Putnam patriot., 1917-03-02
FACE GUNS MUZzLE
Three Men Beat It While the GOing'S
 Good and Dent Stop for Hat
Ralph p. Ssbin, Pomfret, Takes No
 Chances with Midnight Visitors

Looking down the barrels of a load ed double barrel shot gun and told to get out quick, three unknown men, who asked for a nights lodging at the Sabin home in Pomfret, early Sunday morning, took Ralph P. Sabin's word for it that it was not healthy place for them to loiter and beat 1t while the going was good. MT. Sabin was not taking any chances with the unknown trio and assumed from the start that they were at his door for no good pur- pose. He became suspicious as soon as they made their first statement and the gun barrels looked like the muZ- zies of couple of big German guns to the frightened visitors who made off in the darkness.
 The relation of a series of burglaries, holdups, thefts and petty crimes, up and down the Quinebaug valley, re- latei in the daily and weekly news papers, has set the countryside on edge. Noises that at one time would have received no attention are now looked upon with suspicion and nj ght prowlers are about as welcome as a rattle snake at picnic party. The farmers are on the defensive and are individual opponents of preparedness in protecting their homes and property and it is daily expected that some per- son or persons bent on crime will an- swer to the farmers rifle or gun and be beyond trial by jury if these crimes do not cease or the mauraders are not caught by the officers of the law.
 The story of the early morning visit was related to a representative 'of the PATRIOT by MT. Sabin over the tele- phone last Sunday morning after he had come in from doing chores at the barn.
 MT. Sabin said: "Yes sir, had some visitors. They came about o'clock this morning. I WAS awakened by a rap on the door and heard voices be- low. went downstairs and took my shot gun, which was loaded, and open- ed the door. Three men stood there in the darkness. could see two of them plainly. They appeared to be young men. I asked them what they want. ed and they told me that their auto- mobile had caught fire at the foot of Hospital hill and burned up. I was suspicious from the first and when they mentioned Hospital hill 1 felt sure that they were not telling me the truth as Hospital hill is some three miles from my place and I knew that if the accident had occurred there they never would have reached my home us Putnam WAS only half mile away. They asked for nights lodging and also inquired the way to Abingdon. l kept my gun pointed at them all the time and didn't stop for further con- versation. 1 told them to get out and to get out quick and they did. This morning 1 found soft felt hat in the yard so you can see that they left In a hurry.n
 MT. Sabin was asked if he saw any thing more of the men, He said:
 "No, I didn't see them but 1 heard an automobile drive past the house in a few minutes and believe it was the same party that said their automobile was burned up. That is the last l saw or heard"
 MT. Sabin is a farmer and also a civil engineer. He is well known throughout eastern Windham county. He lives on the old Sabin homestead just west of fashionable PomfretStreet. The Sabin farm nestles on hillside and was made famous throughout this section by Colonel Sabin, father of Ralph F., for the product of fine cheeses. MT. Sabin is nearly 70 years old but straight as an arrow, In his over six feet, and wears a shaggy crop of whiskers. From appearance he would be able to give 6 good account of himself in combat with anyone bent on illegal purposes.
 The affair WAS reported to the Put nam police early Sunday morning. It was learned that one late automobile party left Putnam but they would not have had occasion to pass the Sabin place.