The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-11-09
Hooker Winchester of Gull
ford Hotel Lands in
NeWfane Jail
TOTAL OF 143
QUARTS SEIZED
Sheriff Mann and Deputies Rewarded
After Long Winchester Es-
capped, but Was Captured Trying to
Leave House Near Bernardston.

Hooker Winchester of Guilford, on pro-
baton for Illegally selling liquor, was ar
rested this morning at three o'clock as
he leaving through the back door of
the house of Thomas Welcome near the
Bernardston line He slipped Sheriff C.
E Mann at Winchester's home after the
sheriff and Deputy Sheriffs w NJ Sparks
of Townshend and Walter T. Howe Of
Wilmington had seized three barrels OF
bottled liquor that had been delivered a
few minutes before by Richard Pollica.
The stuff had come in Pollica's name to
/ Vernon and he had teamed it to W-inches-
ter's place, reaching there about 10
0 clock. The seizure amounted TO II bot
! ties OF gin, Is OF rum and 113 OF whiskey,
/ a total of 143 quarts One barrel had
/ been opened, and few quarts were miss
ing when the officers seized it. Winches-
| ter was taken this morning to New
/ fame jail, and States Attorney O. B.
| Hughes filed an information against him
in county court in Newfane
Sheriff Mann was given a tip that Win
chester had received a big consignment of
liquor a week ago and that another was
due last evening He laid his plans
accordingly and early in the evening with
the two deputies, began a surveillance Of
the place Deputy Sheriff Howe went to-
wards Bernardston on the main highway
while Mann and Sparks watched the Win
chester place
They had been told that the consign-
ment of liquor was to come from Vernon.
At 10 o'clock there was no sign Of it and
all was quiet at Winchester's. Then the
officers took the automobile they were
using and made a trip in several direc-
tions with the intention of intercepting the
liquor but Polhca came up the Broad
Brook road and had unloaded the consign-
ment in the barn when the officers re-
turned.
\ team, with two young men and two
women, standing in the yard and
Sheriff Mann jumped from the machine
! and walked to the team. The two men
were drinking from bottle and the wo-
! men covered their faces to avoid recogni-
tion. Deputy Sheriffs Howe and Sparks
We're guarding the house. front and rear
The sheriff finally told the four that
they might depart, which permission they
2 accepted in hurry Pollica's team was in
t the barn. Deputy Sheriff Howe mounted
5 guard on the barrels while Sheriff Mann
/ and Deputy Sheriff Sparks entered the
5 house.
f Winchester and Pollica were talking II
f the kitchen. The sheriff explained to hin
J. that the states attorney was on a ram
:. ipage again and that he might search tht
o place Winchester was perfectly willing
i assuring the officer that there was not
n drink in the house. He picked up a Ian
tern to aid in the search and then sal,
i something in a low tone to Pollica.
Sheriff Mann thereupon told Wincheste
that such plan would not work as Their
was an officer on guard in the barn Win
chester realizing that he was caught wit
the goods, dropped his lantern and wante
to know what he could do. The answe
he received was to get his coat and accom-
pany the officers.
He stepped into what Sheriff Mann sur
ID posed was closet and leaped from a sid
door and disappeared in the darkness bt
fore the sheriff could make move to II
tercept him.
The officers first made sure of the hquo
~ and the sheriff telephoned to every plac
& Of any size within a radius Of 80 mile
n Then they started on a systematic scare
IL for Winchester.
it They finally headed for the home
an Thomas Welcome on advice of Deput
of Sheriff Frank A. Wellman, who ha
Dr. joined them and on their way met WI
of chester's team coming back. The drlv'
refused information, saying that he kne
to why they wanted Winchester and tn
tie they would never get him. He was allow'
Ia to go for the time being for the office
sought bigger game.
es They reached Welcomes and found
60 light burning in the house. Howe al
no Sparks went to the rear door and Maj
in raped at the front door. After lol
,b+ wait Welcome came to the front door Ju
}, as a shout from the rear told the sher
.od that his quarry had been landed. Welcor
~ was asked if Winchester was in the hou
oat4 or had been there that night and he
. sisted that he had not seen him.
=: found he was mistaken when the two de9
- ties appeared with Winchester.
~ Winchester was brought to Brattlebc
~ and locked up, and this morning he v
lad given an automobile ride to Newfane.
g" Winchester was arrested last Man
OK charged with illegal keeping of liquor,
len search of his premises failed to rev
any liquor and the case against him v
low mol pressed in the municipal court.
uri- On June 10, through the testimony o
did Bellows Falls special officer, who sw'
leir that he bought a quart Of liquor of w
Sc chester, he was held for the county co
under 81 600 bail
On June y Winchester had an nfOrr
ton filed against him at his own requ
old and pleaded guilty to two counts of i
of gal selling. He was fined $500 with &C
ven of S13.30, which he paid. A sentence
from four to six months was imposed,