The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-03-13
Harold Cheever Broke Into
N. D. Phels Co.'S Early
SUNDAY Morning
CRASH 81 OF GLASS
hHIS UNDOING
Pleade Jiuilty When Ar
raign sTo-day on Charge
S,f Burglary

The crashing Of glass in the alleyway
between the Gordon and Miles buildings
on North Main street early Sunday
morning was the tip, which led the po-
lice to the capture of an intruder in
the N. d. Phelps company store before
he had chance to get away with any
thing. When taken in hand, the in
truder proved to be Harold Cheever,
aged p years, Of Barre.
The police took from Cheeyer o short
handled screwdriver and glasscutter,
the only weapons df offense or defense
which he carried. When quizzed by the
police, Cheeyer told about being dis
couraged over the work question and
when asked why he broke into the
Phelps store he replied: well, what
you goin' to dQ starvew But the
young man's personal appearance rath-
err belied the starvation story as he
was well-dressed and wore sheepskin-
lined coat.
The method of entering the store
first tried was to cut the glass in
door and turn the lock by inserting a
hand; but the intruder found himself
up against nailed door and radiator
besides. Entrance that way being found
to be futile, he proceeded to break the
glass sufficiently to permit him to
squeeze his body through the aperture.
II was this additional breaking of
glass which led to his undoing, for
person nearby heard the clatter of
glass and lost no time in telephoning
the police station. Deputy Chief Gam
BILE got the message and after 'phoning
to Patrolman Murley, who was out on
beat, and to Chief Sullivan, who had
gone home for the night, Deputy Gam
Bile slipped dVsn Enterprise alley and
reconnoitered from the rear. Then, GO
ing around to the Main street entrance
he peered into the store and saw man
just entering the Office in the rear of
the store.
Presently Patrolman Murley arrived
and he and others were stationed about
to prevent escape. Seeing that the
game was up, the intruder opened a
rear window and dropped on the scene.
Cheever was questioned closely and
his clothing was searched, with the re-
suit that the screwdriver and the
glasscuttef were found. Nothing from
she store was found in his possession;
and Mr.. Phelps, head of the concern.
who was summoned later, found that
nothing in the store had been tampered
with. As matter of fact, said Mr..
Phelps, there was nothing to take ex-
cept hardware from the shelves.
In their q,iizzing of the prisoner. the
police tried to connect Cheever with
break last Wednesday night at another
place on North Main street; but the ;
young man stoutly denied any connec-
ion with the previous break, although
he size of the screwdriver blade was
'uch as TO correspond with mark on
he woodwork near a window in the
tore visited Wednesday night.
That he manifested considerable
Iegree of confidence in the Phelps COM
ANY break was shown by his nonchal-
nee in lighting a cigar after entering
he store and proceeding to smoke as
e went about the place. The speed
nth which the police worked after get
ing the first tip of trouble surprised
i'm very soon after he had made his
fay into the store.
When taken into city court to-day.
he young man pleaded guilty to the
barge of burglary and Judge Scott
ontinued the case until this afternoon
Or sentence. Grand Juror William
vishart was the prosecuting officer.
nd the young man was not represent
4 by an attorney although his ia
her appeared and asked that the
oung man be placed on probation.