The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-01-23
sOuTu SALISBURY

sOuIu sHArrsBURT.
/ Mr.. Best, who was seriously injured
when the cars were thrown from the
track at this place several weeks ago, is
still confined to his bed, but has no no.
ton Of giving up the ghost as the follow
ing anecdotc will show: Last week a
man went into his room to speak 10 his
attendant and after his departure Mr.
Best inquired who he was, aud was in
formed that he was the travelling agent
of a marble firm for the sale of monu-
ments, gravestones, etc, Mr., Best reioin-
ed that he always did admire enterprise
but it struck him that the visit Of the
agent was a little premature.
BENNINGTON.
Sam Lucas succeeded in breaking
out of Jail on Friday morning. Sammy
is hard ticket, and we give below a
sketch of his life and exploits, some OF
which we can vouch for, taken from the
Troy Press of Saturday:
''Sam Lucas, the noted Jail breaker,
who escaped from the Bennington Jail
about I O'Clock Friday morning, is such a
noted desperate thai he deserves more
than mere mention, lie was born in
Washington Co., New York, and is about
| fifty years of age. His father was a no.
ted criminal and served several terms in
State prison. lie was first sent to Yer
mont State prison at Windsor for steal
ing a drove of cattle He found the cat
tie in a pasture at Arlington, Vt, drove
them to Albany and sold them. For this
he was sent to prison and died there. He
had also served terms in Clinton prison
in this State, Sam Lucas, the son, was
noted in his boyhood for his mischievous
pilfering. lie first distinguished himself
by breaking into a store at White Greek
Washington County, New York, and
was sent to Clinton for this offense. lie
served his term, and soon after found
himself in Vermont State prison at Wind
sor for a second oilense that was detected
and punished. At this time he went I'M
der the name of George Curtis. About
! ten years ago he broke into the store OF
lurd & Young, at West Arlington, VT,
and stole a quantity of furs, clothes, etc,
The furs he sold TO Mr.. Seller, of this
city. Lucas was arrested at Troy, and
was sent to Clinton for four years. After
serving his time be was taken in charge
/ by a Bennington officer, on an indict.
ment charging him with burglary al
Hurd & Young's store. While at Rut-
land, going from the cars to the BardwelI
House, only short distance, although
he was handcuhed, Lucas slipped from
the officer in the darkness and escaped
4 lie stole horse in the vicinity and went
to Salem, and disappeared. He was soon
after heard of at Clinton prison again
/ Last fall a horse was stolen from Mr.
Mclean at Jackson, Washington County
! It was tracked TO Vermont, where the
horse was found with his throat cut ant
/ the wagon burned. As Lucas has beer
seen in the vicinity lie was arrested, bu
the proof was not sufficient to hold hin
when arragncd at Cambridge and he wa
/ discharged lie was then handed owe
to the Vermont officers, on the old indct
ment for breaking into Hurd & Young
store at Arlington, and was placed in til,
Bennington Jail. This was in Decembe
last. After being in Jail for two week
he sawed of the bars Of his cell with al
eating knife and had almost made bis es
cape when a prisoner named Convey, wh'
is in Jail for murder, Informed the iailor
Handouts were procured at this city an,
Lucas was ironed Yesterday mornin,
at four O'Clock Convey, who had given in
formation previously shouted to the jailo
that Lucas bad escaped. 1t was found tina
he had pushed back the bolt Of his eel
with piece Of iron and had thus obtain
ed entrance TO the corridor. An old fla
for the entrance of the heating pipes int
the corridor had been brcked up ans
surrounded by heavy iron bars. Luca
dug out the bricks and mortar, sawed Of
the bars and then got into the basemcn
and from thence easily into the street
Last year Bisscl another prisoner escapeu
D through the same fue and subecquentl
b the place was bricked up aud protectet
with iron bars, as already mentioned
Sheriff Crofut, Of Remington county, Of
. Ccrs a liberal reward for the recapture O
. Lucas. He is about . feet ~ in heiph
stoop shoulders, wore dark clothes, thi
face, and never looks man in the eye
wore chin whiskers while in jail, and
about fifty wears old and generally call
himself Courts"
Lucas has spent eighteen years Of III
life IN states prison, aud Is a desperat
. and hardened man. Fetter-, iron bolt
aud bars or prison walls arc laughed
by him. sammy Lucas' last joke: Oal
day or two ago tie iailor in showing
stranger through the Bennington jai
wanted 10 point out Lucas and nissiu
b the cell, called OUT Lucas, whats Il
g., number Of your cells Il hardly know
e Faid LucBs. II move SO often
NCUUEufiD.
y Geo. ". sawyer, Esq, is living III