The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-12


this purpose she offered him a Testa-
ment, with the request that he would
read it. "Scratch Graver refused to
read it, saying that he was too wicked;
that he had done that since he had been
in Massachusetts for which neither God
nor man would forgive him. Mrs.
Wetherbee assured him that there was
opportunity for the vilest sinner to re-
pent; but hNpersistently refused to read
the sacred volume, and repeated his de-
claration that he had committed deed
which could not be forgiven.
Mr. Wetherbee took his prisoner to
the Jail at Fitchburg, and at the August
term of the Superior Court, before Judge
| Allen, he was convicted on the charge
of robbery, and sentenced to be con-
| fined three years in the State Prison, to
which he was taken on the 25th day of
August.
From the time of the first commit
ment of "Scratch .Gravel,n Sheriff
Wetherbee entertained suspicion that he
was guilty of the crime with which he
is charged. His conduct while in jail
at Fitchburg tended to- confirm these
suspicious. In concert with two other
prisoners confined there with him, he
plotted the murder of the turnkey of the
Jail. Surprising that that officer carried
the keys of the Jail in his pocket, the
plan was formed to kill him when he
should unlock the cells in the morning
and let the prisoners out for their Gus
tomary morning ablutions. "Scratch
Gravel" was to break leg from stool
in his cell, conceal it under his jacket,
and when the turnkey opened his cell
doorin the morning, was to fall upon
him, and knock him down with the
club, take the keys from his pocket, and
escape with the two other convicts.
On being tainted by one of the other
out this design, "Scratch Gravel' said
he would kill a man if necessary to get
out of the Jail. "Do you think" said
he to his comrades, "that a man who
did the Roxbury job would hesitate to
kill man to get his liberty ?" Straight
ening himselfup, he continued-"That
was some of my work. / did that job.
That knife (alluding to the weapon
found upon him when arrested) has sent
two id Yankees to hill since I came
to Massachusetts. / am willing to go to
State Prison for year or SO, as / am
suspected of doing something bad"
"Scratch Gravel" then went on to
give the most revolving details of the
crime which he declared he had COM
mitted at West ROxbury. He stated
that he stabbed the Joice boy in the
back several times; and that having had
his way with the girl, he put her out of
til, way. These details he repeated to
the prisoners unreservedly, on several
occasions-using language whose gross.
ness forbids its repetition here. He
stated that since the murder he had
travelled nights and slept daytimes, in
order to escape detection.
The plan of escape from the Jail was
foied by one of the prisoners, who had
overheard the conversations of the plot
ters. On the morning appointed for its
execution this prisoner heard "Scratch
Gravel" break the leg from the stool.
When the turnkey came in to open the
cell of the intOrmer, who occupied the first
apartment TO be visited, the prisoner
gave him note written upon scrap of
paper, informing him of the desperate
design OF "Scratch Gravel" aud his con.
federates. The turnkey took the note
to Deputy Sheriff Alpheqs p. Kimball,
keeper Of the Jail. Mr.. Kimball, with
the turnkey and workman employed
about the premises, went to the cells and
let the prisoners out one by one, and
|
of the escape. The leg Of the stool was
found in "Scratch Gravel's" cell, but
nothing was said to him concerning II
at the time.
On receiving his sentence, "Scratch
Gravel' was, as previously stated, con-
veyed to the State Prison in Charles
town. In the meantime, Sheritfs Kim
ball and Wetherbee had obtained adj
ditiOnal evidence tending to strengthen
their suspicious of his guilt, and they
sought an interview with District At
torney Harris, of Norfolk County, and
subsequently, these three held CONSUL
tation with Hon. Gideon Haynes,
Warden of the State Prison, at which
consultation it was decided, if possible,
to draw further confessions from the
prisoner.
A work of great difficulty here pre-.
sented itself. The criminal still refused
to give any other name than that OF
Scratch Gravel" stating that he was
born in Florida, and could neither read
or write. This latter statement Warden
Haynes subsequently found to be false,
as he obtained package of letters which
he had written to Mr.. Aaron Dodge, OF
Hamilton, Mass, gentleman who had
adopted him when quite young, as here.
after stated. After Q careful considera-
ton of all possible methods Of obtaining
the desired evidences, the following plan
was adopted
1t is necessary to state here that it Is
the custom to employ number of pris
ohers Inside Of the prison, in sweeping
aud dusting the wings, While the other
prisoners are absent from the cells.
These prisoners are allowed many priyi-
leges, being elected usually on account
of good behavior and as they generally
finish their work at about three o'clock
in the afternoon, tho time remaining
previous to the return OF the other pris-
oners from the workshops, they are
allowed to occupy in communication
with each other. This suggested the
plan of procedure, and accordingly
"Scratch," as he wasknown at the pris-
on, was taken from the whip.shop, in
Which he had placed, ard assigned to
duty in the wings, where he soon dis
played his ugly pracliyities BY knock
ing down the prisoner with WhaLp he
was associated in his labOrs. The next
part of the plan was to obtain trust
worthy and competent person, who
shoplq epter the prison as convict, be
placed OH duty with Scratch" and by
gaining his confidence elicit ths Gssired
Information. 4 suitable person was
found in u citizen pf Fitehburg. who
assumed the sodriquet OF "SelAMe