Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-22
Excitement at the Jail.
EsrAPE OF A RrRGLAR.

Excitement at the Jail.
ESCAPE OF A BURGLAR.
On Monday evening little before half
past eight O'Clock, the Washington County
Jail in this village was the scene of an I'M
usual excitement There were at the time
confined within the Jail thirteen prisoners
three of whom had that day received SEN
fences, as reported in the court proceedings
in this paper. A little before eight, Mr..
Squiers of CIaremOnt, y. H., who has taken
an active part as a detective in the commit
al and conviction of the supposed Water
bury bank burglars, was admitted, he. had
frequently been before, iuto the jail room
occupied by the prisoners. He remained
there until the time above stated, when he
signaled TO be let out. Miss Camp daugh-
ter of the jaiIer, proceeded to open the
doors, first unlocking the door leading from
the entrance hall into little ante-rOom, then
closing that door after her, locking it and
placing the key in her pocket, as was her
invariable practice. She next proceeded to
unlock the inner door, which was made fast
with paddock, in the usual manner. Upon
opening the door, Squiers approached it to
come out, but paused a moment to shake
hands with one Of the prisoners. At that
instant be was in some manner thrown upon
the h5or and several of the prisoners passed
over him, through the door, among whom
was Charles Barton, charged with being one
ID the Waterbury bank burglars In the
right hand wall Of the aute-room, coming
out, and opposite a strongly protected window
in the front wall of the building, was three
lighted Go ~ window, to give light to a
little room adjoining This window is six
feet and half above the floor, to the bottom
rail Of the SASH and through it in some
manner. Barton suddenly disappeared, break
ing two lights Of the glass and the cross bar
Of the sash between. This gave him free
access to a flight Of stairs which led to a
back door where he made his escape He
was followed by the Irishman, McAvorey,
who was committed for assault and battery
On st. Patrick day, and was under 5000
bonds, who also escaped.
In their egress they encountered Mr. Camp,
the jailer, who was violently pushed aside,
and being quite an aged man could not offer
much resistance to physical force.
An alarm was Immediately raised, and the
cry of q murder " by some one was translat-
cd to - fire, - and there was soon a ringing
of engine bells and all the noise and confu-
sion Of a hastily turning out fire department.
But the fire was q out 3" and so were the
prisoners.
All this while, which was but very few
moments, the struggle was kept up inside
the jail, other prisoners trying to make their
escape Miss Camp acted heroically, and
did not get frightened or lose her presence /
of mind She seized a prisoner by the name
Of Jones, by the ankle as he was attempting
TO make the passage of the window, and re-
ceiyed some bruises in the face from the 9TH |
er foot of the ungaIlant Jones, but Jones /
at roll call the next morning. /
Handlin, ono Of the sentenced prisoners, /
nearly protruded himself through the win
dow, but, strangest of all, was drawn back
by Davis, the reported burgIar-in-chief, and .
by him thrust into his cell And Davis hav- /
ing got his hand in little, proceeded to help |
cage the rest Of the birds, doing most eff I
cient service in beating to quarters, and re-
storing order. Squiers having been over
powered at the on tset and somewhat injured .
in the melee, could not take much Of hand |
at first, but came in as file closer " to- |
wards the end of the engagement.
There are various rumors afOat as to plots
aud counter plots, all of which, for want Of .
proof must be discarded at the present time
1t is said however, that Barton's owe rcoat
was lying upon a chair near the door through .
which he made his escape into the ante-room,
and that probably it WAS his intention to
have taken it along with him, and this would
look as if the attempt to escape had been
premeditated. But he left in very light
marching order, 8 leaving his overcoat behind,
and with nothing on biz head An old hat
and some articles Of under clothing we're
found in the pockets Of the coat. The night
was unusually dark, with thick heavy clouds,
and before midnight commenced raining.
Pursuit was impossible or nearly so, but
handbiIls were issued and the telegraph used
20 cut off the retreat, and reward Of $500
offered for the rc-arrest Of Barton.
II it was expedient or essential to secure
the ends Of justice, to admit an :" interview
ing party into the Jail for any official pur
pose or otherwise, it is very clearly demon
strated that it was not safe letting him out,
for had Squiers remained outside Berton
would not have escaped. OF course this at
tachcs no blame to any one, for all the ordi-
nary care and prudence was exercised on the
part of those who had charge Of the Jail.
1t is related as one of the asides to this
drama that Davis in his first zeal to do the
State some service, and with show Of pro-
tectiDg the jailoress, drew her aside from the
window, and at the same time dropping on
one knee in - declaration " posture, pre-
scented the other akimbo, which afforded a
convenient step, which was appropriated by
Barton, to help him up to the high window
Washington County Court, March
form 1891