The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-24
AFTER KID
MULLIGAN
BY ALAN HINSDALE

Wnen i was Sherln or Marion cOun
" 1t was reported to me that their
was young clergyman in Hilton, 6
farm center, some twenty miles away
and 1t was suspected that he was Kid
Mulligan, half boy, half man, des.
perado, who was fond of masquerad-
ing in different DISCUSSES. / was anx.
ious to secure Mulligan and concluded
to go to Hilton and inspect the rever.
end gentleman. l had never seen the
Kid, but had description of him.
On my way to Hilton ] met farmer
who had been held up by a masked
man the night before. He was un.
armed and handed out what little mon
ey he had about him without making
frightened to take notice of the robbei
except that he spoke with a voice not
at all gruff. On the contrary, Ii was
rather musical
This robbery was an indication that
Mulligan was the robber and MulligaD
and the robber were one and the same
person. / went on to Hilton and made
inquiries for the Rev. Joseph Wyeth,
the parsons name, and was told that
he was to be found at the Phoenix no
tel. He was travelling under a com
mission of the bishop to raise funds fol-
building churches. l went to the no
tel, small tavern, and found the
curate sitting on the veranda. He
wore the canonicals Of an Episcopal
clergyman, his hair was parted in the
middle, and altogether his appearances
was exceedingly clerical.
Soon after my arrival at the tavern
he arose and started down the main
street till he came to a church an0
turned in at a back door l inferred
that the rector had a study there and
Wyeth was going to visit him. | wait |
ed till he came out, then went in to |
interview the rector. | found him an |
elderly man not versed in worldly |
ways. IL, had seen Mr.. Wyeth's ere |
dentials from the bishop, but had not
scrutinized the signature. Mr.. Wyetb ,
was arranging with him to speak to
his congregation the next Sunday even
ing, with a view to taking up collec.
ton for church building in tlse diocese
From Mr.. Wyeth's personal appear
ance and certain of his mannerisms
gathered suspicious of him. / did not
believe him to be Kid Mulligan, but
did believe that he was not an Episco-
pal minister However, had no real
knowledge concerning him and felt
obliged to let him proceed with what
he was doing, keeping him under sur
veilance. / decided to let him deliver
his Sunday evening address, but did
not propose to let him get out of town
with the proceeds of the collection
without being convinced that he was
what he purported to be.
When Sunday evening came I at
tended the church services. At tn.
proper time the rector spoke few
words of introduction; then Mr.. Wyeth
began his address. Possibly II I had
not been suspicious of him / might
have been fooled by his remarks like
the others. One matter especially
gave him away to me. In mentioning
the places the bishop desired churches
should be built he included the town
Of Bingham. / happened to know that
an Episcopal church had just been fin
Ished in Bingham.
The young man spoke with pleas
antly modulated voice and talked flu
entity. 1 sat in a pew right under him,
where / could watch him. and think .
that my fixed gaze discoRcerted him,
for he gave me an occasional glance,