchers covering the expense
above mentioned are on file in the ofiic
of the auditor of accounts.
> In connection with this investigation
the State has paid DIN a. Smith for serv
ices and expenses, s2l2O6.
George S Farr, deputy sheriff for Ad
olson county, s59. 90.
Fred E. Rowley, a deputy sheriff OF AID
olson county, s9O31
d, T. Trombly,- sheriff of Grand Isle
county, s2l5S
James Pitaniello. $3.50. Mr.. Pitaniellc
Is an italian interpreter and this last item
was Tor his services as interpreter in pre-
pairing evidence for the grand jury.
In Wow OF the offense investigated, tn
mystery surrounding II and it's final clear
ing up, the attorney-general and tn
States attorney of Addison county fee
e that this money was properly expended
+ and for their action in the matter the.
= have no apology to make.
t As before stated, detective service ha
been used in one other matter in Addison
county, viz, an alleged incendary fir
which occurred in the town of Granville
This matter was also presented to tn
grand jury In March. 1914. resulting In tn
Indictment for arson of one George Pond
II alias George Cochran, who Is now in Ad
L olson county jail waiting trial at the Jun
term OF Addison county court. which 1
n now In session. There are other matter
= connected with this case which cannot b
|, given out until II Is finally ended. Fo
e detective service in this matter the Stat
= has paid the Wood Morgan agency 10
q services. ..,.. ..'',. .'''''. '.'''.''.'..So.o
= For eXpenses.,.... ........, .......,.. las
n Making a total of....,... .,,......... sS4,e
n The vouchers for these expenses are o
file in the office OF the auditor of accounts
The attorney-gen and States attor
. money was well expended and for sue
expenses they offer no other excuse tina
the facts above stated.
In this connection | wish TO call atten
3 ton to letter written to the Buringto
i Free Press by d. T. Trombly of Isle L
n Motto and published in that paper Jun
OBS also to the editorial comment of tn
n Free Press in connection Herewith