Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-01-10

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ations and introduce several new features.
SINGULAR CAREER OF CRNINAL.-The
Glasgow (Scotland) Herald relates the fol
lowing exploits of strange and ingenious
burglar
On November 10Th there was arrested Mt
Carlisle, on the charge of burglary, a man
whose daring criminal achievements have
for quarter of century furnished food for
the wonder of the gossiTs Of a wide district.
In the year 1874, John Gillespie was SEN
fenced to death for an attempted murder at
Wigtown, he having broken the nose of a
shopkeeper with - jimmy while rubhing
the shop at midnight Gillespie wa- left for
execution, and would in all probability have
been executed but for series of well sus-
tained artifces. He feigned serions illness.
and as he was believed to be on the point of
death, the execution OF his sentence was in
definitely postponed. On the tenth day al-
ter trial as he was going up the stairs. he
fell backward, in fit, as it was thought
lie was carried 10 the Hospital. where by
some means he managed to vomit blood at
pleasure and, in order. to revive him.
removed to a more cheerful room-the dav
room-which he occupied for four years
During his abode here-a perfect cripple to
all appearances, confined to bed. and in the
last stage of illness Ss-unacc1untablc rul b,ries
took place in the larder of 1ha t,oYernor' s
house his wine l,as consumed by some mys-
, tersuu- means on one or two occasions ie-
| male prisoners had been found drunk by the
warders.
All this was inexplicable until the day on
which Gillespie, seemingly at the point of
death, was liberated, and conveyed homo.
! \ search Of his room was made, and ~ IhC
bottom of the water cistern Il iargf iuneh Of
keys was found, Whsqh opened every tock IN
the 9aqi, CyGt the Cavern II : sate and private
drawers lie also had small oil lamp con-
cealed in the same place. and pot Of paint
for covering over the damage he might do
to the woodwork in his lock-picSing explora-
tions about the prison. Nexr day Gillespie
was walking about the streets his crutches
thrown a way, and no sign of his prolonged
debility visible. \ fortnight later he Us..
apprehended for burglar. ,,sA.r !,nnnn, and
was lcisel ia t,unfffiGsshlre gnol, out o.
witch, however, he broke, in company with
another prisoner named MoCallum. The
latter got clear for time, but ultimately ht
was retaken near Durham. Gillespie, VIII,
was - club foot, was tracked by po
liceman, and after a long and bloody fight
he was secured. He was sentenced u ter
years transportation, and was sent to Aber-
,ietn prison 20 put in part of his time, from
which he again escaped, only to be recapture'
and was once more conveyed to Aberdeen ant
confined there.
In the course Of time strange to say he 90
a ticket-of leave, when he returned 10 Car
lisle and, more strange still, he Mas appoint
I'd master Of the Reformatory School there
However, his instruction being very much O
the Fagin stamp, Mr.. Sage, now superin
tendent of the police at Newcastle, got hi
license withdrawn, and Gillespie was sen
,, back to serve out his term of punishment
+ Other incidents of his career might be nsrrs,
! ted, but the above will no aQut4t appear sui
6ciently estrsoriinary. In the present cas-
Z he was arrested on the charge Of breaking in
|. 10 the house of solicitor at O'Clock IN tn
morning and stealing silver plate but
witness having withdrawn his identi6catio
OF the prisoner, he was discharged. On Tue
e day, however, purse which had been s,o
en- was found near his house, and hrs real
prehension was resolved upon