Norwich bulletin., 1917-12-08
DANIEIsCN

Night Wstehrsan Mathieu Exchanges
 Shots With Three Men Evidently
 Prepared to Crack Safe at ouine-
 bauo Mill ofiee and Enter Store
 Miller Bennett Wedding - seven-
 Inch lee on Ponds.
 William Mathieu, outside night watchnan at the plant Of the Quine- baug company, engaged in a revolver battle during the early hours of Fri day morning with three men who had planned to blow the safe in the office of the mill company, in the square at the south end of Tiffany street, and to rob the Quinebarg store. which is in the big brick building just across the Main Street bridge leading into the town of Brooklyn. There were no casualties. The shooting took place on watchnan Mathieu's second en- counter of the night with the men and was the means of arousing the neigh borffcod.
 It was about 12.so when Mathieu first came in contact with the burg lars. Covering his beat around the monster plant he walked along the street that leads down into Quebec and coming from that direction when he observed a man standing close to where a brick garage was recently constructed, not distant from the of- flee. The man stood with his hands in ailis pockets. It was dark in the vicinity at the time. for the street lights service is discontinued at mid- night.
 Mathieu engaged the man in casual conversation, but the fellow did not not seem inclined to talk much un- tiR Mathieu's attention was attracted to something lying on the ground un- der a tree across the way. Mathieu's expressed intention to go and see what it was seemed to arouse the man to action and he protested against r. z~~A kN 1w@H~ A watchnaan having noted another man standing near the object
 Don't go over there; that's a wo- man and she's drunk: her friend will take care of her!" the fellow told Mafhieu.
 When the watchman insisted on go- ing the fellow sharply ordered, You keep away from theref'
 Third Man Appears.
 Not a bit intin1idated. Mathieu in- sisted that he was going over and started to do so. The two men he had third man who had beea standing un- observed near the biR brick tenement block that stanSs across the square from the mill ofica building.
 Mathteu then started for the home of-John M- Bessetre. another special officer who does day duty about the min plant and who lives on Main street, West Side. With Bessette aroused and out Tor duty a search TOT the men was made. but without suc- cess.
 Ready to Crack Safe.
 The investigation of the object that the man who talked with Mathieu de- scrihed as an intoxicated woman, dis closed a bundle of six horse blankets. tied together with a set of reins and the officers also found there a big and heavy monkey wrench and a short piece Of iron pipe; also king pin that had been removed from one of the heavy tricks owned by the company. It was later found that these arti- cfes had been taken from the mill company's stables. which had been broken into. All of the material un was to be used by the cracksnen in the JoS of blowing the safe.
 Until about o'clock Mathieu and Bessette searched through the mill vil- without getting aRy trace of them and then. figuring that they had gone for good, Bessctte returned to his home.
 Fired On WatcFman.
 At 2.30 as Watchmar Mathieu was coming along through Tiffany street on his round of duty he saw a man standing in Main street close up to and in front of the Quinebaug store. As Mathieu crossed from Tiffeny street into Main street and headed directly toward the man. the fellow moved to- ward. the big bridge that spans the QuiHebaug river and as Mathieu reach ed the sidewalk fronting the store, the watchrnan. Showing discretion that was the best of judgment under the Mathieu recrossed the street and took up a position back of one of the giant elrns that rise in front of the residence of Agent J. F. Gard-