Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-17
FORGERY AND. OEsERT|ON
Charges on Which Earl Laport
Is IN Jail.
Claiming 10 he q First Lieutenant IL
the Aerial Corps. Young Man Has
Been Literally Patronising
Burlington stores.

First Lieutenant" Earl L. Laport.
whose home has been in the basement
OF the Robarge house on North street,
at the head Of Murray, was arrested
Tuesday on charges Of forgery ana
assertion from the United States
aerial corps. He was ordered commit.
ted TO the custody of the sheriff yes
terday afternoon shortly before six
o'clock by Chief Of Police p. ]. Russell
on warrant from States Attorney AL
len Martin. as well as upon q govern.
ment order. He was taken to the
fost Yesterday by Oh1cer Christos
pher Miles. who apprehended the fuci-
tive at the Union station Tuesday az.
ternoon after the police had been
searching for him throughout the day.
Inc ohicer is entitled to the sum Of
$780, which the government, pays for the
serters.
Laport. who has been masoueradins
around the city as a first lieutenant.
oelne dressed In army clothed
beftting such an oficer. ana n
charged with procuring a number Of
blank checks upon the Howard Nation.
al bank of this city in the Y. NJ C. A.
rooms. One Of these was passed at the
Lewis & Blanchard shoe store on
church street for a pair of officers boots.
the value of which was $3.50. These he
had on when arrested
Another check was signed with the name
OF d. n. eastman of this city, for the sum
or $22.50. A third check was passed at thu
Wright clothes shop, for SIS. Laport TAX,
ing away with him for the amount a pair
OF officers shoes and a pair Of gloves bs.
fitting his station in the army
From Mrs. Bean. who conducts store
at the corner Of Murray and North
streets, Chief Russell learned shortly after
Laport had been placed In Jail that the
man had FORGED a check at Mrs. Beans
store for the sum Of $40. taking the cash
with him. Enos Howard. the tobacco
man. is out IS. a check having been cashed
in his store by one of MS clerks. II ia
also asserted that Laport had previously
tried to cash s25 check here. Various
names were appended to the checks, in one
case the name of f. ]. Morris being used,
while in another the name Of E. ]. Harris
appeared.
When seen at police headquarters 10
was very apparent that his clothes were
too large for him. 1t was learned that his
age was % years, and that he enlisted at
the Post August {, 1917 as a private in
the 323th aerial squadron. After enlist
ment he was sent to Texas. On December
%, he deserted at Kelley Field. Texas.
coming to this city short time ago. He
said he was born in Shoreham, and that
previous to his enlistment he had been
employed by Steele & Butler. local milk
dealers.
On his person when searched was a
| ticket to Middlebury. while in his grip was
| the pair of shoes and the pair of gloves
that he had secured from the Wright
Clothes shop. Besides, there were six bot.
ties of beer.
Laport had been hanging around the
Union station for a couple of nights past,
it was said Tuesday. This act did not ex-
cite suspicion it was explained because he
said he was detailed there by the govern.
ment to be on the watch for deserters.
Laport's father and mother left Tues-
day noon on the flyer. bound for Fitch.
burg. Mass. this sact being brought to the
attention of the police by Allie Fredette.
clerk at the Wright store. Mr.. Fredette
sold the shoes and gloves to Iaport Sat-
urday night and was the first to notify
the police Tuesday morning of the for
gerry. He went to the fellows home to In
quire If the lieutenant was in. There the
fellows mother. or. rather stepmother,
told Fredette that the lieutenant" had
gone to the Post to get % recruits. which
he was to take to New York city Tuesday
night.
Mr.. Frcdctte. not to excite the womans
suspicious. told her that he wanted to
enlist under the lieutenant. and in.
quired where he could reach him later.
Sufficient information being advanced,
Fredette made his way to the police of
flee. then to the Union station. Here he
was surprised to find the father and step.
mother" ready to board the outgoing
train Thinking that Laport might be on
board. the train was searched. but re-
vealed nothing. the fellow being taken into
custody later in the afternoon.