Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-05-02
Recapture of Fortune, the Horse
thief.


thief.
The re.capture Of Albert Fortune, the
daring mulatto horse thief, who, inanacled
hand and foot, leaped from the cars below
Fredericksburg, getting away from some of
fcers who were carrying him to Richmond
has been noticed A letter from Freder.
icksburg to the Baltimore Sun describing
the re-capture, says:
''In jumping from the train Fortune was
greatly stunned by the terrible fore with
which he was dashed to the ground. but az
tu recovering his senses be wandered into
the woods, slowly, because Of his manacles
After making circuit he returned to the
railroad, where, with the aid Of stone, he
succeeded in breaking the shackles from his
hands and feet Once more free, with the
instinct of his profession, he went to the
farmhouse Of A. c. Davis, of Hanover Co..
and there stole another horse, which he
mounted and, riding night and day, arrived
at Fredericksburg Wednesday night about
nine O'Clock. He then abandoned the ami.
NAL thatbad served him so well, and sought
refuge i'll he house of his aunt, who resides
in Fredericksburg. Early Thursday morn
ing three r.eq from Hanover Co. arrived in
the town, andgoing to the Mayors Office
reported to the police that they had been in
pursuit of stolep horse, which they found
quietly grazing inNa field in the outskirts of
the city
This Information accused the suspicion Of
the police, who conclnaed that Fortune must
have been the thief TIE Mayor was then
apprised Of these facts, and quietly sum-
moning his police force, with several private
citizens, proceeded directly to the house of
Sallie Fortune, situated in the West end Of
the city, which was soon surrounded Two
Of the most trusted and daring officers effect
ed an entrance, but while they were in one
portion of the building Fortune, who soon
| comprehcnded his danger, dashed out If
side door and ran rapidly across the street,
accompanied by volley Of pistol shots
which was discharged at him. Jumping
fence, Fortune got into lot, closely pursu-
ed by the police and citizens. He continued
his course across the lot but before reach.
ing the next fence officer Gore fred at him.
Fortune was then seen to stagger and in
wild exultation the officer cried out, I've got
| him." The wounded and fatigued convict
still continued to run for life and liberty
but while in the act of jumping still another
fence. he was captured by man who hap
pened to be accidentally passing at the 9th.
er side. Even here he resisted with great
desperation, but the man hung to his leg
with the tenacity of bulldog. The pur-
suing crowd soon arrived and the courage
GUS convict was overpowered by numbers
and secured. His only exclamation at the
time, Kissed through his cenched teeth, be-
ing, "This is too bard The ball struck
| him just above and behind the right ear,
coming out above the temple On the way
to the Jail he said to officer Gore, "l'll give
you $500 to let me 60" to which that indi-
vidual savagely replied, elf you offer me
money to let you escape again I'll kill vou'
Fortunes wound was promptly dressed, the
physician pronouncing it a mere flesh scratch.
Fortune is thirty five years old, is married
and has three children Since escaping from
the penitentiary he has lived in Philadel-
phia, New York and Baltimore He states
that he was making for Canada this time,
and but for i'll luck would have made the
trip But even now he does not despair of
soon being in the enjoyment of freedom
again.
Fortune relieved himself Of his manacles
by key, and the irons were found in the
vicinity Of Ashland, where he jumped from
the cars. The possession of the key is at
tributed to the service Of fortunes wife and
friends. who visited him on the train which
stopped at Fredericksburg Tuesday on the
way down. Fortune is safe again in the
Richmond penitentiary. For his toree es
capes be will have to serve more than
double term or twenty.eight years in the
penitentiary instead Of his first term of l3
years.
john R. Thompson of Richmond, Va,
former editor of the Southern Literary
| Messenger but later literary Editor of The
| N. Y Evening Post, died in N Y. We'd
nesday.
The residence of Hon j NJ Bennett. of
Weston, W. Va. was DESTROYED by FIRE
last week Loss. about So, 900 Insurance
| for As 900.