The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-10-21
John Collects nv Soon
Led to the ! rest of
Wilbur ) rnton
WATCH : JMoNEY
FOL& , ON LATTER
The Two Men Had Been
Strolling Companions
About Town

Darkest Depot square and its shady
environs furnished the locals for a dar-
ing assault and robbery Just before IL
o'clock last night when John Colett. a
granite cutter living at "a Summer
street, was struck down and robbed of
his watch and a roll of bills. After the
victim had been thoroughly "frisked."
the assailant fed, only to be caught a
half-hour later by Deputy Chief Harry
Gamble. Before Magistrate H. w. Scott
in city court this forenoon man who
gave his name as Wilbur Thornton of
Grantham, n. H., charged with assault
and robbery from the person, entered a
plea OF not guilty and was sent back to
his cell at police headquarters when he
failed to furnish bail of $1,000. He will
be given hearing this afternoon or Mon
day morning.
The story of the assault came to the
attention of the deputy chief as he was
eating his II o'clock luncheon in Jacks
restaurant, not far from where the rob
berry is alleged to have taken place. Col
lett, recovering partially from a stunning
blow on the cheek groped through the
darkness to the only lighted place in the
square, the lunch room. Deputy Gamble
and half-dozen others were in the res
taurant and it was with difficulty that
Collett, still dazed from his experience,
made them understand what had hap
pened The deputy chief did not wait
for the details, but started out in search
of the man described by Collett. After
beating about the vicinity of both sta
tions, Deputy Chief Gamble accosted
Thornton just as he was emerging from
the lavatory in the Central Vermont sta
ton. At first he started to crowd past
the officer, but warning word from the
policeman brought him to a halt. While
Thornton held his hands above his head,
the deputy chief went through his pock
cts and satisfied himself that he had
made no mistake in the identification.
The watch owned by Collett and the
money were In pocket of the mans
coat. Deputy Chief Gamble took him to
police headquarters. where Collett later
the Identification.
According to Collett's deposition, he
net Thornton earlier in the evening.
Thornton said he came from Grantham,
\. H., although he had been employed
ately in Windsor machine shop.
Thornton complained of money short
ge and Collett assured him that he
ould have lodging at his home for the
light. Collett says that Thornton insist
d on leaving the city at midnight and
sked him to "stick around" until the
rain should leave. The pair walked up
nd down Main street for a time and
hen swung into Depot square. At the
orth end of the NJ. & W. R. platform,
ccording TO Collett, they stopped and
fere chatting idly about conditions of
abor. OF sudden, Collett says. Thorn
on struck him squarely in the cheek and
e went to the mat. Dimly he was
ware that he was being "rolled," ac-
ording to the narrative furnished the
olice, but he did not offer any resistance
5 he feared that Thornton would use
lackiack on him. When Thornton made
Fl with the watch and money. Collett
,ates. he managed to reach his feet and
mp to Jacks place
Thornton is rugged specimen of man
Dod and seems to take little interest
the proceedings against him. This
orning he told the police that over
dulgence in liquor had erased from his
emory any recollection of what might
I'VE occurred last night. Grand Juror
lillian Wishart investigated the al
ged assault early this forenoon and
zen preferred formal charges against
e prisoner.