Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-04-17
CAUGHT AFTER
An EXCITING CHASE
Uzeb Blair and Edward Fox Fail
to Get Away with Bags of
Skins Stolen from Plant Of
Burlington Rendering Com.
pany
pany

Within two hours after they had visited
the plant Of the Burlington Rendering
company on North avenue. between six
and seven o'clock Sunday morning. Uzeb
Blair Of GO Spring street, a desultory en-
ploye Of the concern, and his pal Edward
Fox, whose home address Is unknown,
were lodged in the Chittenden county jail
following an exciting chase in which en-
ployes Of the company and the local police
participated. The men had removed two
gunny sacks containing calf and COW
skins but dropped them in an endeavor
to escape capture. Both will probably be
tried In the city court to-day.
Blair and his companion arrived at the
plant after the usual shift Of night watch
men, which occurs, Sundays only. be-
tween six and seven o'clock In the morn
ing. when two of the three guardians go
home and leave only one man to finish the
remainder Of the nights vigil and to be
about the premises until the arrival of the
day Waterman.
Being an employee of the dressing room
of the plant for some time, although
working only by spells, Blair went to this
department and on his way met Night
Waterman John Stone. to whom he told
a story about going fishing and that he
was to meet some other employees at the
factory. Stone continued his rounds and
during his absence the two men disap-
peared
Waterman Stone thought 1t rather queer
that they should leave so quickly and in
vestigated and found them hurrying
through the woods towards the lake,
each with gunny sack over his shoulders,
apparently filled with something heavy.
He called up Superintendent M. w. Pres
ton of the plant and then gave chase to
the men,
Superintendent Preston notified General
Manager A. ]. Canning and the local po-
lice, who sped to the factory in machines
to assist in the chase.
AS soon as the men saw that they were
being followed one of them dropped his
bag and the two took hold Of the remain
ing bag and started to run with 1t. When
the chase began to get too warm the
other bag was dropped. Investigation
showed that the sacks contained calf and
COW skins. evidently taken from the Dress
Ing room.
Waterman Stone continued his chase
| and saw the men leave the woods near
the end of the car line and before he
| could arrive at the site saw them board
| q car ana ride OH. superintendent IieS-
ton then came into view and with his ma
chine raced with the car. He shortly
caught up with it and ran his machine a
little to the rear.
| At the corner of North avenue and North
street the trolley car stopped and the two
men left It, Superintendent Preston stop
, ped his car and grabbed the two men who
started to fight. Mr.. Preston called to
some men standing on the cornr to assist
him but none volunteered. In the melee
Fox got a way but Preston hung on 10
Blair got him in the machine and drove
to the police station, where he was placed
in custody.
There under a grilling, Blair admitted
the Identity of his pal and named the
places where he might be found. The pc.
lice went on another hunt and soon located
Fox.
The bag of skins were valued at about
$25 each and no damage was done TO the
contents Of either bag. General Manager
Canning is very much pleased over tne
work of the employees of his establishment
especially that of Superintendent Preston
Waterman Stone and George McCape' an
other employe, as we'll as the local police