The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-04-14
GIRLS STORY OF wAYwARDNESs.
Results in Arrest of Three Young Men
and Search for Others.

! Revelations made TO the authorities by
| Vac Coffin, l5-year.old Washington
| girl, resulted late yesterday afternoon in
| the arrest of three Barre young men on
charges OF statutory rape. Benjamin
| Prestini, a bellhop employed at Hotel
| Barre; Edward Milne. a bootblack. and
Henry Colombo were taken in custody by
Chief Sinclair and Constable George l..
Morris on capiases issued by States At
torney r. +. Gleason. In Washington
county court last night bail was fixed at
81 900 in each case and Milne and Pres
tint failing to secure bonds, were re-
manded to the county Jail. 1t is expect
ed that the respondents will be given a
trial in the present term of court.
Statements involving Milne, Prestini
and Colombo and other young men for
whom the police are looking were made
by the Coffin girl soon after she was de-
tanned at police headquarters by Chief
Sinclair Wednesday, Yesterday she re-
peated her story before Magistrate r. W.
Scott. the states attorney and Chairman
j. A. Healy of the aldermanic police com
mittee. According to her statements,
she came to Barre from Washington Sat
urday afternoon. When her mother re-
turned home without her she began to
make shift for herself, she said. Appar
emily she made many acquaintance and
one Immediately pressing problem, that
of finding place where she might spend
the night was solved when members Of
a North Main street club gave her shell
ter until Sunday morning.
On another night. she told the authori-
/. ~ I.l
hotel on Pearl street. On the night he
fore her detention she went on, young
fellow gave her lodging in the basement
of the Aldrich block After accounting
for her movements throughout her brief
sojourn in Barre, the Coffin girl gave the
officers the names of young men with
whom she had associated. 1t is said that
some of the information was of a very
nature and that il may be |
used advantageously, the officers think |
in clearing up situation or two that has |
developed through the week
The girls statement that she was only I
IA wears old was not corroborated bv her /
father. Glenn w Coffin, n Washington I
who came TO Barre this morn
ng to see the child. Coffin told Afagis-
rate Fl. w Scott that his daughter was
porn in the first hour Of the first dav Of |
he first month in the first year of the
10Th century and that she was therefore. i
)sst l 5 years old. The girl was brought
nto court under the juvenile act at 1OI'
,'clock Her father, who accom- mpanied
Ter. was closely questioned as to the
,irl's behavior. He told the court that
differences between the girl and her
mother might be responsible for the
of the former. The youth
ui respondent appeared to be very peni-
ent and ready to go home.
Magistrate Scott was inclined to look
With disfavor on the proposal to take
he girl home, suggesting that the father
make an effort TO place her with re- !,
pectable family living at a distance !
rom both Barre and Washington. Coffin
romised to locate a place for the girl !
nd III the meantime she will remain in y
he home Of the sheriff at the county !
all Under the juvenile act the girl will I
q sentenced TO the state .s.dustrial a
rhool. unless a more desirable environ o
rent is provided for her. the Judge said. J,
The officers believe that a start has o
cen made in a housecleaning program I
hat is designed to have a good effect "
ocalities that have been under scrutiny II
re said to have been exposed in the girls Z
10 the authorities and other e.
formation involving rather sensational "
sclosures was turned over to the states a
ttornev. Il is stated. r,