The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-02-27
HELD IN SIX HUNDRED
DOLLAR BONDS
Result of Splendid Effort by Sheriff
Mooers and Deputies

On an early morning train, Tues
day morning of last week, 16 year
old lad, Stuart Johnson, OF Long Is
land N. Y. came out of the lumber
woods to Somerset Junction intend
ing to take the train for home He
brought with him 1857, which he had
saved out of his winters work.
An adventurer, dressed In soldiers
clothes, had followed the boy to the
Junction, and with a companion sue
ceeded in getting the same room with
aim until daylight. The boy awoke,
before daylight and saw the two men
standing in the room and his empty
wallet lying on the floor He accused
them Of taking the contents. The
one In soldiers uniform holding up
a roll spiciously like the boys, said:
This is my money that | earned. If
you ind any more on me you can have
that" and added there was mo know
ing who got the money" The other
man showed he had but SIS and a few
cents, and proclaimed his innocence.
The boy reported his loss to the pro-
prietor of the house, but nothing was
done about the matter. All three
came down on the Wednesday morn
ing train, and the boy, who felt keen
ly his loss, told the conductor and
train hands Of the robbery. His for
mer roommates told him they were
going to Bald Mountain to work In the
woods and asked him to go with them.
Damon Berce of Skowhegan, who was
present, said to him Come with me
where yon can get your money back"
He brought the boy to Sheriff Mooers.
who Immediately telephoned his depu-
ties at lockwood and Bingham to
watch for the men, who were suppos-
ed to be at Bald Mountain Instead,
the supposed soldier had left his
companion and fed down the railroad
track, where he was seen the next
morning He came to Solon near
midnight and got team to take him
TO Madison, arriving there before day.
light. There he went to a French
family, and induced one OF the men,
bers to go and purchase for him a
civilian suit Of clothes. Early Fri
day morning, Sheriff Mooers went to
Madison, found the man, and address,
ed him by name, and he admitted that
he was Paul Roberge. Sheriff Mooers
then said: where is the boys
money you stole up at Somerset juno
ton. He answered: II didn't take
that money; the boy thought l did
but l didn't. He was then searched
and $3.50, in $40 bills, just what the
boy had lost, was found. He was
brought to the Skowhegan jail. The
second roommate of the boy. the
Frenchman, was brought from the
woods Friday afternoon. He gave his
name as Pooler from North Vassal-
boro. Paul Roberge registered at
Rumford Falls last June, giving his
residence as Madison, and was en-
rolled as from the latter place. He
deserted from the army at Greenvlle
and was taken to Fort Williams at
Portland. He claims he was dis
charged from the army While in
the woods, he presented forged checks
TO the time-keeper of the Burbank
Company, who advanced him money
on them.
Sheriff Mooers gives much credit to
Deputy Elmer S. Adams, who worked
under his instructions two days and
a half in locating Roberge, watching
all the trains and was out all night
County attorney E. n Merrill ap-
peared for the state at the hearing,
which was held at the municipal court
room last Saturday afternoon. Judge
Brazzel presided. The respondent
was held, bonds in the sum OF $500
being required, for appearance at the
next term of the Supreme Judicial
Court. W. H. Halves, Esq. appeared
for the respondent, who entered a
plea of not guilty.